Head Start/Early Head Start Operations Manual Childcare Partner 1 | P a g e ABOUT THIS EASTERSEALS HEAD START AND EARLY HEAD START OPERATIONS MANUAL ............ 5 FORMS AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE EASTERSEALS HEAD START WEBSITE ....................... 6 HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START SERVICES AT-A-GLANCE ............................................................ 10 HOME-BASED SERVICES AT-A-GLANCE ........................................................................................... 12 EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS FOR PROGRAM OPERATIONS ........................................................ 15 ATTENDANCE ................................................................................................................................ 15 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT – IDENTIFICATION AND REPORTING PROCEDURES ............................ 15 DRESS AND GROOMING .................................................................................................................. 17 FAMILY HANDBOOK ....................................................................................................................... 17 FAMILY-STYLE MEAL SERVICE........................................................................................................ 18 FOOD -- OUTSIDE FOOD .................................................................................................................. 18 PARENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS .................................................................................................... 18 PHONE/ ELECTRONICS USAGE ....................................................................................................... 18 PRECAUTIONS FOR PERSONAL SAFETY .......................................................................................... 18 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA ..................................................................................................... 19 RECORD-KEEPING .......................................................................................................................... 19 VOLUNTEERISM IN HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START .................................................................... 19 EMPLOYEE REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITIES HEALTH AND SAFETY ............................................ 19 CLEANING AND SANITIZING ........................................................................................................... 19 DAILY HEALTH AND SAFETY CHECKLIST ........................................................................................ 21 DENTAL INJURIES ........................................................................................................................ 21 DIAPERING ..................................................................................................................................... 22 MEDICAL EMERGENCIES .............................................................................................................. 23 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN AND EVACUATION PROCEDURES .................................................... 23 FIRST AID AND FIRST AID CERTIFICATION ...................................................................................... 24 FIRST AID KITS – INVENTORY AND CHECKLIST............................................................................... 24 INCIDENT REPORTS ....................................................................................................................... 25 MAINTENANCE OF EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS ........................................................................... 26 MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS (MSDS) ...................................................................................... 26 REQUIRED POSTINGS ..................................................................................................................... 26 SAFETY PRACTICES ....................................................................................................................... 27 EXCLUDED ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................... 31 PACIFIERS...................................................................................................................................... 31 RESTRICTIVE FURNISHINGS ........................................................................................................... 32 UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS ............................................................................................................. 33 ERSEA ............................................................................................................................. 35 ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT ...................................................................................................... 35 REQUIRED TRAINING ON ERSEA ...................................................................................................... 35 VERIFYING INCOME ........................................................................................................................ 35 REQUIRED ERSEA DOCUMENTATION .............................................................................................. 36 RESIDENCE IN THE DEFINED SERVICE AREA ................................................................................... 36 ACCEPTANCE ................................................................................................................................ 36 ENROLLMENT/ENTRY DATE ........................................................................................................... 37 RE-ENROLLMENT ........................................................................................................................... 37 RECRUITMENT ............................................................................................................................... 37 ATTENDANCE ................................................................................................................................ 38 AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE ....................................................................................................... 39 DAILY OPERATIONS ........................................................................................................... 39 SCHEDULE OF OPERATIONS ........................................................................................................... 39 2 | P a g e INCLEMENT WEATHER, DELAYS AND CLOSURES ............................................................................ 40 EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSURES ................................................................................................... 40 ARRIVAL OF CHILDREN .................................................................................................................. 40 SUPERVISION ................................................................................................................................. 41 DEPARTURE/RELEASE OF CHILDREN .............................................................................................. 41 FEES/LATE FEES AND TUITION ....................................................................................................... 42 PEDESTRIAN SAFETY TRAINING ..................................................................................................... 42 EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND CURRICULUM................................................................. 42 SCREENING AND ONGOING CHILD ASSESSMENT ............................................................................ 43 INDIVIDUALIZED TEACHING AND LEARNING ................................................................................... 45 CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENTS AND DISPLAYS ................................................................................ 48 FOOD ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................................................... 48 HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS ..................................................................................................... 48 END OF YEAR CELEBRATION .......................................................................................................... 49 OUTDOOR PLAY - NATURE-BASED OUTDOOR CLASSROOM ............................................................. 49 REST/NAPTIME .............................................................................................................................. 50 A CHANGE OF CLOTHES ................................................................................................................. 50 TOILET TRAINING ........................................................................................................................... 50 VIDEO, DVD, TV, AND COMPUTERS ................................................................................................. 51 VIDEOTAPING OR PHOTOGRAPHING OF CHILDREN......................................................................... 51 ANIMALS IN CLASSROOM AND SOCIALIZATION ACTIVITIES ........................................................... 52 FIELD TRIPS ................................................................................................................................... 53 MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES - GUIDANCE AND DISCIPLINE ....................................................... 56 MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL/CONSULTATION ........................................................................ 57 NUTRITION, FOOD, AND FOOD SERVICES ..............................................................................