Healthy Beginnings
Entry Agency
Program Description
Selected by the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, HomeSafe serves as the exclusive Entry Agency for children ages birth through five and their families within the Healthy Beginnings System of Care in Palm Beach County.
HomeSafe’s multidisciplinary team includes Hospital Liaisons, Outreach Educators, System Navigators, Developmental Consultants, and Developmental Support Specialists who work collaboratively to provide screenings, assessments, education, referrals, and care coordination for families throughout the county. All services are available in English, Spanish, and Creole to ensure accessibility for the diverse communities served.
Through community outreach and family engagement, HomeSafe conducts developmental and social-emotional screenings using evidence-based tools, including the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3) and Ages & Stages Questionnaire: Social-Emotional (ASQ-SE). When concerns are identified, families are connected to additional assessments, therapeutic services, developmental supports, parenting resources, and other community-based programs.
Hospital-based services begin at birth, with Hospital Liaisons conducting infant risk screenings and assessments for postpartum depression, trauma history, and family stressors in maternity hospitals across Palm Beach County. Families are then connected to supportive services designed to strengthen maternal and child well-being and reduce risk factors that may impact healthy development.
The program also provides navigation and care coordination services to help families access healthcare, developmental resources, Medicaid enrollment assistance, pediatric care, safe sleep education, and car seat safety education and resources that promote infant and child safety.
Through this program, HomeSafe identifies developmental, behavioral, social-emotional, and family-related concerns early in a child’s life and connects families to the services and support needed to promote healthy growth and development. The program focuses on early intervention, prevention, and family support to help children enter school healthy, safe, and ready to learn.
- Developmental, behavioral, and social-emotional screenings for children ages birth through five
- Infant risk screenings and postpartum assessments in maternity hospitals
- Developmental and family assessments for children identified with potential concerns
- Parent education on child development, behavior, and early learning
- Safe sleep education and distribution of safe sleep resources
- Car seat safety, education and child passenger safety resources
- Care coordination, service navigation, and referrals to community-based supports
- Assistance with Medicaid enrollment and connection to pediatric care
- Community outreach, education, and prevention programming
Who can receive Healthy Beginnings services?
HomeSafe’s Healthy Beginnings team serves families in Palm Beach County with children from birth until they enter kindergarten. Services are available to mothers, fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers involved in the child’s care.
Pregnant women can receive Healthy Beginnings services through the local agency, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.
How much do services cost?
Healthy Beginnings services are completely free for families living in Palm Beach County.
Do I have to have insurance?
No. Families do not need insurance to receive Healthy Beginnings services.
What services do you provide?
Healthy Beginnings helps families understand their child’s development and connect with the right support. We offer developmental, social-emotional, and behavioral screenings, family assessments, parenting support, and information about child development.
Depending on your family’s needs, we may also help connect you with services for child development, maternal mental health, safe sleep, Medicaid, finding a pediatrician, or other community resources.
What is a developmental screening?
A developmental screening is a simple tool used to look at how a child is growing, learning, communicating, moving, and interacting with others. Screenings help identify whether a child is on track or may benefit from additional support or services. A screening is not a diagnosis, but it can help determine whether further assessment or referral is recommended.
How long does the assessment take?
The length of an assessment varies depending on the type of screening or assessment being completed and the family’s needs. In general, families should plan for the appointment to take anywhere from 1 hour to 2.5 hours. Staff will explain what to expect and answer questions before getting started.
Will you come to my home?
Yes. Healthy Beginnings staff can meet with families at a location that is convenient for them. This may include your home, one of our six offices throughout Palm Beach County, or another community location. Depending on the type of service being provided, virtual appointments may also be available.
Can I request services in my preferred language?
Yes. We have staff who speak English, Spanish, and Creole. Families can let our team know their preferred language when requesting services.
Healthy Beginnings is not an emergency response program. If there is an immediate safety concern or medical emergency, call 911. If you or someone in your family is experiencing a mental health crisis, emotional distress, or thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 for immediate support.
Families can also call 2-1-1 for local crisis support, information, and referrals to community resources.
Referral Process
For parents or guardians wanting to request services, please call (561) 383-9871 or email referral@helphomesafe.org
For providers looking to make a referral for services, please click here to download or print the Healthy Beginnings Entry Agency referral form. Email the completed form to referral@helphomesafe.org