| | NCO HEAD START Child Development Program

With a view to promoting and enhancing social competence in the children and families enrolled in its program, North Coast Opportunities Head Start Child Development Program (HSCDP) supports the highest level of health services available as a key factor in achieving that goal. Health services geared to sustaining the child's physical health are pursued in the context of supporting the whole child and his/her cognitive, intellectual, social, mental health, and nutritional development.

Quality health services in a rural setting require collaboration with other community agencies and health care providers. NCO HSCDP makes every effort to develop and maintain cooperative relationships with community agencies for the benefit of its enrolled children, families, and staff.

A regular schedule of well child exams, an annual dental exam, and a completed series of recommended immunizations are essential to ensuring that a child's basic physical health needs are being met. Additionally, the child's sensory, developmental, and behavioral progress is assessed and any health and/or dental needs identified by these examinations and screenings are referred for further treatment. HSCDP works with the child's family to ensure that needed treatment is received.

Children with disabilities are welcomed into the program and the program is individualized to maximize all aspects of their development. This is the same philosophy to which we adhere for all enrolled children.

NCO HSCDP recognizes that it is in a privileged position to instill good health practices that will be beneficial to the children it serves and will stand them in good stead throughout their lives. Also, along with and through the children, HSCDP has the opportunity to educate parents and staff in healthy life style and illness/injury prevention practices.

An important benchmark in determining that HSCDP families are on course to valuing and maintaining good health, both while enrolled in the program and beyond, is to ensure that each and every family observes a schedule of routine, preventive physical and dental examinations. Prior to leaving the Head Start Child Development Program, each family will be linked with a medical and a dental "home."

In summary, NCO Head Start Child Development Program believes that the age-old and time-tested dictum, "A sound mind in a sound body," still holds true today. Everyone within the program works to insure that HSCDP children are kept safe and physically well so that they can participate to full benefit in the Head Start Child Development Program and in life.