FCIC - Florida Center for Inclusive Communities

Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters

The Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY), formerly Home Instruction Program for Preschool Youngsters, is a home-based, early intervention program that helps parents create experiences for their children that lay the foundation for success in school and later life. The program is designed specifically for those parents who may not feel confident in their own abilities to teach their children. In the United States, HIPPY is a two or three year program for parents with children ages three, four and five.

Florida HIPPY Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Center was opened in 1996 and is housed at the University of South Florida in Tampa. Currently, this state HIPPY office is staffed by a State Director, an Assistant State Director, a Professional Evaluator, a Training Coordinator, an Administrative Assistant and a Staff Assistant. The role of the state office is to work in collaboration with HIPPY USA's national office in Little Rock, AR, to provide training, technical support, and guidance to all HIPPY programs in the state of Florida.

HIPPY Brochure, cover

Donate to HIPPY

Parent Testimonials:

“[My daughter and I]
bond more and I get
to read more to her.”

— HIPPY Parent, North Miami,
HIPPY Parent Involvement Survey

“[HIPPY] makes me connect with my daughter more and pushes me to be more attentive and supportive of her learning capabilities."

— HIPPY Parent, Ocala,
HIPPY Parent Involvement Survey

“HIPPY helped influence my interaction with my kids. I'm able to have one on one with them more. ”

— HIPPY Parent, Sarasota,
HIPPY Parent Involvement Survey

“[HIPPY] has informed and inspired me to do more educational/fun things with my child."

— HIPPY Parent, Starke,
HIPPY Parent Involvement Survey

“My child is more aware of his feelings and talks to me, loves science and wants to learn new things.”

— HIPPY Parent, Tampa,
HIPPY Parent Involvement Survey

“We have fun while learning [in HIPPY]. ”

— HIPPY Parent, West Palm Beach,
HIPPY Parent Involvement Survey

Our Funders

Some Florida HIPPY programs are funded from a State Legislative Appropriation and others are funded through a variety of local, state, or federal sources.

Department of Child & Family Studies • College of Behavioral & Community Sciences • University of South Florida
Copyright 2011 © All rights reserved. Contact webmaster.

Events, activities, programs, and facilities of the University of South Florida are available to all without regard to race, color, marital status, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, Vietnam or disabled veteran status as provided by law and in accordance with the University's respect for personal dignity.