INFANT/TODDLER
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
The overreaching goals of Early Head Start (EHS) focus on the healthy
cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development of infants and
toddlers. Research on early brain development has demonstrated that, to
thrive, children from birth to age three need a variety of positive
learning experiences provided in a secure and loving environment. In
recognition that parents are the primary educators of their children,
EHS programs are designed to work with families to ensure that the
developmental needs of each child are met.
Ongoing assessment of each child’s skills and behaviors plays a key
role in developing a curriculum that is age-appropriate, culturally
sensitive, and tailored to meet his or her specific needs. Parents play
an active role in the assessment process. Their observations, ideas, and
concerns about their children contribute substantively to the
assessment, and their involvement helps to ensure that the curriculum
and goals planned for the child are appropriate within the context of
family culture.
In providing services to infants and toddlers, EHS programs support
physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and language development of each
child. Services that must be provided directly or through referral
include: early education services in a range of parent education and
parent-child activities; comprehensive health and mental health
services; and high-quality child care services, provided directly or in
collaboration with community child care providers.
COMMUNITY
PARTNERSHIPS
Early Head Start (EHS) serves families within the context of the
community and recognizes that may other agencies and groups may work
with the same families. With this in mind, EHS programs collaborate with
partners in their communities in order to:
● Provide the highest level of services to children and families
● Maximize available resources
● Foster the development of a continuum of family-centered
services
● Advocate for a community that shares responsibility for the
healthy development of children and families of all cultures
FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS
Parents are true partners in Early Head Start (EHS) programs. Each
program has a formal structure of shared governance through which
parents can participate in policymaking or in other decisions about
the program.
Parents also have an opportunity to participate in the development of
the program’s curriculum and approach to child development and
education, as well as the individualized plan for their own child’s
growth and development.
EHS programs provide opportunities for parents to enhance their
parenting skills, knowledge, and understanding of the educational and
developmental needs and activities of their children, as well as to
share observations and concerns about their children with program
staff.
EHS offers parents opportunities for their own growth and support in
identifying and meeting goals. Families and staff collaboratively
design and routinely update individualized family partnership
agreements to ensure that service delivery strategies are responsive
to the individual goals of families. Referrals are made, as
appropriate, to other community resources and services that support
each family’s needs and goals.
HEALTH
Early Head Start (EHS) seeks to provide comprehensive health services to
children and families through prevention and early identification of
health and developmental concerns, and through links to community health
services. Each family is encouraged and supported to establish a
“medical home” where children receive routine health care and,
ideally, develop an ongoing relationship with a health care provider.
EHS staff work with parents and health care professionals to determine
if the child is up-to-date on a schedule of age appropriate preventative
and primary care health services. This schedule must incorporate the
requirements of well-child care utilized by the Early and Periodic
Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program.
EHS staff also helps families to establish preventative dental services
and treatment to ensure that infants’ and toddlers’ teeth and gums
are healthy and that parents are well-informed of early dental needs.
DISABILITIES
In recognition of the value and worth of all children, Early Head Start
(EHS) requires inclusion of children with disabilities. The Head Start
Program Performance Standards require that at least 10 percent of the
total number of enrollment opportunities be made available to children
with disabilities
SERVICES
TO PREGNANT WOMEN
By providing comprehensive Early Head Start (EHS) services beginning in
the prenatal period, EHS programs have the opportunity to impact on
low-income children at risk for health and developmental problems. The
Head Start Program Performance Standards specify the supports and
services that must be offered to expectant families enrolled in Head
Start programs serving pregnant women. These services include
comprehensive prenatal and postpartum health care, prenatal education,
and breastfeeding education.
Prenatal
education efforts include information about:
-
Typical
fetal development, including the risks of smoking and drinking
alcohol
-
What
to expect during labor and delivery
-
Nutrition
education
-
Postpartum
recovery, including maternal depression
Collaboration with community partners is essential to EHS programs when
serving pregnant women. Some examples of potential community partners
include: health clinics, transportation services, counseling, and other
mental health programs.
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