Health Services

Head Start helps families meet their child and family health needs.  All children in Head Start must be current with dental and physical exams, and to complete any dental work needed. This is an important piece of school readiness, having your child be healthy, ready to learn. We realize you may need extra support with this and our staff is ready to help! Family Workers and Family Support Specialists can help.

Here are the requirements and responsibilities and ways staff can support you:

Parents:

• Make sure to have regular dental and physical check-ups for your child.
• Complete any dental work that your child needs.
• Keep your child’s Oregon Health Plan current if you qualify.

Staff can:

• Support you in making and keeping your appointments.
• Help you with signing up for Oregon Health Plan, finding a doctor or dentist, helping you with fears you may have, reminders, etc.
• If your child is unable to get insurance, staff can help find a doctor or dentist to see your child.

Head Start also requires all children to have the following:

• Immunizations (children must have at least one of each required immunization before they can begin attending Head Start)
• Lead test
• Hearing, vision, speech, behavioral and developmental screenings
• Follow-up care for all conditions discovered in exams or screenings

Counseling and Mental Health Services

Mt. Hood Community College Head Start has counselors from Multnomah County and Morrison Child and Family Services who are available to children and families.  If you have concerns about your child or family, you can call the office directly to speak with one of the counselors or ask your Family Worker or Family Support Specialist to refer you.

Medication at School

We can only give your child medication (prescription or non-prescription) with the written order of a physician.  You will need to talk to the teacher and sign a Permission to Administer Medication form before we can administer medication.   A record of the date, time, amount given and any changes in your child’s behavior after they received the medication will be kept on file.  If we give a medication "as needed”, we will notify the parent or legal guardian any time we give your child medication. All medication must be in the original container and will be kept in a locked cabinet.  Medication cannot be transported to and from school on the bus.

Emergencies and Illness

In the case of small accidents, a staff person will give your child first aid treatment.  The parent or legal guardian will be told what happened to your child.

In the case of a medical emergency, a staff person will call 911 immediately, and give emergency first aid as required.  A staff member will also contact the parent and the office, as soon as possible.  If your child is transported to the hospital, we will take the emergency form from your child's file and meet you at the hospital immediately.