Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
Centers & Initiatives
Funding Source:
Office of Early Learning/Agency for Workforce Innovation
FCIC’s Florida Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) program is a home-based, early intervention/school readiness program for young children in poverty who are at-risk of developmental delays and school failure. The parent is provided with a set of developmentally appropriate materials, curriculum and books designed to strengthen their children's cognitive, social/emotional and physical development for their preschool children aged 3-5. The Florida HIPPY Training and Technical Assistance Center works in collaboration with the HIPPY USA national office to provide training, technical assistance and guidance to HIPPY programs in Florida, and research and evaluation support to HIPPY programs at the state and national levels. These efforts are spearheaded by Dr. Mary Lindsey. Florida HIPPY is funded by the Office of Early Learning and the Children’s Board of Hillsborough County.
The HIPPY model for the delivery of parent training and support by parents from the community has international appeal and the Florida HIPPY program at FCIC has been a pivotal collaborator with HIPPY International in considering how to provide the HIPPY model to diverse populations in the United States and abroad.