Child First
A proven, two-generation home visiting program that strengthens families from the inside out — building relationships, healing trauma, and protecting children's developing brains.
Child First serves pregnant caregivers, infants, and young children from birth through age five who have experienced trauma, adversity, or other challenges. Through intensive home visits, a dedicated two-person care team provides mental health intervention, care coordination, and the support families need to build stability, connection, and a foundation for lifelong well-being.
We serve both the child and the caregiver — because when parents have the support they need, children thrive.
Intensive, relationship-based services delivered where families feel most comfortable — in their own homes.
Backed by 10+ years of research showing lasting impact on child development, family stability, and breaking cycles of trauma.
A Two-Generation Model
Child First serves both generations together — because when parents and caregivers have the resources and support they need, they are better equipped to break cycles of trauma, adversity, and poor health for their children.
"A child's earliest experiences and relationships are critical to brain development — laying the foundation for long-term health, learning, and success."
— Changent / Child FirstGrounded in the science of brain development, Child First promotes responsive caregiving to protect a child's developing brain from stress and support healthy development. With health equity at its core, the program helps caregivers cope with hardship and stress, create a sense of safety and security at home, and build better lives for their families.
Each family is paired with a highly trained two-person care team who provides comprehensive support through regular home visits, typically lasting a minimum of 6 to 12 months. Services are intensive, relationship-based, and centered on the family's innate strengths and unique circumstances.
Child First works with families who have experienced trauma and other adversities — such as poverty, mental health challenges, housing insecurity, or abuse and neglect — or whose children are experiencing emotional, behavioral, learning, or developmental challenges. All services are provided free of charge and fully funded by the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County.
Your Care Team
A licensed clinician provides relationship-based, family-driven counseling to help address trauma, challenging behaviors, developmental concerns, and other adversities.
Connects families with community-based services and resources to support healthy child development and family well-being — housing, employment, health care, and more.
Services delivered in the family's home — where they feel most comfortable and where real life happens.
Strengthening the bond between caregiver and child through responsive caregiving and emotional connection.
Building on each family's unique strengths and resilience — not just addressing challenges.
Recognizing the impact of trauma on the whole family and providing healing-centered support.
Early Childhood Court
We have a dedicated Child First team serving families involved with the Early Childhood Court in Palm Beach County's 15th Judicial Circuit — providing intensive, home-based support for some of our community's most vulnerable young children.
Early Childhood Court Partnership
Early Childhood Court is a specialized problem-solving court focused on children from birth to age five who are involved in the dependency system. Our Child First team provides intensive home visiting, mental health intervention, and care coordination for families in this court — helping to heal trauma, strengthen the parent-child relationship, and support reunification or permanency for the child.
Learn About Early Childhood Court →Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
Child First is deeply rooted in our expertise in infant and early childhood mental health — a specialty that has been at our heart since 1999. Our clinicians bring advanced training in attachment, brain development, and the impact of early experiences on lifelong health and well-being. This expertise allows us to deliver Child First with exceptional depth and quality.
Our IECMH Programs →Part of a System of Care
Our Child First program is strengthened by deep partnerships with funders, networks, and systems that share our commitment to the well-being of young children and families.
Child First is fully funded by the Children's Services Council of Palm Beach County — ensuring families receive these intensive services at no cost, as part of CSC's comprehensive system of care for young children and families.
Visit CSC →
We deliver Child First as part of the national network managed by Changent — ensuring fidelity to the evidence-based model through comprehensive training, supervision, and continuous quality improvement.
Learn About the Network →Our dedicated Child First team serves families within the 15th Judicial Circuit's Early Childhood Court — providing intensive home-based services for children birth to five involved in the dependency system.
Learn About ECC →Refer a Family
Child First serves pregnant caregivers and families with children birth to five in Palm Beach County. Contact our intake team to make a referral — our team will connect you or the family to the services that are the best fit.
For professionals, health care providers, and community partners — submit a referral and our intake team will connect the family to the appropriate services.
Referral Form →If you're a parent or caregiver looking for support for your family, reach out to us — we'll help you find the right program.
Contact Us →