Family Handbook: Health and Nutrition
Table of Contents
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I. Nutrition
York County Head Start participates in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a Federal program that provides healthy meals and snacks to children receiving care. For more information on CACFP, read APPENDIX: CACFP and CACFP Non-Discrimination Statement.
All enrolled children in our Program are served nutritious meals during their day. Children attending four (4) hours per day will receive breakfast and lunch; if attending five (5) hours or more will receive breakfast, lunch and snack. Children are encouraged to serve themselves and pour their own milk and water. Culturally inclusive menus are sent home to families monthly, so you will be kept informed on what is being served to your children. See sample monthly menu in APPENDIX: Sample Monthly Menu.
Much of the learning for children takes place during meal times. Sometimes familiar foods are prepared in different ways or new foods are introduced. Children and adults talk about healthy eating along with likes and dislikes. Children are encouraged to try each food; however, they are never forced.
Breastfeeding
The Program accepts breast milk in ready to feed sanitary containers labeled with the infants’ name on them, and date it was expressed. It must be used within 96 hours or discarded. If you do not breastfeed your child, formula is provided by the Program. Only sanitized bottles (BPA free) will be used and will be provided by the Program. Solids such as cereal will not be added to the bottle unless your doctor supplies written information and a medical reason for this practice. Bottles will never be warmed in the microwave oven, since it is a dangerous practice. Children will be fed bottles and food as it is introduced, on demand. Only formula or breastmilk will be served up to the age of 12 months.
Breastfeeding mothers are welcome to come in to breastfeed their child. Accommodations will be made for breastfeeding mothers to nurse in rooms outside the classroom. Contact will need to be made with the child’s teacher or the Center Manager prior to arrival, or a plan with determined times can be pre-arranged.
Frozen Breast milk: Previously frozen, thawed breast milk, kept in the refrigerator, must be used within 24 hours. In accordance with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, frozen, labeled, and dated breast milk may be kept for 6 months in classroom freezer compartments. Frozen breastmilk shall be thawed under running cold water or in the refrigerator.
Special Diets
If your child has any dietary restrictions or accommodations, our Health/Nutrition Manager, will help to create a Special Diet Care Plan with you before your child begins attending the Program. The Special Diet Care Plan identifies if the child has any food allergies, intolerances, or any other special diet needs due to medical, religious, or personal reasons. A physician signed medical statement stating the reason for a dietary restriction or accommodation, and substitutions/modifications, is needed for any child that has a special diet due to medical reasons.
Any food requested to be withheld because of medical, religious or personal preference must be listed as a dietary need on the Special Diet Care Plan form, and signed by you, your child’s teacher and the Health/Nutrition Manager, prior to implementation. After the Special Diet Care Plan form is completed, the Health/Nutrition Manager will modify the menu and inform kitchen staff.
Families and children will learn about healthy foods and good nutrition at Head Start through weekly nutrition activities and monthly newsletters. The WIC program helps to support our nutritional services throughout the county. If your child/ren and family are not enrolled in WIC, talk to your Liaison about how to enroll. When appropriate, children are involved with meal preparation and clean-up.
! Your input in planning the monthly menus is a great way to contribute In-Kind time!
“No Food IN-No Food OUT” Policy
II. Health Services
Our goal is good health for your child and your entire family. We will work with you to help your child learn how to keep their body healthy and safe. Healthy eating, getting medical and dental checkups, taking medicine are some of the topics that we teach the children in the Program.
Head Start provides the following screenings within 45 days of your chilod’s enrollment and as needed throughout the school year: hearing, vision, height, and weight.
Upon joining the Program, you will be asked to sign a release of information form. This release lets our staff talk with your child’s doctor and dentist’s office and to request necessary documentation, so that they remain up to date throughout the school year.
If you do not have a doctor or dentist for your child, or lack of insurance, then our staff will help you and your family. We will support you through the process of obtaining MaineCare services. If MaineCare or other sources of funding are not available, a program may use program funds for professional medical and oral health services. When program funds are used for such services, it is required to have written documentation of efforts to access other available sources of funding.
Required Health Documentation for Early Head Start Students
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- Immunization (shot) Record Maine State Licensing requires that every child has up-to-date immunization records. Children who do not have immunization records received by the Program, or proof of exemption will not be able to attend school after 30 days, and may be in jeopardy of losing their slot. If an immunization record is received, but child is not up to date based on their age, documentation showing child is on a ‘catch-up’ schedule will be required. * Yearly Influenza and COVID vaccines are recommended.
- Age-appropriate Well Child Check (including height, weight, and documentation of lead test results at 12 months and 24 months) will be obtained. *Well Child Visit exams will be requested at pre-determined intervals based on the child’s age throughout the Program year.
- Dental Exam Record We will request dental records if available. If a child needs a dentist but does not have one, we will help find available dental providers in the area. *A clinical oral exam is recommended at the eruption of the first tooth, and no later than 12 months.
Required Health Documentation for Head Start Students
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- Immunization (shot) Record Maine State Licensing requires that every child has up-to-date immunization records. Children who do not have immunization records received by the Program, or proof of exemption may not be able to attend school after 30 days, and may be in jeopardy of losing their slot. If an immunization record is received, but child is not up to date based on their age, documentation showing child is on a ‘catch-up’ schedule will be required. *Yearly Influenza and a COVID-19 vaccines are recommended
- Physical Exam Record Records for the most recent physical exam for every child will be obtained
- Dental Exam Record We will request dental records if available. All children are required to have a dental exam at 12 months of age. If a child needs a dentist but does not have one, we will help find available dental providers in the area.
Sleeping
Early Head Start: Infants and toddlers have unique needs. All infants will be placed on their backs to sleep in accordance with Safe Sleep, as well as having no stuffed toys or soft objects in the crib. Each child up to 18 months will have a crib available; toddlers will have a mat available. Individual care will be given to each child’s sleeping patterns. Blankets are not permitted in cribs; however, sleep sacks are available for each child.
Head Start: All of our full-day Head Start classrooms allow children time to nap/rest each day. Classrooms operating four (4) hours per day are not required nap/rest time. By following the Rules for the Licensing of Child Care Facilities for the State of Maine and also Office of Head Start Performance Standards, children are supervised at all times by HS Staff.
When hours of operation permit nap/rest time, each child has their own cot for rest that is disinfected daily. Cozy items from home, that your child would like to bring for nap are wonderful, but we are limited on space so plan to only bring items that can be stored neatly in your child’s backpack or cubby.
Rest time activities are offered to children who do not nap/rest.
Pacifiers
Diapering
Toilet Training
Exclusion due to Illness
Children with symptoms will be excluded. Depending on the symptoms presented, you will need to contact your medical provider to determine the exclusion and class return. This is not at the discretion of school staff. Documentation of medical determination will be required upon returning to the classroom.
The following strategies are in place and follow most updated CDC guidance:
- Staff and children are required to remain home when experiencing symptoms of illness (see APPENDIX: Exclusion Criteria) and away from others until at least 24 hours after
- Symptoms are getting better overall, AND
- Not having a fever without the use of fever-reducing medication.
- Staff and children are required to remain home when experiencing symptoms of illness (see APPENDIX: Exclusion Criteria) and away from others until at least 24 hours after
! If your child is going to be absent, please notify your Teacher either via Learning Genie or call the classroom. Failure to call puts your child at risk to be put on Attendance Plan.
All children presenting general signs of illness such as fever, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, sore throat, coughing, shortness of breath, lethargy will be treated as follows:
- The child will be immediately isolated from other children and any adults not necessary for care;
- We will call you or a person on your Emergency Contact to pick them up immediately (within 30 minutes);
- In case of emergency, we will call 911 for guidance/assistance.
If your child is exposed to anything contagious at school, the staff will notify you with instructions to follow.
Management of Communicable Diseases
In an event a child is diagnosed with a communicable disease, York County Head Start follows the State of Maine procedures for exclusion and readmission. Learn more visit State of Maine website (maine.gov) and search for Communicable Diseases Quick Guide for Schools and Child-Care Centers in Maine (click this link if accessing this document in a digital format).
York County Head Start/ Early Head Start follows the Rules for the Licensing of Child Care Facilities. Section 17.1.3 states: “In the event of a disease outbreak, children not vaccinated for medical reasons must be excluded from the Program until the outbreak no longer exists or until the child received the necessary immunization.”
Medications
In accordance with York County Head Start Medical Policy and Head Start Performance Standard 1304.22(c)(3), a facility must “obtain physician’s instruction and written parental or guardian authorizations for all medications administered by staff.”
If at some point during the program year, your child may be taking a prescription for a short-term illness, please plan with your child’s doctor to give your child the medicine before and/or after the school day whenever possible.
If your child regularly takes medication for ongoing health needs, we follow an established Medication Policy and an Individualized Health Plan will be set up by the Health/Nutrition Manager. Your input is required at this meeting. No medication can be given at Head Start without a current Individualized Health Plan and signed directions from your child’s doctor.
Please remember that we will NOT administer any medicine without either doctor’s instructions (for prescription and/or topical medication) and parental consent (for non-medicated over-the-counter products).
Over-the-Counter Products and Medications
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- In their original container;
- Clearly marked with child’s name;
- The manufacturer of the product must have an established Material Safety Data Sheet;
- Products must only be used for their intended use;
- Product will be applied in accordance with the label instructions at all times.
Head Lice/Fleas
Head lice are common in settings where large groups of children come together, and is not a sign of poor hygiene. Transmission occurs by direct contact with hair of infested people and less commonly by direct contact with personal items of infested people. Head lice survive less than one to two days if they fall off a person and cannot feed. Even though head lice may cause discomfort, they are not responsible for the spread of any disease.
Should life lice be found on a child
- Parents/guardians of affected children will be notified of their presence. It will be left up to the discretion of the individual family whether the child is picked up early, or at the end of the day;
- Parents/guardians will be informed the child can return to class after appropriate treatment has begun. Nits may persist after treatment, but successful treatment should kill crawling lice;
- Upon returning to the classroom, the child must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or emergency contact for a recheck to ensure treatment has occurred and no live lice are present. Rechecking of children will be done outside of the classroom in a private setting:
- Reaching out to the child’s primary physician for guidance on appropriate and effective treatments will be encouraged. Lice kits can be provided upon request.
Fleas can be a problem in classrooms and even if there are no pets in the Centers, they can be brought in on clothing of staff, students, or visitors. Fleas can be responsible for the spread of certain diseases, cause irritation, and cause serious allergies. They are typically smaller than 1/8 in size and are able to jump from host to host.
Should life fleas be found on a child
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- Staff will discourage activities that encourage contact with other children;
- Parents/guardians of affected children will be notified of their presence. It will be left up to the discretion of the individual family whether the child is picked up early, or at the end of the day;
- Parents/guardians will be informed the child can return to class after appropriate treatment has begun;
- Reaching out to the child’s primary physician for guidance on appropriate and effective treatments will be encouraged.
Emergency Preparedness Procedures
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- Our teachers are CPR and First Aid certified;
- We will provide emergency First Aid and call 911, if needed;
- We will call you at home, school or at work. If you are not available, we will call an emergency contact that you have listed on your Emergency form. This form ! must be updated immediately if phone numbers for you or your emergency contacts, doctors or dentists change. This form also states that your child may be treated in a hospital in case of serious injury or illness when we are unable to reach you or your emergency contacts.
Serious Injury
Incident Reporting
Table of Contents
History
Mission
The People at the Program
Transportation
Arrival and Pick Up
Attendance and Absences
Suspension and Expulsion
Cancellations and Delays
Outdoor Activities
Field Trips
Celebrations and Diversity
Open Door Policy
Curriculum and Assessment
Learning Genie
School Readiness
Educational Home Visits
Dual Language Learner
Special Services
Behavioral Health Services
Transitions
Parent and Family Engagement
Policy Council
Family Linkz
Classroom Family Engagement
Volunteer
In-Kind
Breastfeeding
Special Diets
“No Food IN- No Food OUT” Policy
Sleeping
Pacifiers
Diapering
Toilet Training
Exclusion due to Illness
Management of Communicable Diseases
Medications
Over-the-Counter Products and Medication
Head Lice/Fleas
Emergency Preparedness Procedures
Serious Injury
Incident Reporting
Rights of Children
Tobacco-Free Policy
Weapons Policy
Car Seat Safety
Mandatory Reporting: Child Abuse and Neglect
Mandatory Reporting: Domestic Violence
Use of Pesticides
Lead Testing
Professional Boundaries
Confidentiality
Centers’ Capacity
Classrooms’ Location and Hours of Operation
Temporary Exclusion due to Illness
CACFP
CACFP Non-Discrimination Statement
Sample Daily Schedule
In-kind Ideas
Sample Monthly Menu
Oral Health Tips
Lead Poisoning Prevention