dISABILITIES/mENTAL hEALTH
 
 
 
 
  A. DISABILITIES

Head Start extends its services to children with disabilities which include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • health impairment
  • developmentally delayed
  • hearing impairment/deafness
  • speech and/or language impairment
  • visual impairment/blindness
  • emotional/behavioral disorder
  • orthopedic impairment
  • learning disability
  • autism
  • traumatic brain injury

    • HEAD START BENEFITS

    Benefits of participation in Head Start include:

  • support for parents in meeting the special needs of their child
  • improvement of self-image as the child becomes more sociable, independent, and self-reliant
  • the opportunity for children with disabilities to play and learn with other children
  • an individualized approach to the unique needs and capabilities of the child and the child's family

    • THE HEAD START PHILOSOPHY

    The basic Head Start philosophy is to provide all children with individualized care and guidance enabling them to reach their full developmental potential.

    The challenge is great, but the rewards are greater, when we ensure children with special needs have a "Head Start" on life.

    B. MENTAL HEALTH

    After a child has been enrolled into the Head Start program, the child will receive the following Mental Health services from Head Start:

    1. Each Head Start classroom has one formal observation conducted by a Child & Youth Therapist. These observations give the program a report that provides the classroom teacher with suggestions and/or recommendations. Classroom teachers may ask the therapist questions about certain behaviors of their students.

    2. If a classroom teacher observes a typical behavior in one of the students, a "behavior referral" is made to the Disabilities/Mental Health Coordinator. The following may occur as a result of the referral:

    A. The Coordinator does a classroom observation.

    B. If needed, parental permission is obtained for a formal observation by the local mental health center.

    C. The Coordinator, the teacher, the therapist, and the child’s parents meet to discuss and pursue the recommendations mad by the therapist.

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    • Head Start has entered into contracts which enlist the following services from the local mental health center:

    1. Staff and/or parent consultations.

    2. In-service or parent training services.

    3. M-Team attendance, if warranted.

    4. Psychological evaluations and screenings at Head Start sites.

    5. Assistance in planning the Head Start Mental Health program.

    6. Advise and assistance in developmental screenings and assessments.

    7. Service on advisor committees.