CHILD HEALTH, NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH
Health Services for Head Start and Early Head Start
A Maternal Child Health Nurse and Board Certified Lactation Consultant is responsible for coordinating the delivery of health services to Head Start and Early Head Start participants. All children receive screenings within 45 days of enrollment for hearing and vision. Hearing is the primary learning modality of speech. The Otoacoustic Emissions devise is used to identify hearing loss that may influence language development. The OAE devise is most appropriate for EHS children (including newborns) because it requires no response from the child. Language barriers and special needs populations can be effectively screened. Head Start vision screenings are performed in partnership with The Prevention of Blindness Society. EHS vision screenings are performed using an observational tool created with pediatricians, to help identify gross disturbances in vision such as strabismus.
During the enrollment process we determine if your child has an on-going source of medical and dental care. Our Family Services Staff will help to link families with community health resources including Inova Partnership for Healthy kids, WIC programs, Inova Cares Clinic for Pregnant Women and Children and local health departments.
All medical documents are assessed by a registered nurse. If it is determined that your child has special medical needs, such as medications (while he/she is at school), an individualized health action plan will be developed for your child. This medical action plan is written in coordination with you and your child’s physician to ensure seamless delivery of care.
Pregnant women are served in our EHS program. We promote preconception care and empower women to value their health as a means to improving birth outcomes. Higher Horizons recognizes that breastfeeding is important for optimal child health and development. We provide culturally competent information about breastfeeding and empower women with the skills and confidence necessary to successfully breastfeed.
Higher Horizons has joined the National initiative to prevent obesity. We participated in a pilot study conducted by UCLA and The Johnson / Johnson HCI to educate families on nutrition and diabetes prevention.
Nutrition Services
Higher Horizons Head Start & Early Head Start Program participates in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. Head Start and Early Head Start children receive balanced meals and snacks that include a wide variety of wholesome foods based on the CACFP required meal components. Meals are prepared on site and are served family style; each child is encouraged to serve themselves.
Breakfast & Snack Menus – June 2010
Lunch Menus – June
2010
Head Start and Early Head Start participants receive nutrition assessments by a Registered Dietitian. Diet, height, weight, lead and hemoglobin (a measure of blood iron) and relevant nutrition education are all parts of a nutrition assessment. Parents are offered six weeks of training on healthy eating habits in partnership with the Virginia Cooperative Extension .
Classroom and home visit experiences include nutrition education activities. This is an important way to teach young children about foods, encourage healthy eating behaviors, and help toddlers or preschoolers develop their own good eating habits.
Nutrition education activities take place in many forms for both the children and their families. Recently the children participated in “Rainbow Health Day,” an event held at Higher Horizons in partnership with Wegmans Grocery store. The event helped 3-5 year olds learn the importance of eating fruits and vegetables and engaging in physical activity.
Wegmans has a Summer Management Internship program for their employees who are college students. The program encourages the students to do community volunteer work on Wegmans’ “Make a Difference Day.”
Several of the “Rainbow Health Day” activities revolved around Wegmans’ guide to healthy eating called “Eat a Rainbow Every Day.” The children learned about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables, and the Wegmans volunteers set up a “Rainbow Market” where the children “shopped” for apples, corn, bananas, cucumbers and plums. The children took the produce home, along with nutritional information for their families provided by Wegmans.
Head Start also has a focus on the importance of physical activity. During “Rainbow Health Day,” the Wegmans volunteers played games with the children that involved gross-motor skills, along with activities requiring balance and flexibility. The games were based on the national Head Start office’s “I Am Moving, I Am Learning” initiative, which Higher Horizons implements in conjunction with Nike Go. The “I Am Moving, I Am Learning” initiative is designed to combat childhood obesity by promoting lifelong fitness for Head Start children through increased physical activity and healthy nutrition choices.
Higher Horizons has a garden space for the children to learn about fresh fruits and vegetables.
Staff Wellness
We believe that educated, well-informed employees are the primary ingredients of a healthy and productive workforce. Our program actively promotes and supports the wellness of employees.
Nutrition Links
www.mypyramid.gov/Preschoolers
www.cdc.gov/nutrition/everyone/fruitsvegetables
Mental Health Services
Higher Horizons supports the mental well-being of children and families. Higher Horizons contracts mental health services with qualified and licensed mental health professionals. Children in Higher Horizons are referred for therapeutic services, including direct clinical services and mental health consultation.
Some of the services offered by the mental health program for Head Start and Early Head Start include:
- Two classroom observations annually
– All children are observed. Mental Health
Consultants observe children interacting with their
peers.
- Individual child observations – Teachers
or parents can express concerns to the mental health
consultant. Children are then observed individually
during their interaction with peers.
- Individual mental health services – Children who have been identified by mental health consultants and who have their parents’ permission meet weekly for one hour sessions with the mental health consultant for up to 18 sessions. Extension to services may be granted if clinically necessary.
- Social Skills Group – Play therapy consists
of a small group of children who meet for 30 minutes
each week for 8-12 weeks. Play therapy addresses
topics such as sharing, following directions, physical
boundaries, taking turns, identifying and expressing
feelings, anger control, and problem solving. The
group is facilitated by the mental health consultant
at the Higher Horizons site.
- Individual consultation to parents – Parents may request this specialized service based on their own mental health needs. Parents have the opportunity to share parenting concerns or other family issues with the mental health consultant.
- Consultation with teachers, parents, family service
advocates and home visitors – Planning
services for children and families to share information
and provide suggestions.
- Parent Education – Trainings and workshops are held annually during parent meetings.
- Staff Development – Child development
topics for staff are conducted annually.