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Program Options
Early Childhood Devt. & Health
Services
Family & Community Partnerships
Additional Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Early Childhood Development &
Health Services
Education Services
In order for each child to develop socially, intellectually and
emotionally according to his/her individual requirements, Head Start
classrooms highlight diverse activities: passive and active, individual
and group-related, child and teacher initiated. Integrating learning
with what appears to be simple play focuses children's attention
on productive actions that teach perseverance and self-discipline,
strengthen motor skills, fine-tune manipulative operations and enhance
decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Disabilities/Special Needs Services
With the realization that each child is a unique individual who
brings his/her own challenges to the learning process, developmental
screening procedures help identify children in need of additional
services. Working with the parents, community resources and classroom
staff, individualized plans are provided to help the child develop
to his/her full potential.
Mental Wellness Services
Fostering self-esteem is one of the primary objectives
of the overall program. Through preventative mental health care,
teaching staff are assisted to provide activities which enhance
positive and constructive relationships among children, inspire
children to strive to achieve success in overcoming adjustment problems
or other stressful situations in their lives. Through support groups
and parenting skills programs, parents are provided opportunities
to participate in training to enhance and maintain healthy relationships
within the family. Through community collaborations, the program
provides families with access to a variety of community resources
to help them address their child's or family's needs.
Health Services
Emphasizing the importance of preventative health care, Head Start
ensures that each child/family has primary health and dental care
providers. Each child is required to have a complete physical and
dental examination annually. In addition, there is a health-screening
program to identify potential concerns in such areas as vision,
hearing, blood pressure and physical development. Health Education
is an integral part of Head Start. In order to provide for the safety
and well being of children, parents and staff, an on-going training
program regarding infection control procedures, first aid/CPR and
health maintenance techniques is offered at least annually.
Nutrition Services
Head Start promotes sound physical, social and emotional development
and realizes the important link between proper nutrition and the
ability to learn. All children are assessed for nutritional inadequacies,
and families then are given counseling as needed or wanted. Through
the USDA Childcare Food Program, Head Start daily serves children
a nutritionally balanced breakfast, lunch and P.M. snack. Through
community collaborations, families are provided with referrals to
other nutrition resources as needed. Through on-going training opportunities,
children, parents and staff are offered information aimed at developing
life-long healthy food choices and eating habits.
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