Hillsborough County Head Start/Early Head Start is committed to the wellness of the infants, toddlers and children enrolled in the program. This is implemented through a comprehensive vision of overall health of the child, which translates into screenings, care, monitoring and referrals.
The staff of the health and nutrition section ensure that health screenings are completed for every enrolled child and ensures that all children have a medical home (a medical care provider). They also monitor physical and immunization records to ensure they are kept up to date as well as provide nutritional education to parents and caregivers. All children attending Hillsborough County Head Start receive a nutritious breakfast, hot lunch and snack. For those children who have a health condition that can affect learning, staff develop an Individual Health Plan to set goals and outline interventions to provide ongoing care and monitoring of the child.
Families play a very important role in their child’s wellness as primary caregivers. The program relies on families to provide vital information about their child’s health and development and these concerns are carefully addressed. Participation in health promotion activities, well-child care, treatment for health problems, follow-up health care, and in training and information sessions on child health and development is strongly encouraged.
Hillsborough County Head Start/Early Head Start’s program is one of the largest food and nutrition programs for pre-school children in Hillsborough County, serving over 1,300 meals daily and over 1 million annually. |
