Head Start & Early Head Start

Health with a capital "H"

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Infirmity: A feeble or weak state of body or mind. The goal of Head Start is to bring about a greater degree of social competence in children from birth to age five. Social competence is defined as a child's "everyday effectiveness in dealing with both present environment and later responsibilities in school and life."

Head Start and Health

To achieve this goal, Head Start programs offer comprehensive, interdisciplinary services that include education, health, mental health, nutrition, social services, and parent involvement to children and their families. In accordance with its mission, Head Start embraces a comprehensive vision of health for children, families, and staff. The goal is to support healthy physical and mental development by encouraging practices that prevent illness or injury and by promoting positive, culturally relevant health behaviors that enhance life-long well-being.

These services are designed and provided according to the Head Start Program Performance Standards. These are the mandatory regulations to which programs must adhere to ensure that Head Start goals and objectives are implemented successfully, that the Head Start philosophy continues to thrive, and that all grantees and delegate agencies maintain the highest possible quality in providing Head Start services.

What do we do?

Healthy children learn better. Head Start provides quality comprehensive services to make sure that the child is healthy and ready to learn. Services include routine health and developmental screenings for children, such as physical, vision, hearing, dental, mental health and disabilities. Children may qualify for referral to medical providers, in some cases, at low to no cost.

 

Click a link below to see more information about the Health Services offered by FCF as part of the Head Start program.

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Screening

The essential foundation for early learning - in its simplest form it is the capacity to LOVE, WORK, and PLAY; the social, emotional and behavioral well-being of young children and their families….

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Mental Health

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Disabilities