Head Start Heals: Frequently Asked Questions
These handouts cover frequently asked questions from the Head Start Heals campaign and related office hours. Find links to additional resources on stress, resilience, and providing support.
HeadStart.gov Archive
Health
Head Start Mask Announcement
In the near future, the Administration for Children and Families intends to publish a final rule to formally remove the requirement for masking in Head Start programs.
Hurricane Sandy: A Year After Webinar
The Office of Head Start hosted this webinar to provide grantees with information and resources to support their work with children, families, and staff affected by Hurricane Sandy. It focuses on the importance of integrating mental health support after a traumatic event. The webinar also discusses guidance on service enhancements that support children, families, and staff after traumatic events.
I Am Moving, I Am Learning (IMIL)
I Am Moving, I Am Learning (IMIL) is an initiative of the Office of Head Start designed by Region III to address the increase in childhood obesity among Head Start children. The video summarizes IMIL goals of increasing physical activity, improving the quality of movement, and encouraging healthy food choices.
Inclusion/Exclusion/Dismissal of Children
The program should notify parents/guardians when children develop new signs or symptoms of illness. Parent/guardian notification should be immediate for emergency or urgent issues. Staff should notify parents/guardians of children who have symptoms that require exclusion, and parents/guardians should remove children from the early care and education setting as soon as possible. For children whose symptoms do not require exclusion, verbal or written notification to the parent/guardian at the end of the day is acceptable. Most conditions that require exclusion do not require a primary health care provider visit before re-entering care.
Mental Health and Staff Wellness: Emotionally Strong Together
Join the third webinar in the five-part Head Start Forward series to discover mental health and staff wellness resources and strategies including guidance around trauma-informed approaches, staff wellness, sensitive conversations with families, and social and emotional development.
Mitigating the Spread of COVID-19 in Head Start Programs
Check out these resources to learn more about the requirement that Head Start programs have an evidence-based COVID-19 mitigation policy.
Office of Head Start CAMP: Session 5
The fifth episode in the Office of Head Start Collaborating Actively in Meaningful Planning (CAMP) Series addresses questions and concerns about Subpart D – Health Program Services, 45 CFR §1302.
Pediatric Vaccines and Other COVID-19 Considerations for Program Year 2022-23
View this webinar to learn more about the most up to date COVID-19 health and safety information as well as strategies for increasing pediatric vaccination uptake.
Policy Implementation and Development
Watch this video to hear program leaders talk about how they have developed and implemented policies to support staff with the COVID-19 vaccine requirement.
