Health

     The health of Heartland Head Start families is also a priority to the program staff.

     Current vaccination records, TB tests, and up-to-date medical examinations are required for each child before classes begin. Blood tests required at this medical exam include those for anemia, lead poisoning, and sickle-cell (when recommended).

     Heartland Head Start staff members can assist families with this requirement. Also, to ensure the health of all children in the program, Heartland Head Start offers screening for vision, hearing, height, weight, dental and nutrition. Heartland Head Start also assists parents in understanding how to enroll and participate in a system of on going family health care.

 

Early Childhood Development and Health Services
Direct services to the children

  1. Prior to acceptance/ enrollment   

• Medical exam (dated no sooner than 6 months from the first day of school
• Hemoglobin/hematocrit with results (dated no sooner than 6 months from the first day of school or documentation from physician stating test contraindicated)
• Lead assessment or screening with results (or documentation from physician stating test contraindicated)
• TB test with negative results (or documentation from physician stating test contraindicated
• Up-to-date immunization schedule (or documentation from physician stating immunization contraindicated)

  2. Within 45 days of the first day of enrollment

• Health history - completed with parent
• Vision/hearing screenings
• Developmental/speech screenings (2 times per year)
• Height and weight measurement (total of 3 times per year)
• Dental screenings
• Blood pressure screening
• Ongoing treatment throughout the program year

  3. Ongoing - as needed

• Following recommended schedule of well child care
• Any type of necessary diagnostic testing, examination, and treatment
• Speech therapy
• Mental health services
• Occupational therapy
• Developmental assessment 3 times per year

Classroom services to the children

  1. Breakfast, lunch, and snack

• Full-Day receives all 3, equivalent to 2/3 of their daily nutritional needs
• Part-Day a.m. session receives breakfast and lunch, equivalent to 1/3 of their daily nutritional needs
• Part Day p.m. session receives lunch and snack, equivalent to 1/3 of their daily nutritional needs

  2. Registered Dietitian/ Nutrition Consultant

• Monitors centers for environmental safety
• Observes children for nutritional concerns

  3. Mental Health Consultant

• Observes children in the classroom
• Makes referrals to local agencies [SPICE (Services for    Parents, Infants, and Children's Education)], CFC (Children and    Family Connections), Early Start

  4. Early Childhood Referrals to LEA's (local school districts)

  5. Daily tooth brushing

  6. Daily nutrition education during mealtimes

  7. Weekly lesson

• Nutrition 
• Health
• Social skills
• Dental
• Mental health

  8. Monthly multicultural lessons

• Children receive lessons about another culture
• Learn their customs and taste their foods

  9. Ongoing Curriculum   

• Developmentally appropriate curriculum (age appropriate)
• Tailored to individual needs of child in each classroom
• Language
• Developmental
• Music
• Motor (fine and gross)
• Cognitive
• Literature
• Art
  

  10. Center activities - self-selection when children choose the       activities

• Manipulative
• Computer
• Library/listening
• Dramatic play (blocks, dress up)
• Science/sensory
• Creative/art/writing

Health Screenings at Head Start

     The following health screenings are done in the classrooms at Head Start:

Vision-Hearing Screening:
all children are screened. Those unable to pass the screening the first time are rescreened. Those children unable to pass the rescreening are referred for professional evaluation.

Height/Weight Screening:
all children are screened three times a year. Their height and weight are plotted on a graph. Children who are above the 95th percentile or below the 5th percentile for their age will be weighed and measured more often and observed by our Nutrition Consultant.

Speech Screening:
all children are screened for age appropriate speech and language.

Blood Pressure Screening:
all children are screened.

Head Lice and other Communicable  Disease Screenings:
all children are screened on a regular basis, if a reported case occurs in the classroom. Heartland Head Start has, a no nit head lice policy, which follows the public school guidelines.

  

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