Strategies to Promote Staff Physical Health and Infection Control
Steve Shuman Now we can begin. Let me introduce today's other speaker, my friend and colleague, Bobbie Rose.
Bobbie Rose: Thank you, Steve. I
Strategies to Promote Staff Physical Health and Infection Control
Steve Shuman Now we can begin. Let me introduce today's other speaker, my friend and colleague, Bobbie Rose.
Bobbie Rose: Thank you, Steve. I'm Bobbie Rose. I'm a registered nurse and a health and safety subject matter expert with the National Center on Health, Behavioral Health and Safety. I'm absolutely delighted to be with you today, and also to present with Steve today. Let's get started. Next slide, please. Again, thank you for joining us today, because the health of Head Start staff has never been more important.
Here are our learning outcomes for today. We hope that by the end of today's session, you'll be able to identify elements of the policies, systems, and environments that contribute to staff health, recognize the importance of regular health assessments and adult immunizations, implement appropriate infection control strategies, understand strategies that prevent staff injuries, and develop awareness of the health promotion topics and resources available to you. Next slide, please.
Social determinants of health have a major impact on people's well-being and quality of life. They can also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. Health begins where people live, learn, work, and play. That includes Head Start Programs. Creating a workplace that prioritizes systems, policies, and environments that support staff health will pay off in all kinds of ways. In staff being, in fewer missed days due to illness or injuries, and in better staff retention.
Furthermore, staff wellness is vital to child well-being and a critical component in the ability to address the diverse and individualized needs of Head Start children and families. Head Start staff spend many hours each week working in Head Start programs. Take a minute to reflect on your programs, policies, systems, and environment. Can you think of something – maybe just one thing – that your program does to make sure that staff members are safe and healthy?
Go ahead and put your ideas into the chat as you have them. It's so exciting to sort of see everyone pop up in the chat. You can see where everyone is today, all over the country, all over tribes and territories. I see some things coming in: sick policies, yearly physicals, yoga classes, wellness programs, morning health checks for all of us, wellness for staff, annual health, and safety wellness programs, COVID screening. So many things.
It sounds like you all are actually very engaged in this already. Thank you. They're still coming in, and that's great to see, OK. Next slide, please. Here are some key elements of a healthy workplace from the aspect of policy systems and environments. Staff has regular health assessments and receive recommended adult immunizations. Staff consistently implement infection control practices, measures to prevent staff injuries are in place, the facility has safety equipment, furnishings, and supplies.
There are opportunities for a physical activity and access to healthy food and healthy drinks. Staff have regular opportunities to learn about mental health, wellness, physical health, and safety. Staff has resources to address stress management. Now, we'll go through each of these elements and give you some strategies on how to implement them in your program. At this point, I'll turn it over to Steve.
Steve: Thanks Bobbie. Head Start Program Performance Standards, 1302.93 reminds all of us of the importance that regular health assessments for staff and precautions to prevent the spread of communicable disease, states, tribes, territories, and other jurisdictions may have additional requirements regarding staff health that programs must follow. Next slide.
Caring For Our Children or some of us call it CFOC also has recommendations and resources to ensure staff are and stay healthy, including items like this sample form. This and all the resources we mentioned today can be found in the handout that Valda has placed in the chat. Next slide.
Caring For Our Children Standard 1701 recommends a comprehensive medical exam initially, including the results and appropriate follow up of a TB screening that just happens once at entering into the early care and education field then any subsequent TB screenings as determined by a health care provider, by history of high risk for TB. Next slide.
Also, a review and certification of up-to-date immunizations per the current CDC recommendations for adults, including an annual flu vaccine. This is the time of the year you want to make sure you have your flu shots and up-to-date tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Next slide.
Since March 2021, the Office of Head Start has prioritized staff getting vaccinated against COVID-19. The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Office of Head Start are currently engaged in activities related to operationalizing the president's action plan for Head Start staff to become fully immunized. In the meantime, you and your staff may find some helpful information on ECLKC and the CDC website. Next slide.
Special health care needs include any physical, developmental, mental, sensory, behavioral, cognitive, or emotional impairment, or limiting condition that requires medical management, health care intervention, and/or use of specialized services of programs. The condition may be congenital, developmental, or acquired through di