Catholic Charities Early Learning centers, Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide Nutrition and Health services in the context of the family and community; Our Program ensures that each child and their family are connected to a primary health and dental care provider. Each child is required to have a complete physical and dental examination annually. Your child’s health is important to his/her educational goals. Being healthy and happy makes learning easier!
All children receive screenings for hearing, vision, dental and nutrition risk while in our program. Any concern about medical, dental or development of a child is shared with parents and our professional staff works with families to secure appropriate services to ensure each child is receiving necessary treatment.
Good oral health is a key element of health services and essential to a child’s behavioral, speech, language and overall growth and development. Head Start program performance standards require each program track the provision of oral health care for enrolled children to ensure they receive: Oral health examinations, Follow-up treatment as needed, oral health prevention (including fluoride varnish) and good dental hygiene practices in the classroom.
Our program also promotes sound physical, social, and emotional development through all of its components and realizes the important link between proper nutrition and the ability to learn. All children are assessed for nutritional deficiencies and families are given nutrition counseling as required. Through the USDA/ CACFP Programs, Our agency serves children a nutritionally balanced breakfast, lunch and snacks daily. Through community collaborations, families are provided with referrals to community nutrition resources when indicated.