Health
BRAD Child Development Programs is committed to wellness embraced by a comprehensive vision of health for children, families, and staff. This ensures that through collaboration among families, staff, and health professionals, all child health and developmental concerns are identified and children and families are linked to an ongoing source of continuous, assessable care to meet their basic needs. Head Start encourages families who qualify to apply for state-funded health insurance programs.
In collaboration with the parent, but no later than 45 calendar days, each child must receive a hearing and vision and developmental screening. Within 90 calendar days from the child’s entry date, each child must receive a physical and dental exam.
Preventive dental services and treatment ensures that children’s teeth and gums are healthy and that dental health problems do not affect the child’s overall health. One of the most effective means of preventing tooth decay is fluoridation. Head Start partners with local dentists to provide dental exams for children or refer them to local dentists for exams.
Head Start and local county health departments partner together to prepare children for Head Start as well as Kindergarten. Immunizations are kept current through county health units as well as other medical facilities.
Safety
In emergency situations, staff members are prepared to act quickly to ensure the health and well-being of each child. Our staff are trained and certified in First Aid and CPR.
A written plan for evacuating and responding fires, floods, tornados, earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards, power failures or violence in the community saves valuable time in emergency situations. Our centers have posted emergency evacuation and escape routes, assignments for all staff and location of the nearest fire alarm. These emergency drills are practiced regularly in each classroom.
For the safety of all children, a child with a short-term contagious illness, may be temporarily excluded from program participation and center-based activities or group experiences. This is for only a short-term period. Keeping the child in care poses a significant risk to the health or safety of other children or anyone in contact with the child.
