Health Services Toolkit

NATIONAL HEAD START HEALTH SERVICES INSTITUTE

Conference Agenda with Video and Resources
http://www.hsnrc.org/Healthinstitute/index.cfm
     The purpose of the National Head Start Health Services Institute was to establish a baseline knowledge about health services in Head Start, so that participants return to their agencies with a shared vision, commitment, and plan for improving the health of children, families, and staff in Head Start. The focus was going back to the basics to discuss full implementation of the Head Start Program Performance Standards and to emphasize health as an integral part of a comprehensive Head Start program.

LEGISLATION AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

Head Start Act
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/budget/index.htm#head
     Text of the legislation, as amended October 27, 1998, which establishes the Head Start program.

Head Start Act Section 641A
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/budget/headstartact.htm#quality
     This section pertains to the establishment, measurement, and monitoring of quality standards in Head Start programs.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.1 - Purpose and Scope
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304A.htm
     This part describes regulations implementing sections 641A, 644(a) and (c), and 645A(h) of the Head Start Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.). 641A(a) directs the Secretary to issue regulations establishing performance standards and minimum requirements with respect to health, education, parent involvement, nutrition, social, transition, and other Head Start services as well as administrative and financial management, facilities, and other appropriate program areas. Includes definitions related to health.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.3 - Definitions
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304A.htm
     Includes definitions of health-related terms.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.20 - Child Health and Developmental Services
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304b1.htm
     The standards in this section address the initial determination of a child's health status and developmental needs, and discuss ongoing services provided in collaboration with parents and professional service providers.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.21 -Education and Early Childhood Development
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304b1.htm
     Development of self-control -- 1304.21 (a)(3)(i)(C)
     Emotional stability -- 1304.21 (a)(3)(ii); 1304.21(c)(1)(iv) –(vi)
     Physical development -- 1304.21(a)(5)(i); 1304.21(a)(6); 1304.21(b)(3)(i);
     Integration of health, nutrition and mental health services into program activities –
        1304.21 (c)(1)(iii);

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.22 - Child Health and Safety
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304b3.htm
     Health emergency procedures, conditions of short-term exclusion, medication administration, injury prevention, hygiene, and first aid kits are covered in this section.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.23 - Child Nutrition
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304b4.htm
     Five areas: the identification of each child's nutritional needs; the design and implementation of nutritional services programs; meal service in center-based programs; family assistance with nutrition; and food safety and nutrition are addressed.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.24 - Child Mental Health
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304b5.htm
     The Child Mental Health standards cover working collaboratively with parents, securing the services of mental health professionals, and developing a regular schedule of on-site mental health consultations involving mental health professionals, program staff, and parents.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.40(f) - Parent Involvement in Health, Nutrition, and Mental Health Education
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304c1.htm
     Grantee and delegate agencies must provide medical, dental, nutrition, and mental health education programs for program staff, parents, and families.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1304.52 - Human Resources Management
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1304/1304_d3.htm
     The organizational structure of agencies, staff qualifications, classroom staffing and home visitor requirements, staff standards of conduct, staff performance appraisals, and staff and volunteer health requirements are detailed. Training and development for staff, consultants, volunteers, and members of policy groups and governing bodies also are discussed.

Head Start Program Performance Standards and Other Regulations, 1308 - Head Start Performance Standards on Services for Children with Disabilities
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/performance/1308/1308.htm
     The purpose of this part is to ensure that children with disabilities enrolled in Head Start Programs receive all the services to which they are entitled under the Head Start Program Performance Standards at 45 CFR part 1304, as amended.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES

Training Guide

Head Start Bureau. Caring for Children with Chronic Conditions. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1998.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/children_cc/ccccont.htm
     This technical training guide is intended to help staff understand the nature and impact of chronic conditions and to help programs achieve the planning, training and skills needed to care safely for children with chronic conditions.

Web Resources

Children With Special Health Care Needs Bibliography of Materials from MCHLine
http://www.mchlibrary.info/databases/bibmenu.html
     Early identification, culturally competent care, health care delivery, health insurance, nutrition and oral health for children with special health care needs are the focus of this bibliography produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

Knowledge Path: Children with Special Health Care Needs http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/index.html
     Current, high quality resources for primary care health professionals and families regarding children with special health care needs include bibliography, web sites, electronic publications, and databases. Produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
     NCBDDD has three primary objectives: promoting optimal fetal, infant and child development; preventing birth defects and childhood developmental disabilities; and enhancing the quality of life and preventing secondary conditions among children and adolescents, and adults who are living with a disability.

DIVERSITY

Web Resources

Culturally Competent Services Bibliography of Materials from MCHLine
http://www.mchlibrary.info/databases/bibmenu.html
     Assessing services for cultural sensitivity, developing culturally sensitive materials, and providing services in a multicultural health care context are the focal points of this bibliography produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

Knowledge Path: Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health
http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/index.html
     Elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health status that have been documented repeatedly over the years across a broad range of medical conditions despite improvements in health for the nation as a whole. In response, government agencies and organizations are sponsoring research, collecting data, and developing resources to close the gap between the health of and the health services provided to minority populations compared with the health of and the health services provided to majority populations. The resource guide includes bibliography, web sites, electronic publications, and databases. Produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI)
http://www.nbcdi.org/
     Provides and supports programs, workshops, and resources for African American children, their parents and communities in: Early Health and Education, Health, Elementary and Secondary Education, Child Welfare, Parenting.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service
http://www.ihs.gov/index.asp
     The agency’s mission, in partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native peoples, is to raise their physical, mental, social, and spiritual health to the highest level.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health
http://www.omhrc.gov
     The agency's mission is to improve the health of racial and ethnic populations through the development of effective health policies and programs that help to eliminate disparities in health.

HEALTH RESOURCES - GENERAL

Training Guide

Head Start Bureau. Sustaining a Healthy Environment. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1997.
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/Trngds/Sustaining/
     Designed to increase the skills of Head Start staff, this training guide will enable them to better incorporate environmental protection and enrichment in their work with children and families.

Web Resources

2000 CDC Growth Charts: United States
http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts/
     The revised growth charts consist of 16 charts (8 for boys and 8 for girls). These charts represent revisions to the 14 previous charts, as well as the introduction of two new body mass index-for-age (BMI-for-age) charts for boys and for girls, ages 2 to 20 years.

American Academy Of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/
     Publications and information about child health, health policy, parenting, and pediatric practices. The site also offers a searchable collection of journal abstracts.

American Public Health Association
http://www.apha.org
     APHA is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health.

Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov
     Contains information on current disease prevention topics. In addition, the section on Infants and Childrens addresses a long list of topics that includes airbag safety, baby bottle tooth decay, playground injuries, and childhood diseases.

Children's Health Month
http://www.childrenshealth.gov/
     In addition to providing a calendar for the month filled with Healthy Tips, this site provides information about health topics particularly relevant to children drawn from a number of government agencies.

HealthFinder®
http://www.healthfinder.gov/
     A free gateway, in both English and Spanish, to consumer health and human service information is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthfinder® leads to selected on-line publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as the Government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce health information.

HealthierUS.gov
http://www.healthierus.gov/
     HealthierUS.gov is a source of credible, accurate information to help Americans choose to live healthier lives. Provides guidelines and suggestions on making regular physical activity a routine part of life, healthy eating, the protective benefit of screening, and avoidance of risky behaviors, such as tobacco use.

Healthy Child Care America
http://nccic.org/hcca/index.html
     This Federal Government initiative works to increase collaboration between the early childhood community and the public health community to create the best care for children in childcare. A newsletter is available full-text on-line, from 1997 to the present.

Healthy Start, Grow Smart
http://www.ed.gov/offices/OESE/earlychildhood/healthystart/
     The series of brochures outlines activities designed to stimulate infant brain development and build skills that children will need once they start school. Ideas are included for fun, age-appropriate activities that center around reading, language, and learning. The series also includes important health and safety information and resources for parents and families. The pamphlets, printed in English and Spanish, are available every month for the first 12 months of a baby's life.

Learn the Signs. Act Early.
http://www.cdc.gov/actearly
     Easy-to-use comprehensive information about the important developmental milestones for children from birth to five years old is found on this recently launched web site. “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” assists teachers, parents, and other child care providers with charts, interactive tools, fact sheets and links to other information. Sponsored by the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities of the Centers for Disease Control with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the Autism Coalition, Autism Society of America (ASA), Cure Autism Now (CAN), First Signs, Organization for Autism Research (OAR), and the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) as partners.

President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program
http://www.presidentschallenge.org
     The President's Challenge is a physical activity/fitness awards program of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS), which serves as a catalyst to promote, encourage and motivate Americans of all ages to become physically active and participate in sports. The three program areas of the President’s Challenge are: Active Lifestyle Program; Physical Fitness Program; Health Fitness Program.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/about/index.html
     The Department of Health and Human Services is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Web Resources

American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org
     Publications and information about child health, health policy, parenting, and pediatric practices. The site also offers a searchable collection of journal abstracts.

American Public Health Association
http://www.apha.org
     APHA is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health.

Babycenter
http://www.babycenter.com
     Offers timely information on topics covering pre-natal to toddler development, including health, nutrition, parenting, childcare among others. Parenting chat rooms and electronic bulletin boards are available. Includes a “shop our store” section that can be searched under many categories of baby products and equipment.

Bright Futures
hhttp://www.brightfutures.org
     “The goal of Bright Futures is to respond to current and emerging preventive and health promotion needs of infants, children, adolescents, families, and communities.” Bright Futures is sponsored by Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, supported in part by Pfizer Pediatric Health. Bright Futures material is produced by National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health and is not copyrighted.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov
     Contains information on current disease prevention topics. There is a wonderful section on Infants and Children in the Health Information Area (see next reference).

CDC's Infants and Children's Health Page
http://www.cdc.gov/health/nfantsmenu.htm
     Airbag safety, baby bottle tooth decay, playground injuries, and childhood diseases are some of the many topics covered on this part of the CDC Web site.

Dr. Greene's Housecalls
http://www.drgreene.com
     Pediatrician Alan Greene provides detailed answers to medical and parenting questions. The site also includes a searchable medical encyclopedia.

Drug Infonet
http://www.druginfonet.com
     Contains both information and links to areas on the web concerning healthcare and pharmaceutical related topics.

Healthanswers
http://www.healthanswers.com
     Contains a section of videos on children's health topics.

HealthFinder®
http://www.healthfinder.gov
     A free gateway, in both English and Spanish, to consumer health and human service information is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthfinder® leads to selected on-line publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as the Government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce health information.

Healthy Child Care America
http://nccic.org/hcca/index.html
     This Federal Government initiative works to increase collaboration between the early childhood community and the public health community to create the best care for children in childcare. A newsletter is available full-text on-line, from 1997 to the present.

Healthy Childcare-Health and Safety Ideas for the Young Child
http://www.healthychild.net/index.html
     For parents and professionals who work with parents, this is the on-line version of the magazine by the same name. The site includes reproducible parent information sheets and mini-posters.

HRSA Information Center
http://www.ask.hrsa.gov/Instructions.cfm
     On-line service provides access to a catalog of maternal and child health publications and links to state level maternal and child health contacts.

Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute
http://www.pediatricinstitute.com
     For parents and professionals, the site includes information on infant development, pregnancy and postpartum care, early infant care, and newborn behavior.

KidsHealth
http://kidshealth.org
     For parents and educators, KidsHealth provides doctor-approved health information about children ages 2 through 18, created by The Nemours Foundation Center for Children's Health Media. The site has separate areas for kids, teens, and parents - each area designed with age-appropriate content.

KidSource OnLine
http://www.kidsource.com
     Parents founded KidSource OnLine to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of parents and their children. It contains education and healthcare information for parents.

Maternal and Child Health Bureau
http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov
     The Maternal and Child Health Bureau's site provides full-text factsheets on the dangers of looped window cords, SIDS, nutrition, bike safety, hepatitis B, and other subjects. Many of the publications provided are available in several languages.

Mayo Clinic Family Life Center
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm?
     Click on Family Life Center for up-to-date information from the Mayo Clinic physicians, scientists, writers and educators on a wide variety of health related topics.

National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health
http://www.ncemch.org
     NCEMCH provides national leadership to the maternal and child health community to improve the health and well being of the nation's children and families.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
http://www.nichd.nih.gov
     Primarily for professionals, NICHD administers a multidisciplinary program of research and public information on reproductive, neurobiological, developmental, and behavioral health processes that determine and maintain the health of children, adults, families and populations.

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care
http://nrc.uchsc.edu
     The site provides information to promote health and safety in out-of-home childcare settings, and includes the National Health and Safety Performance Standards and child care licensure requirements throughout the nation. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services funds the Resource Center.

National Safe Kids Campaign
http://www.safekids.org
     For parents and professionals, not only does the National Safe Kids Campaign's page provide links to additional health and safety sites, it also has an extensive collection of fact sheets on topics that include prevention of bicycle injuries, drowning, scald burn injuries, poisoning, and sports injuries.

NOAH: New York On-line Access to Health
http://www.noah-health.org/index.html
     The NOAH project is the result of a joint effort between City University of New York, Metropolitan New York Library Council, New York Academy of Medicine and New York Public Library. This site is bilingual--providing health information in both English and Spanish, and has extensive information on all aspects of healthcare.

Parentsplace.com
http://www.parentsplace.com/health
     Designed for parents, this site contains a broad and comprehensive range of health topics. Many topics encourage questions and answers by an identified expert in the field, complete with references and related links. Choose the site's Health link to access a list of health topics.

PDR.net
http://www.pdr.net
     A site by the publishers of the PDR (the Physicians Desk Reference) that provides drug information and more. Allows access by type of user: nurses, pharmacists, and consumers.

Pharmaceutical Manufacturer Information
http://www.druginfonet.com/index.php?pageID=manufacturers.htm
     Link to the Web sites of drug manufacturers.

RXList--The Internet Drug Index
http://www.rxlist.com/
     This site will help you find out about specific drugs and their actions. Just typing in the name of the drug yields a wealth of information.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Children's Health Protection
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/homepage
     Information for professionals and parent education materials on protecting children from environmental health threats are provided. Topics include helping children to breathe easier, protecting children from lead and carbon monoxide poisoning, pesticides and other toxic chemicals. The site also includes find information about childhood cancer, asthma, and developmental and neurological problems.

HEALTH INSURANCE RESOURCES

Children's Health Insurance Bibliography of Materials from MCHLine
http://www.mchlibrary.info/databases/bibmenu.html
     A children's health insurance bibliography produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

Children's Health Insurance Program
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/schip/
     Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) informational website on the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

Head Start Bureau. Head Start, Medicaid, and CHIP. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1999.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/pdf/chip.pdf
     This guide acquaints Head Start programs with the benefits of Medicaid and CHIP enrollment and the role of managed care organizations. It also explains how Head Start can expand Medicaid and CHIP outreach.

Knowledge Path: Child and Adolescent Health Insurance and Access to Care
http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/index.html
     "Approximately 8.5 million children and adolescents in the United States under age 18 lacked health insurance coverage in 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001). Because these children and adolescents are not insured, they are more likely than their insured counterparts to have an unmet health need and less likely to receive the preventive services necessary for healthy growth and development (Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, 2002)."This resource guide, produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University, includes a bibliography, web sites, electronic publications, and databases.

IMMUNIZATION RESOURCES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov
     Contains information on current disease prevention topics. In addition, the section on Infants and Children addresses airbag safety, baby bottle tooth decay, playground injuries, and childhood diseases.

Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule 2003
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/recs/child-schedule.htm#Printable
     Downloadable charts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show at what ages children should have various immunizations.

MEDICAL CARE RESOURCES

Training Guide

Head Start Bureau. Preventing & Managing Communicable Diseases. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1996.
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/Trngds/Diseases/index.html
     The skills of Head Start staff and families in dealing with communicable diseases are improved. Specifically, the technical training guide addresses attitudes toward communicable diseases; how to reduce the spread of disease and how to recognize and manage illnesses more effectively.

Other Head Start Resources

Child Health Record
In English: http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=2&do=detail
In Spanish: http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=33&do=detail
     This record documents a child's complete health history including medical, dental, dietary and developmental information. The information on the form is collected by interviewers such as health coordinators, social service coordinators or aides during initial health interviews.

Head Start Parent-Held Child Health Record
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=75&do=detail
     This seven-page pocket-sized record is intended specifically for use with migrant Head Start children. It documents the complete health history of the child, including medical, dental, dietary and developmental information.

Health Data Tracking Instrument
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=72&do=detail
     This document provides guidance for the health coordinator. It is intended to be used in conjunction with the Child Health Records to follow up effectively on children's health needs. It summarizes information about screenings, immunizations, and examinations for each child. It can also be used to compile statistics for the Program Information Report (PIR) on the number of health services received, on problems identified and treatment received.

General Resources

American Academy Of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org
     Publications and information about child health, health policy, parenting, and pediatric practices. The site also offers a searchable collection of journal abstracts.

American Public Health Association
http://www.apha.org
     The APHA is the oldest and largest organization of public health professionals in the world, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health.

Centers for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov
     Contains information on current disease prevention topics. In addition, the section on Infants and Children includes information on topics such as airbag safety, baby bottle tooth decay, playground injuries, and childhood diseases.

Knowledge Path: Asthma in Children and Adolescents http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/index.html
     Childhood asthma is a major public health concern in the United States. Between 1980 and 1994, the prevalence of asthma increased by 74% among children and adolescents ages 5 - 14. This resource guide, by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University, includes bibliography, web sites, electronic publications, and databases.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
     Primarily for professionals, NICHD administers a multidisciplinary program of research and public information on reproductive, neurobiological, developmental, and behavioral health processes that determine and maintain the health of children, adults, families and populations.

Pdr.net
http://www.pdr.net
     A site by the publishers of the PDR (the Physicians Desk Reference) that provides
drug information and more. Allows access by type of user: nurses, pharmacists, and consumers.

RxList - The Internet Drug Index
http://www.rxlist.com
     This site will help you find out about specific drugs and their actions. Just typing in the name of the drug yields a wealth of information.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Children's Health Protection http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/homepage
     Information for professionals and parents are directed toward protecting children from environmental health threats. Topics include helping children to breathe easier, protecting children from lead and carbon monoxide poisoning, pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Childhood cancer, asthma, and developmental and neurological problems are covered also.

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Training Guides

Head Start Bureau. Promoting Mental Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1998.
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/Trngds/Mentalhe/
     This technical training guide encourages mental health promotion for all members of the Head Start community. Activities build skills in creating responsive, respectful relationships with coworkers, parents and children are an integral part in building programs that promote the ability of children and families to respond well to challenge and adversity.

Head Start Bureau. Responding to Children Under Stress. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1998.
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/Stress/
     This skill-based guide was developed in response to Head Start staff requests for assistance addressing the needs of children and families from multi-stressed environments. The manual has a dual purpose: (1) it suggests practical strategies for working with children who live in multi-stressed environments; and (2) it offers on-going support for classroom teams participating in this staff development program.

Head Start Bureau. Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviors: Relationships Are Key. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1990.
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/Trngds/Challenging/
     Teaching teams are provided with a process for reflecting on their own practice, assessing difficult situations, and designing interventions through joint problem solving that support both children and adults.

Other Head Start Resources

Borg, Amy. Strategies to Support the Emotional Wellness of Children, Families, and Staff: Findings from a Head Start Mental Health Task Force. Education Development Center, 2002.
http://ccf.edc.org/PDF/Strategiesformentalhealth.pdf
     This report shows how some Head Start programs are creatively implementing strategies to support the emotional health of everyone involved in the program.

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
http://www.csefel.uiuc.edu/index.html
     Based at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the project, jointly sponsored by Head Start and the Child Care Bureau, focuses on strengthening the capacity of the programs to improve the social and emotional outcomes of young children. The Center develops and disseminates evidence-based, user-friendly information -- What Works Briefs and Training Modules -- to help early childhood educators meet the needs of the growing number of children ages 2-5 with challenging behaviors and mental health needs.

Child Development Institute Mental Health Resources

Head Start Bulletin #73 - Child Mental Health 2002
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/hsbulletin73/cont_73.htm
     Features and articles address many aspects of mental health, including stress, maternal depression, challenging behavior in children, and infant mental health

Mental Health in Head Start Audiovisual Resources

Videotapes with discussion guides promote good mental health in children and families through parent involvement, and explain the Head Start mental health program for children, staff, and families. Some videos and guides are available in Spanish.

Mental Health – General

Bright Futures in Practice: Mental Health
http://www.brightfutures.org/mentalhealth/
     Considers the developmental context of child mental health and presents information on early recognition and intervention for specific mental health problems and disorders. Includes hands-on tools for use in screening, care management, and health education.

Children's Mental Health Bibliography of Materials from MCHLine
http://www.mchlibrary.info/databases/bibmenu.html
     A children’s mental health bibliography produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

A Commitment to Supporting the Mental Health of Our Youngest Children
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/
     Report of the Infant Mental Health Forum, October 23-24, 2000.

Maternal Depression Literature Review
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/
     This review is intended as a practical resource containing current information on maternal depression for parents and practitioners. Prepared for the Head Start Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.

Web Resources

Advocacy and Policy Organizations
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/mentalhealth/mh_policy.htm
     Locate organizations that specialize in ensuring the mental health needs of children and families are met through enlightened policies and through information resources and programs.

Family Information and Support
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/mentalhealth/mh_family.htm
     Organizations that provide information resources and support services to families dealing with mental health issues are linked here.

Federal Web Sites
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/mentalhealth/mh_fedagencies.htm
     Find the government agencies that address an array of mental health concerns: substance abuse, health insurance, diagnosis and treatment, goals and strategies for services, available financial support, etc.

Workplace Mental Health
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/mentalhealth/mh_workplace.htm
     Web sites that identify strategies/programs/practices including employee assistance programs designed to support mental health concerns that impact workplace environments and relationships are linked here.

Promising Practices
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/mentalhealth/mh_practices.htm
     Head Start publications and web sites that highlight practices considered promising in helping the very youngest start off well are the focus of this section.

Mental Health Library
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/mentalhealth/mh_library.htm
     Relevant Head Start publications, articles from a range of resources and links to major clearinghouses on mental health are included.

State Level Contacts for Mental Health
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/mentalhealth/mh_contacts.htm
     Web site directories identify agencies, governmental staff members, parent centers, and state children's health insurance programs.


NUTRITION RESOURCES

Head Start Publications

Head Start Bureau. Head Start Nutrition Education Curriculum. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1996.
http://www.bmcc.edu/Headstart/NECurriculum/
     The nutrition curriculum for Head Start programs stresses providing food in a safe, sanitary manner to meet daily nutritional requirements and educating children, families and staff to be healthy eaters all their lives.

Head Start Bureau. Training Guide for Foodservice Personnel in Programs for Young Children. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1987.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=85&do=detail
     Nutritionists, dieticians, and food service specialists gain the resources to provide ongoing training programs to foodservice staff in Head Start, preschool, and day care programs.

Head Start Bureau. WIC and Head Start. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1999.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/oane/MENU/Published/WIC/FILES/wichdst.pdf
     This report discusses the common goals of Head Start programs and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and ways in which their services can be coordinated.

Nutrition - General

Bright Futures in Practice: Nutrition (2nd ed.) (2002)
http://www.brightfutures.org/nutrition/index.html
     Emphasizes prevention and early recognition of nutrition concerns and provides developmentally appropriate nutrition supervision guidelines for infancy through adolescence. The guide contains strategies and tools to help health professionals provide nutrition supervision (including screening, assessment, and counseling) and promote partnerships with families and communities.

Childhood Nutrition Bibliography of Materials from MCHLine
http://www.mchlibrary.info/databases/bibmenu.html
     "Childhood nutrition policies, studies, and guidelines as well as nutrition education materials for parents and children" are included in this bibliography, produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

Knowledge Path: Child and Adolescent Nutrition http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/index.html
     "Children and adolescents need to build a foundation for well-being by practicing healthy eating behaviors and participating in regular physical activity." The resources in this guide, produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University, are directed toward that goal.

Nutrition Web Resources
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/guides/healthsafetynutrition.htm#nutrition
     Links to web sites on school nutrition, food safety, and healthy eating, for parents, children, and foodservice workers. Children’s activities and recipes are included on some sites.

ORAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Head Start Bulletin #71- Head Start and Partners Forum on Oral Health 2002
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/hsbulletin71/cont_71.htm
     Topics such as causes of dental cavities, access to dental care for preschool children, dental prevention, the importance of good nutrition, and the implications of culture on oral health practices are covered in this issue of the bulletin.

National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center
http://www.mchoralhealth.org/about.html
     This center supports states and communities in addressing public oral health issues and improving oral health services for children and families. It maintains a list of resources
http://www.mchoralhealth.org/HeadStart/ to support improving access to oral health services in Head Start.

Oral Health Tip Sheets for Head Start Staff include:

Working with Health Professionals to Improve Access to Oral Health Care http://www.mchoralhealth.org/PDFs/HSOHTipPro.pdf

Working with Parents to Improve Access to Oral Health Care
http://www.mchoralhealth.org/PDFs/HSOHTipParent.pdf

Oral Health Bibliography
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/guides/oralhealth.htm
     Selected resources on oral health from organizations such as the American Dental Association and the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health.

PARENT EDUCATION AND INVOLVEMENT RESOURCES

American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org
     Publications and information about child health, health policy, parenting, and pediatric practices. The site also offers a searchable collection of journal abstracts.

Bright Futures
http://www.brightfutures.org
     Bright Futures is sponsored by Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, supported in part by Pfizer Pediatric Health. Bright Futures material is produced by National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health and is not copyrighted. “The goal of Bright Futures is to respond to current and emerging preventive and health promotion needs of infants, children, adolescents, families, and communities.”

HealthFinder®
http://www.healthfinder.gov
     A free gateway, in both English and Spanish, to consumer health and human service information developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthfinder® leads to selected on-line publications, clearinghouses, databases, web sites, and support and self-help groups, as well as the Government agencies and not-for-profit organizations that produce health information.

Healthy Childcare-Health and Safety Ideas for the Young Child
http://www.healthychild.net/index.html
     For parents and professionals who work with parents, this is the on-line version of the magazine by the same name. The site includes reproducible parent information sheets and mini-posters.

Parent Involvement Resource Guide
http://www.headstartinfo.org/infocenter/guides/pr_intro.htm
     Provides information on resources that support families and build confidence in their knowledge, interest, and skills. Included in this guide are selected recent journal articles, book titles, video titles, and lists of associations and organizations that specialize in Parent Involvement. A separate resource guide, Parent Resources: An Internet Pathfinder, contains internet sites on Parent Involvement

PREGNANCY AND EARLY CHILDCARE

ACYF-IM-HS-02-04 Services to Pregnant Women Participating in Early Head Start
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im02/im02_04.htm
     This information memorandum provides examples of best practices that support the Head Start Program Performance Standards pertaining to services for pregnant women and children, ages 0-3.

Breastfeeding: Consumer Materials Bibliography of Materials from MCHLine
http://www.mchlibrary.info/databases/bibmenu.html
     Reasons for breastfeeding and commonly asked questions about it are covered in this bibliography produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

Breastfeeding Promotion, Support, and Education Bibliography of Materials from MCHLine
http://www.mchlibrary.info/databases/bibmenu.html
     Designed to help health professionals and community based programs promote breastfeeding, the bibliography covers the following topics: breast anatomy and physiology, assessment of the nursing dyad, drugs and environmental contaminants, promotional strategies, breastfeeding the premature infant, breast concerns, and diverse lifestyles of breastfeeding mothers. Produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

Health Diary Myself, My Baby, Part One
http://www.headstartinfo.org/pdf/HealthDiaryMyselfMyBabyPartOne.pdf
     An information and record book for pregnant women that helps them prepare for the birth of a baby.

Health Diary Myself, My Baby, Part Two
http://www.headstartinfo.org/pdf/HealthDiaryMyselfMyBabyPartTwo.pdf
     An information and record book for new mothers where they can record observations about their new babies and important information such as emergency phone numbers.

Knowledge Path: Infant Mortality
http://www.mchlibrary.info/KnowledgePaths/index.html
     Factors and practices that have proved critical in improving child health at birth are included in the bibliography. Produced by the Maternal and Child Health Library at the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH), Georgetown University.

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
     NCBDDD has three primary objectives: promoting optimal fetal, infant and child development; preventing birth defects and childhood developmental disabilities; and enhancing the quality of life and preventing secondary conditions among children and adolescents, and adults who are living with a disability.
National Maternal and Child Health Clearinghouse http://www.nmchc.org Order free publications on an extensive range of topics significant to the health and safety of mothers and children. Resources focus on policy issues, program development and patient education.

Zero to Three
http://www.zerotothree.org/
     Strengthens and promotes families, practitioners, and communities support for the healthy development of babies and toddlers by advancing current knowledge, communicating research, and providing resources.

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT

Head Start Publications

ACYF-IM-HS-02-09 Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) Training Materials, Weaving Connections
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im02/im02_09.htm
     This information memorandum introduces Weaving Connections, a multi-media training package which explains the enhanced role of the Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) in Head Start programs.

Weaving Connections
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/hsb/connections/index.htm
     Link to the written materials in the multimedia training package, which explains the role of the Health Services Advisory Committee (HSAC) in Head Start programs. Order the kit from Head Start Information and Publication Center.
English http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=286&do=detail
Spanish http://www.headstartinfo.org/cgi-bin/pubcatstore.cfm?CatID=288&do=detail

General Resources

Child Health Toolbox
http://www.ahrq.gov/chtoolbx/
     Designed to help state and local policymakers, program directors and staff, and other stakeholders evaluate the quality of performance of health programs serving children, this toolkit enables understanding of performance measurement and effective use of the technique.

National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health (NCEMCH)
http://www.ncemch.org/about/default.html
     Intended to help federal, state, and local policy makers, public health professionals and the public, the Center provides: national leadership in program development, policy analysis and education, and cutting-edge knowledge.

SAFETY RESOURCES

Training Guide

Head Start Bureau. Safety First: Preventing and Managing Childhood Injuries. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 2000.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/safety_first/index.htm
     This technical training guide will help Head Start staff members learn to understand the common causes of injuries and their relationship to child development, create a safe environment in the classroom and at home, teach safety practices to other staff, children and families, and prepare procedures for emergencies.

Web Resources

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care
http://nrc.uchsc.edu
     The site provides information to promote health and safety in out-of-home childcare settings, and includes the National Health and Safety Performance Standards and child care licensure requirements throughout the nation. The Maternal and Child Health Bureau, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services funds the Resource Center.

National Safe Kids Campaign
http://www.safekids.org/
     For parents and professionals, not only does the National Safe Kids Campaign's page provide links to additional health and safety sites, it also has an extensive collection of factsheets on topics that include prevention of bicycle injuries, drowning, scald burn injuries, poisoning, and sports injuries.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
http://www.cpsc.gov
     The CPSC is an Independent Federal Regulatory Agency. Its focus is to save lives and keep families safe by reducing the risk of injuries and deaths associated with consumer products. CPSC's web site includes: a Library of publications, News of Recalls, a means to Report Unsafe Products and a 4 Kids section. A separate Consumer section, as well as a number of publications, are in Spanish.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Children's Health Protection
http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/homepage
     Information for professionals and parents are directed toward protecting children from environmental health threats. Topics include helping children to breathe easier, protecting children from lead and carbon monoxide poisoning, pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Childhood cancer, asthma, and developmental and neurological problems are covered also.

STAFF EDUCATION AND AWARENESS RESOURCES

Training Guide

Head Start Bureau. Enhancing Health in the Head Start Workplace. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1996.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/enhancing_health/contents.htm
     This technical guide teaches Head Start staff to identify the various ways in which employee health affects the effectiveness of the organization and vice versa, and to design training programs which encourage employees to improve their own health, and to implement policies which allow employees to enjoy the best health possible.

Head Start Bulletin #75 - Adult Health. 2003.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/hsbulletin75/cont_75.htm
     Windy M. Hill, Associate Commissioner of the Head Start Bureau, leads off this issue by noting, "In order to care for, nurture, and teach our children, we must first take care of ourselves." Features, articles and resources address: screening, government initiatives in health, disease prevention, injury prevention, workouts, etc.

VISION SERVICES RESOURCES

ACYF-IM-HS-00-16 Partnership between Head Start and Vision Service Plan
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/im00/im00_16.htm
     This information memorandum explains the eye care services provided to Head Start children by the Vision Service Plan (VSP), a nationwide network of licensed optometrists, ophthalmologists, and laboratories.

National Eye Institute (NEI)
http://www.nei.nih.gov/
     Part of the National Institutes of Health, the NEI conducts and supports research that helps prevent and treat eye diseases and other disorders of vision. Consumer education materials on eye diseases and disorders and vision care resources are available.

WELLNESS RESOURCES

Training Guides

Head Start Bureau. Laying a Foundation in Health and Wellness. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 2000.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/health_wellness/contents.htm
     This foundation guide explains the importance of health to Head Start's central mission of fostering social competence.

Head Start Bureau. Well-Child Health Care: Making it Happen. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, 1998.
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/wchc/index.htm
     This technical guide teaches Head Start staff to understand and explain the health screenings and exams required in Head Start and to develop partnerships with parents and health care providers in well-child health care and screening.

General Resources

Bright Futures in Practice: Physical Activity
http://www.brightfutures.org/physicalactivity/pdf/index.html
     A guidebook for health professionals which provides guidelines for physical activity for children from infancy through adolescence.

Head Start Bulletin # 75 - Adult Health. 2003
http://www.headstartinfo.org/publications/hsbulletin75/cont_75.htm
     Windy M. Hill, Associate Commissioner of the Head Start Bureau, leads off this issue by noting, "In order to care for, nurture, and teach our children, we must first take care of ourselves." Features, articles and resources address: screening, government initiatives in health, disease prevention, injury prevention, workouts, etc.

WOMEN’S HEALTH RESOURCES

National Women's Health Information Center
http://www.4woman.gov/
     This website and toll-free call center was created to provide FREE, reliable health information for women everywhere. Includes a general resource database as well as Special Sections on topics including heart disease, disabilities and pregnancy.

Office of Women's Health
http://www.fda.gov/womens/default.htm
     The mission of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Women's Health (OWH) is to serve as a champion for women's health both within and outside the agency.

Office on Women's Health
http://www.4woman.gov/owh/
     The Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the government's champion and focal point for women's health issues. It works to redress inequities in research, health care services, and education that have historically placed the health of women at risk. The Office coordinates women's health efforts in HHS to eliminate disparities in health status and supports culturally sensitive educational programs that encourage women to take personal responsibility for their own health and wellness.