Health and Nutrition
Head Start emphasizes the importance of early identification of health problems. Children must receive a complete health examination, including vision and hearing tests, identification of disabilities, immunizations, and dental exams. Follow-up treatment is required and provided for identified health problems.
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Children are served a breakfast and lunch each day. Meals are served family style. The children have an opportunity to set the table, serve themselves, and clean up their areas. The activities are supervised by the classroom staff. New foods are introduced at meal time and during monthly nutrition activities. A trained nutritionist supervises the nutritional needs of the children. Parents are provided educational programs on selecting healthy foods and preparing well-balanced meals.
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Head Start is peanut free. If your child has any food allergies, please discuss concerns with the Health/Nutrition Manager.
Disabilities
Head Start is required to serve at least 10% of enrolled children with disabilities. The following disorders must be diagnosed by a professional certified to make that diagnosis:
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Speech & Language Impairment
Traumatic Brain Injury Visually Impaired including Blindness Emotional/Behavioral Disorders Hearing Impairment including Deafness Orthopedic Impairment Learning Disabilities Health Impairment Autism Mental Retardation Other Impairments |
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Inclusion of children with disabilities is a very important part of the Head Start Philosophy. That means that children with disabilities participate with the other children in all activities and are offered all the services available through the Head Start Program. The Head Start Program offers social emotional screenings and developmental screenings for all children within 45 days of enrollment. Referrals are made for children, as needed, and are made with parental consent to the Intermediate Units (IU) for further testing. Individual Education Programs are developed for children in conjunction with IU 16 and IU 17, if they qualify for services.
Mental Health
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Mental Health and emotional well being are recognized as very significant to the emotional and social development of the young child. A Mental Health Consultant is available to provide mental health training to staff and parents. The Mental Health Consultant observes in the classrooms and is available for consultation on specific concerns. Consultations and referrals are available as needed.
The Second Step Curriculum will be used throughout the year in all Head Start classrooms. |
Some skills the children will be working on include: identifying feelings and emotions, learning how to deal with anger, calming techniques, and how to get along with others.
Head Start uses Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports which focuses on developing children's social emotional skills and on providing positive reinforcement for children's appropriate behavior.
Head Start uses Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports which focuses on developing children's social emotional skills and on providing positive reinforcement for children's appropriate behavior.
Social Services
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The philosophy of Social Services is to help families help themselves and their communities. Parents are offered opportunities and support for growth to identify their own strengths, needs, and interest in order to find their own solutions. Families are provided with an updated directory of community services and are encouraged to accomplish realistic goals using these services. They are also encouraged to become active members of their communities as well as advocates for needed services.
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Positive Solutions for Families
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This 6-week course provides parenting and guidance tips for everyone. PSF is targeted to parents, guardians, foster families, grandparents, or anyone else that interacts with a child on a daily basis. This will also allow you to meet other families that are dealing with similar situations as you in a safe and nonjudgmental environment.
Positive Solutions for Families helps us understand the reasoning behind challenging behaviors and teaches us how to use clear expectations. It also helps us learn how to implement rules and routines within our household and how to encourage positive behavior. |