Health Services

Individual Health Plan: if your child has a health need or condition requiring special care, the teaching staff needs to be informed of all related information. Ask your teacher or FRA for a copy of the Individual Health Plan.

If your child has a food allergy or is on a special diet, contact the Health and Nutrition Manager and alert your child's teaching staff. If food substitutions are to be made for your child, signed documentation from a physician or clergy person must be on file at Head Start.

Blood Pressure Screening: Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the heart works to pump blood through the body's arteries and veins. The blood pressure measurement, if not indicated on a newly enrolled child's physical exam, is taken by Heartland Head Start staff with the use of a child-size blood pressure cuff within the first 45 days of enrollment. Children returning to Head Start for a second year also have their blood pressure measured within the first 45 days of attending school.

Dental Screening: The dental screening includes a cleaning, application of varnish, and visual dental exam by a licensed dentist. All enrolled children receive this screening within the first 45 days of attending school. If dental treatment needs are discovered on a child during the screening, that child is referred by Head Start staff to an area dentist for treatment.

Hemoglobin Screening: Hemoglobin is a protein (containing iron) in the blood that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Newly enrolled (first year) children must have a Hemoglobin (or Hematocrit) result dated no more than six months from the first day of school attendance. After a child's enrollment, hemoglobin screenings are done in accordance with the child's annual renewal date. If treatment needs are discovered during the screening, Head Start staff will work with the child's parent(s) to obtain further medical evaluation and treatment if necessary.

Lead Screening: Lead, a poisonous metal, contains a neurotoxin that is harmful to developing young children. Children may be exposed to lead poisoning from a variety of environmental sources. The best way to detect elevated lead levels is through a blood test. This test is required for all Medicaid-eligible children. A contraindication (Dr. documenting that the child does not need) of this test is not acceptable. Children should receive this test at 12 months and 24 months of age. Children between the ages of 36-72 months must also have a screening if one has not previously been conducted. Newly enrolled (first year) children must have this screening before the first day of attending school.

Hearing Screening: The hearing screening, conducted by certified screening technicians with the help of Head Start staff, measures how well your child hears a wide range of sound. All enrolled children receive this screening within the first 45 days of attending school. Rescreenings are conducted when necessary. If hearing treatment needs are discovered on a child during the rescreening, that child is referred by Head Start staff to an area doctor or clinic for further evaluation and treatment if necessary.

Vision Screening: The vision screening, conducted by certified screening technicians with the help of Head Start staff, measures how well your child can see certain objects at specific distances. All enrolled children receive this screening within the first 45 days of attending school. Rescreening are conducted when necessary. If vision treatment needs are discovered on a child during the rescreening, that child is referred by health department and Head Start staff to an area doctor or clinic for further evaluation and treatment if necessary.

Height and Weight Measurements: Every enrolled child's height and weight are measured three times per year by Heartland Head Start staff. Height and weight measurements identify growth rates and whether a child is underweight or overweight for his or her age. 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 the Nutrition Consultant. When Head Start staff identify concerns about a child's growth rate, they will contact the parent(s) and work with them to address the issue.

Speech Screening: Children are screened for appropriate speech and language by the Heartland Head Start staff. If treatment needs are identified, children will be referred to the local school district by the Disabilities and Mental Health Manager.

The health of Heartland Head Start children and families is a priority to the program staff. Every child at Heartland Head Start will receive health screenings at various times during the program year.

Nutrition services and education are also a significant part of the Head Start Program. Breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack are served to the children each day of school. The length of your child's day determines the meals he/she is served. If your child has a food allergy or is on a special diet, contact the Health and Nutrition Manager and alert your child's teaching staff. If food substitutions are to be made for your child, signed documentation from a physician or clergy person must be on file at Head Start.

Full-Day children receive two meals and a snack, equivalent to 2/3 of their daily nutritional needs.

Part-Day, morning session children receive breakfast and lunch, equivalent to 1/3 of their daily nutritional needs.

Part-Day, afternoon session children receive lunch and snack, equivalent to 1/3 of their daily nutritional needs.

Your child will benefit from the nutrition program in many ways. Head Start staff work to ensure that meal time:

Meals at all sites except blended day care sites are catered. Menus are prepared by Head Start staff in conjunction with Head Start's Registered Dietician Consultant. All meals meet USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines (see Meal Chart) Parents will receive a menu at the beginning of each month (look for it in your child's book bag).

For a complete copy of the Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Chart or Grain/Breads Chart, contact the Health/Nutrition Manager.

The Child and Adult Care Food Program is available to all children without regard to race, color, sex, handicap, age or national origin. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in a USDA-related activity should write to:

Medications are only to be administered according to DCFS regulations and only when prescribed by the child’s physician. Heartland Head Start does not administer ANY drugs, (over-the-counter or prescription) without signed authorization from a physician. Any drugs that are to be given to the child at school must be brought to the center by a parent and not sent to school on the bus with the child.

To obtain a copy of the Medication Administration Record form, contact your child’s family resource advisor (FRA) or teacher.

Communicable Diseases and Emergency Care

Head Start will send notes home with your child when a communicable disease occurs in the classroom. If your child should become ill or injured at school, you will be contacted immediately.

If a child needs emergency care because of an accident or illness that occurs while the child is in Heartland Head Start’s care, staff shall attempt to contact the child’s parent(s) at the phone numbers provided for that purpose. If unable to locate the parents, Heartland Head Start will document attempts to do so and maintain the documentation in the child’s file. Parents can help assure that they can be located at the time of an emergency by keeping their child’s Emergency Card updated as changes occur.
Major and minor accidents or illnesses which happen to a child at Heartland Head Start shall be recorded in the file and parents shall be notified.

Reports of all incidents and injuries involving children shall be prepared by the person responsible for the child at the time of the occurrence and shall include:

*The time and place of the incident or injury and details about how it occurred;

*When medical care is necessary, a statement will be signed by the physician attending the child, describing the nature and extent of the injury.

Child Illnesses

Children shall be screened upon arrival daily for any obvious signs of illness. If symptoms of illness are present, the staff shall determine whether they are able to care for the child safely, based on apparent degree of illness, other children present, and facilities available to care for the ill child. Children with diarrhea and those with a rash combined with fever (oral temperature of 101 degrees or higher) shall not be admitted to the center while symptoms persist, and shall be removed as soon as possible should these symptoms develop while the child is in Heartland Head Start’s care. Children need not be excluded for a minor illness unless any of the following exists, in which case exclusion from the center is required:

Illness which prevents the child from participating comfortably in program activities
Illness which calls for greater care than staff can provide without compromising the health and safety of other children
Unusual lethargy, irritability, persistent crying, difficulty breathing or toher signs of possible severe illness
Diarrhea and / or vomiting two or more times in the previous 24 hours, unless vomiting is determined to be due to a non-communicable condition and the child is not in danger of dehydration
Mouth sores associated with the child’s ability to control his or her saliva, until the child’s physician or the local health department states that the child is non infectious
Rash with fever or behavior change, unless a physician has determined the illness to be non-communicable
Purulent conjunctivitis, until 24 hours after treatment has been initiated
Impetigo, until 24 hours after treatment has been initiated
Strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis) until 24 hours after treatment has been initiated and until the child has been without fever for 24 hours
Head lice (see head lice policy on page 24 of the parent handbook)
Scabies, until the morning after the first treatment
Chicken pox (varicella) until at least six days after the onset of rash
Whooping cough (pertussis) until five days of antibiotic treatment have been completed
Mumps, until nine days after onset of parotid gland swelling
Measles, until four days after disappearance of the rash
Symptoms which may be indicative of one of the serious, communicable diseases as identified by the Illinois Department of Public Health—your physician and local health department has that listing
Space shall be provided for a child who becomes ill at the center. Such space shall be ventilated and heated, within sight an hearing of an adult and equipped with a cot and materials that can be easily cleaned and sanitized.
Heartland Head Start shall report any known or suspected case or carrier of communicable disease to local health authorities and comply with the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Control of Communicable Diseases Code. Heartland Head Start shall maintain a file of reported illnesses, which may indicate a possible infectious disease.

Head Lice

Heartland Head Start has a “No Nit Policy” concerning head lice, which means all children must be free of all live head lice AND eggs/nits. The teaching staff conduct the head lice checks. If any head lice are detected, the child will return home. The process will be repeated until the child is lice and nit free.

Transportation of the Ill Child

When a child is ill or injured, the teacher determines the degree of injury or illness, and determines place of care and mode of transportation. Please see section on Emergency Care for additional information.

Children whose parents cannot provide transportation and who need to be transported due to an illness or for medical appointments will go with TWO adults in the Head Start van.

Student Emergency Card

Each child must have a completed Student Emergency Card on file in the classroom and at the main office. Parents and staff must work together to make sure the information on these cards is current at all times. Please notify staff of any change in your employment, address, phone or other emergency contacts. Your child will not be released to anyone who is NOT on the Student Emergency Card. If the parent/guardian refuses to complete the Emergency Card on the basis of religious grounds, a plan must be established by the parent/guardian to access the services of a certified practitioner.

The Head Start Program seeks to foster a child's mental and emotional well-being so that all Head Start children and their families can achieve their fullest emotional, social and intellectual development. Communication about a child's mental health can occur through formal and informal opportunities, home visits, and parent/teacher meetings. The information drawn from this communication is utilized to help individualize services for each child. Heartland Head Start has Mental Health Consultants who are available to discuss particular concerns with parents and staff. Head Start encourages the appreciation of individual differences and recognizes the need for a supportive environment for all children.

Head Start is often the least restrictive environment for pre-school age children. Children with disabilities can receive special services, while attending school with their same age peers. Head Start works closely with the Public School system to ensure that children will receive the services they need a variety of Head Start services are available to both children and their families with special needs. Heartland Head Start is an equal opportunity educational institution. No participant shall be discriminated against for any reason in recruitment, admissions, programs and/or services.

Children with disabilities receive all Head Start services. In addition, Head Start staff collaborate with community agencies and school districts to provide extra services to meet the special needs of children with disabilities.

Meal	Food Component Served	Portion Size
Breakfast	Fluid Milk	3/4 cup
	Juice or Fruit or Vegetable	1/2 cup
	Grains/Breads*	1/2 cup serving or 1/3 cup or 1/2 oz

Lunch	Fluid Milk	3/4 cup
	Meat/Meat Alternate	1 1/2 oz
	Vegetable and Fruit (2 or more)	1/2 cup total
	Grains/Breads*	1/2 cup serving or 1/3 cup or 1/2 oz

Snack Select 2 different components	Fluid Milk	1/2 cup
	Juice** or Fruit or Vegetable	1/2 cup
	Meat/Meat Alternate	1/2 oz
	Grains/Breads*	1/2 serving or 1/3 cup or 1/2 oz