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Social Services area, within Head Start, is designed to
help families receive services they need and want. A
Family Resource Specialist will be assigned to work with
the families of enrolled children. The Family Resource
Specialist can provide the following services: 1.
Referrals to other agencies and follow-up to assure the
services have been provided. They can also serve as a
spokesperson for the family, if requested.
2.
Support services, including:
a. Counseling b.
Clothing
c. Transportation
to service agencies and Head Start
meetings
3.
Recruitment and enrollment of eligible children.
4.
Social Service resource booklets and training on
available resources in each community.
5.
Working with parents as advocates for families, including
the identification of inadequate or non-existent services.
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.
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.
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