Head Start

The work of family services staff is broad and varied. Resources and information are valuable when supporting families in their decision-making about family health care.

The resources and information in this section can be used to assist parents in understanding systems of ongoing family health care, to encourage parents into becoming active partners in family health care processes, and to provide parents with the opportunity to learn about preventive health care and specific health needs of individual children.

Among the resources in this section is the Health Literacy Toolkit. The toolkit has important information that builds the capacity for parents to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. A 10-question pregnancy quiz will teach mothers-to-be about healthy habits while they are expecting. A resource kit designed especially for American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians explains the causes and dangers of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and how to prevent them. For parents and staff who want to stop smoking, this section offers "quit tips" and resources. And for staff who want to encourage families to engage in more physical activities, "Do Your Workout Anytime, Anyplace" has practical suggestions on how to squeeze exercise into a busy day.