Head Start and Early Head Start Programs are required to have documentation that each child has had health screenings each year.
The child’s pediatrician or dentist do most of the screening at the child’s scheduled appointments.
It is important that parents take required documentation to the Head Start center. In that way, children do not have to have screenings that are completed and timely.
However, with parent permission, health staff or outside groups do or recheck some screenings in the center’s health room.
Immunizations
DHR requires that all children in our centers provide documentation that confirms that their vaccinations are up-to-date for their age. The child’s pediatrician, or sometimes the Health Department, can provide a copy of the “shot” record. If a child is not vaccinated fully, before the child can enter (or stay) in the center, the pediatrician must complete a certified waiver.
We request that parents bring the shot record to Early/Head Start Parent Orientation so staff can enter the information into our data system before the start of school. Using that system, health staff will contact you during the year when your child’s shot record is about to expire.
We cannot allow children who do not have up-to-date immunization records to be in a center. This is a DHR rule. Please keep your child’s immunizations up-to-date. Attendance is very important to your child’s school readiness. When we have documentation confirming all shots are up-to-date the child may enter/return to the center.
Physical/ Well child checkup
We strongly recommend that all of your children receive an annual well child/baby health check by the pediatrician or nurse practitioner. Bring a copy of your child’s most recent well child/baby check up to Early/Head Start orientation so that staff can review the information before the start of school.
Staff uses this information to make sure that your child has no health problems that would limit his/her education. The well child/baby checkup documents provide some of the health screening information Head Start requires. That keeps your child from needing as many screenings at the center.
Well child check-ups can prevent problems. Please keep a calendar showing when your child’s next check-up is due. Writing down future medical and dental appointments (or when to call to schedule the next one) is a good habit to build and have.
While your child is in Early/Head Start, center health staff will contact you to remind you to take your child back to the pediatrician when your child is due to receive another check-up. Please bring us the documentation of those visits right after they are complete.
Dental Exams
Preventative dental screenings/exams/teeth cleanings are important for your child’s health. Dental visits should start at age one! The dentist will not do much at the first visit. The visit is for the child to get to know the office and the dentist and get more comfortable with the idea of being there. It gives you a chance to consider choosing another dentist of you are not comfortable with the first one you tried.
By age three, your child should see a dentist regularly. If your child does not have a regular dentist our staff can refer you to one of the local pediatric dentists who will work with your child’s dental insurance (Medicaid or private) or lack of insurance.
If your child is entering our center and has had a past recent dental appointment, bring this documentation to the Early/Head Start Parent Orientation.
While your child is in Early/Head Start, center health staff will contact you to remind you to take your child back to the dentist when your child is due to receive another check-up and cleaning. Please bring or send us the documentation of those visits after they are complete.
Developmental Assessments
To ensure that your child is developing appropriately for his/her age, we screen all the Early and Head Start children. We use the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ- 3). The ASQ-3 assesses five areas: gross motor, fine motor, communication, personal-social, and problem solving.
Some of our staff are trained to use the ASQ to assess children. We also work with outside agencies, including Help Me Grow, to help screen.
Growth Assessments
We measure children’s height and weight every fall and spring. Our Registered Dietitian reviews each child’s growth assessment results. She uses this data (along with other nutritional information such as the form parents complete) to ensure that each child is growing normally for his/her height, weight, and age.
Hearing Screening
Good hearing is essential for learning. We do hearing screenings for all Early and Head Start children every year and in some cases more than once. Health staff in each center have been trained to use the audiometer or an OAE device (depending on your child’s age). When it is possible to schedule, nursing students from various schools help with hearing screening
Vision Screening
Good vision is essential to learn effectively. If the child cannot see well there are ways to help including corrective exercises or glasses. Focus First does vision screenings at all of our centers for Head Start and some Early Head Start children. The parent of every child receives paperwork in the Orientation packet from Focus First to complete and return.
Trained volunteers take pictures of each child’s eyes with a special camera. A professional reviews the pictures. This method can find concerns that a simple vision screening done by a doctor or the health staff does not. Of course, when a child fails to learn well, these problems finally will be found – but why wait? Focus First automatically makes referrals for follow-up if needed and helps families get whatever is needed to help children with vision problems.
If there is a problem on any screening for a child, the parent is notified.