Services Available

Disabilities

Head Start and Early Head Start works closely with families, ECI and local school districts to identify and evaluate children with suspected disabilities who may need individualized plans to meet their unique needs. We promote equitable access and participation to the full range of Head Start/Early Head Start program activities and advocate for provision of services in the least restrictive settings appropriate to the needs of each child.

Education

We provide classroom experiences which:

• Help children become ready for school

• Develop children’s skills with hands-on activities

• Help children learn to be safe and healthy

• Support children’s development appropriately

• Support children with disabilities or delays

• Offer opportunity for parent to sign up/obtain Learning Genie app for classroom/program information

Family Services

Head Start supports each family to build on their individual strengths and to meet their own needs to become self-sufficient. The family services staff will partner with you to develop a Family Partnership Agreement (FPA). The FPA is a process that will help identify your family’s strengths and assist in setting goals and developing skills that will prepare your family for the future. You will have continued support to meet your goals during regular contact with the family services staff.

The Staff Can:

• Assist in identifying the family’s interests and needs

• Link families to community resources

• Provide assistance for adult education: GED, ESL and college information

• Serve as an advocate or spokesperson

• Provide emergency assistance or crisis intervention

• Provide assistance with the Medicaid, CHIP and SNAP application process

• Initiate a transition plan for EHS child at 30 months

Tell your teacher or family services staff if your family needs help.

Health Services

Head Start supports our children and families health and well-being by providing the following services:

• Establishment of a “medical home”

• Establishment of a “dental home”

• Early identification of health problems

• Screenings/assessments:

» Vision

» Hearing

» Dental

» Medical

» Lead

» Hemoglobin

» Nutrition

» Growth – Height/Weight

» Developmental

» Mental Wellness

• Assistance with scheduling initial medical exam and initial dental exam

• Referrals for medical or dental care

• Assistance in scheduling follow-up care when needed

• Assistance in applying for and maintaining Medicaid, CHIP or SNAP

• Daily tooth brushing in the classroom with fluoride toothpaste (under guidance of local health department and CDC)

• Health education for children and parents

Mental Wellness

Mental Wellness supports children’s and families’ positive mental health by connecting to community resources.

In early childhood, children learn to:

Build attachments and relationships with others
Explore and try new things on their own
Understand and manage emotions

For more information, please talk with your Family Services Assistant or your child’s teacher.

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