Creciendo Juntos is a home visiting program for expectant parents in our service area. Once enrolled, families can expect regular visits from their home visitor. These visits will center around topics related to parenting, child development and family support. Conversations will vary based on the child’s stage of development, family well-being, or any questions the parents may have.

Service Areas

Families eligible for our services will be expecting a child and live within the 60609, 60629, and 60632 zip codes. Services are provided primarily in Spanish with bilingual services available as well.

Who We Are

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“Creciendo Juntos” means “growing together.” The name reflects both the partnership behind this program and our mission to help families grow and thrive. This program is a collaboration between Preparing for Life (PFL)—a proven home visiting program from Ireland—and Casa Central, an organization that has been helping communities and changing lives in Chicago’s West Side neighborhoods since 1954.

The PFL program supports young children’s development and gets them ready for school by offering home visits designed to strengthen the bond between parents and their children. The program focuses on what caregivers do well and helps them build on their strengths. Together, the partnership will adjust and use the PFL program to meet the needs of families in Chicago, with input from local families and early childhood experts.

Our Story

This project started in 2021 with CEHD’s investment in a new, innovative research study to understand better how home visiting can support children and families in the early childhood period and throughout their lives. PFL joined the partnership in late 2021 and Casa Central in 2022. Since then, we have worked closely together to build a program that is collaborative and family-centered.

This project combines the special knowledge and skills of each partner to support families and help children grow. PFL will provide its expertise in early childhood and home visiting programs, while Casa Central will offer strong connections to the local community, ensuring families' voices are heard and their needs are met.

The Research Study

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Researchers at the Center for Early Childhood and Human Development (CEHD) will study how the program affects family interactions and children’s development. Their research will help figure out which types of support work best to help children grow in healthy ways. The findings will be used to improve programs for parents and kids in Chicago and beyond. With the help of NORC, who is leading the data collection efforts, we will run a study that is respectful and person-focused.

This research study will be a randomized control trial (RCT) to study how the program helps children and families. This research will be carefully designed to be fair and meaningful, taking into account the unique needs of the community.

Every partner is dedicated to learning from families and the community to ensure the program works well in Chicago. The knowledge gained will help improve support for parents and children in the city for years to come. It will also shape public policies and programs around the world, showing how to create fair, effective ways to help families and children succeed.