Early Childhood Initiative (ECI)

La Iniciativa para Los Niños de Temprana Edad

ECI is an innovative voluntary home visiting program in Madison/Dane County, Wisconsin for pregnant women and families with children aged 0 to 4. ECI services are grounded in the knowledge that families are more successful when parents and children have access to responsive, comprehensive, and community-based support. You do not need to be a first-time parent to join.

Each family is assigned their own Family Support Specialist (FSS). The FSS will come to your home or another convenient location to meet with you every week at a time that fits your schedule. What we do during our time together is dependent on your goals and hopes for your family. Some of the things that we typically focus on include:

• Finding a job or getting more education (completing GED/Diploma, attending technical training, or college)
• Learning about your baby's health, behavior, and development
• How your upbringing and childhood experiences impact your relationship with your child/children
• Connecting to housing, food, child care, and other resources
• Getting along with important people in your life
• Feeling good emotionally and physically
• Opportunities to meet other parents and socialize

Eligibility

Families must meet one item under both criteria below to enter ECI:

Criteria 1:

• Pregnant at the time of referral or
• Parent or caregiver of a child under the age of 2

Criteria 2:

Live in one of the following neighborhoods or towns:

• Allied Drive
• Leopold Road
• Raymond Road/Southwest Madison
• Sun Prairie or Marshall
• Madison Northside
   

Office Locations

ECI currently has five offices in Dane County. Four of them are located in Madison. Families must live in one of our service areas to participate in the program. If you are not sure if you qualify, please contact us.