At Penfield Children’s Center, every milestone matters. Through our In-Home Early Head Start Program, families receive personalized support that helps children build confidence, strengthen developmental skills, and prepare for the future all within the comfort of their own home.

For Karoll, that support has made a lasting impact on both of her daughters, Gabriella and Isabella, as well as her own growth as a parent. Working alongside Penfield Home Visitor Ceci, their family has experienced meaningful progress through guidance, encouragement, and connection. Their journey and the impact of the program were recently highlighted in a Spanish-language feature with Telemundo Wisconsin, where both Karoll and Ceci shared how In-Home Early Head Start supports children and families during the earliest years of development.

“I am deeply grateful to Penfield for all the support, affection, and guidance they have provided to my two daughters during this time,” shared Karoll. “Thanks to their dedication, my daughters have grown with greater confidence, independence, and self-assurance.

Karoll says watching her daughters develop at such young ages has been something truly special for their family. Her oldest daughter, who recently turned three, is already preparing for school readiness with Ceci’s support and encouragement. Together, they are building important skills step by step to help make the transition into school a positive experience.

For her younger daughter, who is about to turn two, the progress has been especially meaningful.

“When we first joined the program, she wasn’t walking or making any sounds,” Karoll shared. “Today, however, she is very independent and is even already speaking her first words.”

Beyond developmental milestones, Karoll says the program has also helped her grow personally as a mother.

“The program has helped me step out of my daily routine, discover new ways to teach my daughters, find direction, and set goals,” she said. “But above all, it has allowed me to become part of a beautiful community.”

For Ceci, stories like Karoll’s reflect the heart of Penfield’s mission and the importance of empowering parents as their child’s first teacher.

“Through our home-based Early Head Start program, we have the distinct privilege of supporting the profound well-being of families, empowering parents to become their child’s very first teacher,” said Ceci. “Our shared journey has encompassed vital developmental milestones from language acquisition and motor skills to emotional resilience and school readiness.”

She added that the support does not stop after one milestone is reached.

“Our mission does not end with these milestones; we continue to walk alongside families every step of the way. I am immensely proud to represent Penfield Children’s Center and witness the transformative opportunities we bring to every home we visit in our community.”

At Penfield, In-Home Early Head Start is about more than developmental support. It is about building relationships, strengthening families, and helping children thrive from the very beginning.

To learn more about In-Home Early Head Start and the family-centered programs offered at Penfield Children’s Center, visit our website.