Health Manager Orientation Guide
Use this guide to orient Head Start health managers to their role and to strengthen the provision of health and behavioral health services across your program.
Health Services Management
As part of Head Start’s comprehensive services, every Head Start program provides services to promote health, behavioral health, and safety for children and families. New and experienced health services staff can use these resources to learn more about health services and the role of health services staff. This topic area also includes professional development resources for health services staff, child care health consultants, and others who support health services across all early care and education settings.
Head Start Health Services Competencies
These tools, for new and experienced staff, address science-informed practices for early childhood health staff. Each is indicative of an attitude, knowledge, or skill. Use this for professional development.
Supporting Community Health Partnerships
Learn how to identify and partner with the local providers and agencies who can assist in strengthening Head Start health services. Such partnerships can help programs meet the different needs of families.
How to Find and Use Health Data
Learn about the importance of using community, program, and child health data to make improvements and develop approaches that ensure every family receives the health care they need.
Creating a Culture of Staff Wellness
In this module, explore how to create an environment that enhances staff physical and mental health. Learn how ensuring staff wellness can reduce stress or depression, unhealthy weight, and infectious diseases.
Head Start Health Services Competencies Modules
Use these tools to develop and strengthen the attitudes, knowledge, and skills health services staff need to effectively support the health, safety, and wellness of young children and their families.
Fundamental Values, Knowledge, and Skills to Manage Health Services
Explore how leaders can better manage health services when they understand how health impacts school readiness. Reflect on leaders’ own role in health services and find ways to promote program health practices.
Principles of Health and Wellness
Program leaders and staff who understand the general principles of health and wellness practices provide effective health services. Explore ways programs promote the health of children, families, and staff.
Health Education for Children, Families, and Staff
Explore ways to provide effective health education. Learn how to identify key information, deliver it so others can understand, and ensure it matches the culture and language of a family.
How to Find Science-informed and Evidence-based Health Information
Health services staff support families by offering current, accurate, and consistent health information. Identify ways to find and use health information to share with families and inform policies and procedures.