This handbook in intended for use by parents/guardians of children in the Head Start program. It is important that you review this handbook to help ensure that your child’s experience at Head Start is positive and productive. Please sign and submit the parent signature sheet to the Center Coordinator or Family Service Worker as proof that you received this handbook.

We wish you and your children a wonderful experience at New Castle County Head Start.

Mission Statement
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is dedicated to enhancing the mental, social, emotional and physical well being of children and families in New Castle County, Delaware. The agency provides caring & stimulating pre-school programs as well as supportive family services in partnership with parents and their communities.

Vision Statement
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. shall become a model collaborative, multi-purpose agency promoting the individual growth and personal achievement of children and their families.

Goals
• To serve every eligible child within our service area
• To have the highest quality early childhood program in the region
• To develop and maintain on-going support from the public and private sectors throughout New Castle County
• To offer appropriate ancillary programs and services to our Head Start clients
• To maintain partnerships with other service agencies to maximize resources and to improve services to families
• To develop and maintain programs with all school districts in the county to better serve children with special needs

Bad Weather Bus Stops
Each bus route may change stops in the event of bad weather. You will be informed of those stops. These stops will only be in effect on days when radio announcements are made.

Emergency closings for bad weather will be broadcast on: WDEL – 1150 AM and WSTW – 93.7 FM beginning at 6:00 a.m.

State of Emergency
In the event of a community, state, or national emergency, please listen to WDEL, 1150 AM and WSTW, 93.7 FM, to find out information about center closings, special instructions and dismissal.

Please Dress Your Child:
In simple clothing that is easy for your child to manage by himself
In “play clothing” that is washable. Children will be using messy art materials
In rubber soled shoes or sneakers

Please send in a change of clothing for you child for emergency purposes.

Curriculum
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. uses the Creative Curriculum as the basis for its educational program. The primary goal of the curriculum is to help children use the environment as a learning tool. Look for the following areas to be located in your child’s classroom: Blocks, Dramatic Play, Table Toys, Art, Sand and Water, Library as well as other activities; Outdoors, Music and Movement and Cooking.

Literacy
Head Start literacy initiatives are incorporated within the implementation of the Creative Curriculum. This initiative focuses on the understanding and use of language. Words that are spoken can be written down and words that are written down can be spoken. Children are encouraged to have an appreciation of books, of being read to, and of understanding and increasing their vocabulary. The goal is to develop the readiness skills in children for a successful kindergarten transition.

Assessment
Your teacher will be conducting a developmental screening on your child at the first home visit. She will work with you to complete the information with the knowledge you have about your child. Throughout the year the teacher will be doing observations on all children in her classroom and will be meeting with you to discuss the progress your child is making in Head Start. New Castle County Head Start program uses a computer program called CC-Port to create reports showing how children are progressing in classrooms, centers and the program. If you have any questions about this report please contact your Center Coordinator.


National Reporting System
Data collected via the Head Start National Reporting system will be used to provide federal, regional, and local agencies with vital information regarding the progress of children in the Head Start program. The NRS will collect program, center, classroom, teacher, and child-level descriptive data through a computer-based reporting system. This will generate a variety of forms of reporting on the progress of groups of children.


Partner in Excellence
The Delaware Department of Education and New Castle County Head Start, Inc. have an agreement to participate in the Partners in Excellence Program (PIE) intended to promote children's social and emotional development as the foundation for early learning and to prevent challenging behaviors. The screening tool used by parents and Teachers is Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA).


COPA Software
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is utilizing the Child Outcome Planning and Administration (COPA) software. This software is designed to provide technology and guidance. COPA provides centralized and real-time data collection. There are reporting and monitoring tools for all levels of the organization including Grantee Agency, site, child and family. The COPA software is webbased.

Parents School Funding Request
Parents must first apply for financial aid and/or student loans if eligible prior to requesting assistance from Head Start for “degreed programs.” For continuing education, non-degreed programs, and other types of schooling, parents are not required to apply for financial aid or student loans. This resource is intended to supplement your primary source of funding. Before Head Start can assist, financial aid or student loan request must have been denied in writing. If a parent is ineligible for financial aid he/she should show some documentation supporting this position to the Family Service Worker. Parents may request financial assistance from Head Start to pay the balance for partial grants and/or loans disbursed to the school during the current Head Start program year.

Currently enrolled parents or Policy Council Community Representatives, who are past New Castle County Head Start, Inc. parents, are eligible for funds if they are actively participating in the program.

All those applying must be an active participant in the program. Active is measure as the parent being involved with the program at least 70% of the time that the child has been enrolled in the program. For example, if a child has been enrolled in the program for 5 months, the parent has been, somehow, involved in the program for at least 3.5 months. Some examples of being active are participating:
In classrooms
On field trips
In parent meetings (Policy Council)
In parent committees
In sending supplies/donations into the Center as requested

In any case, no one recipient could receive more than $500 per year. The year is determined as August 1st through July 31st.

Parents must provide proof that they have successfully completed all prior school commitments funded by Head Start before they can make a second request.

Parent/Guardians Interaction Opportunities:
Parents / Guardians:
Can be actively included in the classroom assisting with activities and special events:
Talk and play with the children.
Get as close to their level as you can, sit in a low chair or bend down.
Talk gently and quietly with the children.
Sit with the children and eat. Please eat only foods provided by the Head Start
program.
Talk politely and positively with other parents & staff.
Treat all children with respect.
Can assist teachers with nutrition education activities in the classroom.
Are welcome to share cultural experiences.
Can perform clerical duties such as typing and answer the telephone

Can serve on program committees:
Parent Center Committee: Work with Center Coordinator to plan Activities for
children and families at the center
Policy Council: Work directly with the Executive Director and Board of Directors in
developing policies that effect all children and staff in The program.
Advisory Committee: Work with Program Coordinators and community Professionals
to plan, evaluate and develop strategies for meeting the Needs of children and families.

Parents/Guardians are welcomed and encouraged to ride the bus to the center and participate in the program.

It is very important to keep all information about children in Head Start confidential.

Our goal is to provide a positive and relaxed learning environment for all children and also a positive and enjoyable experience for those who volunteer in our classrooms.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Center Coordinator.

Policy Support Statement
These policies have been developed over the years with input from parents and staff for the protections and safety of the children. They have also been developed to assure the best possible program and experiences for children and families.

While parent/guardian participation is strongly encouraged it is expected that parents/guardians respect employees, other parents and children. Verbal or physical abuse of Head Start staff or participants of the program cannot be tolerated. Any such action taken by parents/guardians or other adult family members may reflect upon your child’s ability to remain in the program.

Head Start believes that parents/guardians are the primary educators of their children. The Head Start staff looks to parents to be a positive role model for their children at all times. Therefore, the use of profanity is absolutely prohibited at all times.

Release of a Child from the Center
A staff person will verify the person is 18 years or older. The staff member will request the following:
The person’s name, address, telephone number and relationship
The person’s picture I.D.
The child’s I.D. number.
The person may then sign the child out from the center.

If identification cannot be verified, the child will remain at the center until an authorized individual can be identified.

Child Abuse/Neglect
It is our agency’s legal obligation to report any suspected child abuse/neglect to the State Division of Family Services. If at any time a Head Start staff member suspects, for any reason, that a child enrolled in our program has been neglected or abused, a report will be made. Law requires this procedure.

Attendance Regulations
Please send your child to the center every day. If your child is absent, call the center and let the Family Service Worker know why. We will also need to know when you expect your child to return. Remember, the staff is here to help you with any problems related to your child’s attendance.

Children who are absent from the center for 5 days in a row and children who are absent 2, 3 or more times every week without a legitimate excuse, must be dropped from the program.

Bus Policy - Part Day Program Only
These policies have been developed to ensure the safety of the children enrolled in New Castle County Head Start, Inc. The following policies include regulations from the State and Federal department of Transportation as well as policies particular to the New Castle County Head Start, Inc. program.

A. Name Tags
Name tags (First Names Only) will be used at the beginning of the year until all staff are familiar with your child.

NONE of the following are to be brought onto the bus: Party items (cupcakes, etc.) are permissible.

FOOD MONEY TOYS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE HARMFUL OR CAUSE INJURY

Limited transportation is provided to children in designated areas only. In the event that bus service cannot be provided or adjustments made to accommodate a family, that family will be given the option of coming to the nearest available stop, or they can provide their own transportation for their child to the center each day.

B. Children’s I.D. Numbers
It is very important that the Bus Monitor be able to identify the person getting your child off the bus.

Each child’s parent/guardian is issued an identification number. You may give it to those who they want to pick up your child.

Biological parents have equal rights to their children. Restrictions regarding biological parents must be in writing from the court and on file with New Castle County Head Start, Inc. Biological parents can pick up their child even if they are not on the list if they have proper identification and can establish that they are the child’s parent.

C. Emergency Card/List of Persons who can pick up Your Child
During the enrollment process you completed an Emergency Card for your child. You were asked to list 6 persons (all must be 18 years or older) who can pick up your child. For your child’s safety the Bus Monitor will be requesting the following information from anyone picking up your child:
The person’s name, address, telephone number and relationship
The person will need to show a picture I.D.
The person will need to tell the Bus Monitor the child’s I.D. number.

If any one of the above cannot be verified your child will be returned to the center.

You may make changes to the names on the Emergency Card but you must go to the center and make changes in person.

In emergency situations, a person not listed on the Emergency Card may be allowed to pick up a child for that day only if the Family Service Worker or Center Coordinator can verify the parent on the phone.

D. Behavior on the Bus
Children are to remain seated at all times.

Children whose behavior presents a safety problem to themselves or others may lose transportation services. The Family Service Worker will contact you regarding the situation. Situations will be handled on an individual basis.

E. Returned Child to the Center
You will be notified of your child’s return to the center. You are then responsible for picking up your child at the center. If you cannot be reached the Head Start staff will contact other people listed on the Emergency Card.

If your child is returned to the center a second time, a warning letter will be sent. If this happens again, your child will not be allowed to ride the bus for 5 days. During the time your child is not allowed on the bus, you will have to provide transportation daily to the center for your child.

In the event that your child is returned to the center and no one is able to pick up the child, but a Head Start staff member has been in contact with either the parent/guardian or an authorized individual, the Head Start staff members may transport the child to the authorized destination and the following will take place:
First Incident A warning letter will be given to the person receiving the child stating consequences for future
Incidents
Second Incident A warning letter will be given to the parent/guardian stating that the child’s bus privileges will
be suspended for two days if the incident occurs again
Third Incident The child’s bus privileges will be suspended for 2 days
All Other Incidents Child’s bus privileges will be suspended two days for each incident

In the event that a child is returned to the center and the center staff has not been able to contact anyone listed on the child’s Emergency Card by 3:00 p.m. the staff member will call the Center Coordinator and she will call the Division of Family Services to report the incident and also call the State Police and give a report. In the event that no one is available to take the child, two Head Start members will escort the child to Child Protective Services.

F. Designated Stops
Children who ride the bus are assigned a designated stop. Parents/guardians need to have children at their designated stop 10 minutes before pick-up time and wait 10 minutes past pick-up time. At the end of the program day parents/guardians also need to arrive at the stop 10 minutes before the drop off time and wait 10 minutes longer to allow for late bus arrival. It is required that all children enter and exit the bus only at his/her assigned stop. In unusual circumstances, a child may board or exit the bus at another stop. This privilege may only be used 5 times during a program year. After the third incident, a notice letter will be sent home. After the fifth incident, the child may not be permitted to ride the bus for 3 days. Any permanent changes of a designated stop must be requested through the Family Service Worker. In addition, all children will be assigned a seat on the bus.

For your child’s safety, a responsible adult must place your child on the bus daily. In order to release the children in a timely and safe manner, parents/guardians must remain a safe distance from the bus doors and allow the Bus Monitor to dismiss one child at a time.

G. Important Information
Parents/guardians must notify Head Start 1 week in advance of moving.
Children need to be ready when the bus arrives. Head Start staff are not allowed to go to the door. If the child misses the bus,
it is the parent’s/guardians responsibility to take the child to the center.
If a child has to cross the street to get on or off the bus, an adult must accompany him. The child must cross in front
of the bus.
There will be at least two Head Start staff on the bus at all times.
Head Start staff may determine if a child is ill at the time he/she boards the bus. A sick child will be returned to the parent

H. Person under the Influence of Intoxicating Substances
The release of a child to an individual suspected by the Head Start staff to be under the influence of alcohol or illegal substance will not be permitted.

I. Bus Problems/Concerns
In the event that any problems or concerns arise regarding the bus or route, please contact your Family Service Worker.

Transportation Requirements
All children will be transported in approved child safety seats (Q-vests). All buses will carry a communication system, first aid kit, seat belt cutter, and safety equipment. Pedestrian safety training will be provided.
Training for children will include:
Safe riding practices
Safe boarding/unloading procedures
Safe street crossing practices
Recognizing danger zones around vehicles
Emergency evacuation procedures
Ongoing safety reminders
Training for parents will include:
Escorting children to stops
Summaries of the training that the children are receiving, in order for them to reinforce concepts
All programs must have a system for transporting children with disabilities by January 2006.

Communication with Head Start Staff
Parent meeting reminders, menus, calendar updates etc. will be sent home with your child frequently so please check all information that comes home with your child.

Your family will receive 2 home visits and 2 parent/teacher conferences with your child’s teacher. The first home visit will be in the fall before school begins. The second home visit will take place in February. The parent/teacher conferences will be scheduled twice a year in November and May.

Family Service Workers will also be having home visits with you to assist with any needs you might have. They will be working with you to complete a Family Partnership Agreement to set goals and design an approach for achieving your goals.

Concerns
Parent/guardian concerns involving your children are usually resolved at the center level by discussion with the center staff. Concerns involving personnel issues should be discussed as outlined below:
1. Center Coordinator
2. Program Coordinator if Not Resolved
3. Executive Director who will communicate the concern to Policy Council if not resolved

Parent/guardian concerns involving center operations should first be discussed with the Center Coordinator. If necessary, the concern should be brought to the Parent Center Committee. If necessary, the parent and/or Parent Center Committee should contact the Program Coordinator and if necessary, the Executive Director. If a resolution is not reached, the concern will be brought to Policy Council.

Field Trips and Events
A limited number of field trips are planned throughout the year and are planned to extend the curriculum. Special events may be conducted at the center or out in the community.

If a parent/guardian does not want a child to attend a field trip, he/she will spend the day in another classroom. If the entire center is attending the trip, the parent/guardian will need to keep the child at home for the day.

Head Start will pay for a minimum of 4 volunteer per classroom to attend each field trip. This will include bus transportation, entrance fee and lunch.
The Center Coordinator will notify parents/guardians of upcoming trips in advance so that parents/guardians can make arrangements and have sufficient time to make a decision regarding volunteering. Because of the need for close supervision of Head Start children, no other children will be permitted to accompany volunteers.

Other parents/guardians who are not volunteering are welcome to meet the center at the field trip location. These parents/guardians may be required to pay any entrance fee and to provide their own lunch.

Parent/guardian volunteers will be assigned to work with a Head Start employee in supervising a group of children.

Efforts will be made to include every child in all field trips. If a child has been identified as one who has difficulty handling change in the daily routine of the classroom, staff will take measures to prepare the child for the trip and establish certain conditions under which the child may participate in the trip. Ideally, one person will be assigned to the child and will be responsible for that specific child so he/she will have a positive experience.

Nametags for field trips will contain:
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. Name of Teacher Name of Center Phone Number of Center/Administrative office

The child’s name will not appear on the nametag.

If you need to contact the center while a field trip is planned please leave a message on the answering machine and someone will return your call once they return.

Field Trip Volunteer Guidelines
Children are to be supervised at all times and never left unattended
Children are to remain seated on the bus at all times
Children are to stay with the group to which they are assigned
Children walk when indoors
Children use indoor voices when indoors
Each time you board the bus or leave the building, count the children in your group to see that they are all there.
Be constantly aware of the where the children are in your group
Parents/guardians and other volunteers are asked not to buy souvenirs and other purchases to give to the children.

Statement on Holiday Celebrations
Holidays are times of tradition, fun, family and friends. Each family varies in the types of holidays celebrated and in the ways they are celebrated. It is important for each child to learn about and participate in activities that are appropriate to his/her family’s beliefs and traditions. Respecting differences in cultures and family traditions is why New Castle County Head Start, Inc. is not involved in the celebration of religion based holidays. We believe that these celebrations should be unique to each individual family.

New Castle County Head Start, Inc. does welcome the celebration of:
Birthdays Labor Day Thanksgiving New Year Arbor Day
Earth DayGroundhog DayIndependence Day

Nutrition
Your child will be given meals, which meet nutritional requirements for this age group by Head Start and the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. Meals are served family style. Monthly menus will be sent home to you. Pork products are not served.
If your child has any food allergies, it should be clearly noted on the health and nutrition form of your child’s application. Before a menu item can be substituted, the condition must be medical and verified, in writing, by an authorized Medical professional.

The Program Coordinator or other Head Start Staff is available to parents/guardians to discuss their child’s growth assessment and hemoglobin readings (status of anemia) plus topics in the area of food and nutrition.

The Center Coordinator can arrange presentations related to these topics for Head Start Parent Groups.

Serious Disruptive Behavior Policy
It is New Castle County Head Start, Inc.’s desire to provide ample opportunities for each child to learn and participate in a safe, secure and well-managed classroom. New Castle County Head Inc. supports ongoing teacher training, positive reinforcement of children, graduated discipline practices and on occasion, special intervention plans to create successful experiences for children both educationally and behaviorally. Should a child exhibit serious disruptive behavior that interferes with the ability to maintain a safe and secure environment the following steps will take place:

1. New Castle County Head Start, Inc. will notify you by phone or with a home visit. All efforts will be made to do so on the same day of the incident (s).
2. Written documentation will be made and given to you. You will be asked to sign that you have received a copy of the documentation.
3. Within 2 weeks of notification the parent(s)/guardians(s), Teacher and Center Coordinator will meet to discuss a plan and will work together to prevent the behavior(s) in the future so that the child may achieve success or improvement. The program’s Mental Health Consultant may also become involved to assist in developing the plans.
4. Should the parent(s)/guardians(s) be unwilling to attend and participate in the planning meeting and the child’s disruptive behavior continues, New Castle County Head Start, Inc. reserves the right to suspend the child from attending the program until the meeting takes place and a plan for improvement is made.

BEHAVIORS WHICH MAY BE CONSIDERED SERIOUSLY DISRUPTIVE INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

Aggression toward other children, staff, volunteers or parents
Running away from the group/or classroom where the likelihood of danger exists
Climbing onto/into areas where a physical danger exists
Destruction, breaking, throwing of classroom items, which may cause physical injury

For the purposes of the above procedure Serious Disruptive Behavior is NOT: yelling, cursing, tearing paper, poking or tapping, verbal teasing or name-calling. Alternative classroom/teacher behavioral interventions will be used in these instances.

Administration of Medication
Most medication can be given to your child outside of the Head Start program operation hours. There may be times when it will be necessary to give medication to your child during the program day. The parent/guardian must inform the Center Coordinator and obtain approval. The parent/guardian must sign written permission to have the medication given. All medicine must be in its original container with a prescription label with specific directions.

General Child Health Policies
We realize how important your child’s health is to you. New Castle County Head Start, Inc. as well as with the State of Delaware requires a yearly physical within 30 days of enrollment and proof of all childhood immunizations. Parents/guardians will be notified when their child’s annual physical is due within 30 days of the annual exam date. Exam results must be submitted to the Family Service Worker. If not, state regulations require your child to be dropped from the program.

Children need to remain home if they show any of these symptoms:

Your child may return to the center when the symptoms are no longer present or a physician indicates the child poses no serious health risk to the child or to other children.

Infection Control Procedure
Due to the nature of the program, children and adults can be exposed to contagious illnesses such as:

Most of the time we are not aware of the presence of such an illness until after the children have been exposed. Parents/guardians should be aware of this as it may present a risk to their children.

When Should a Child be allowed to Return after Being Ill?
When a child has a communicable disease, the Division of Public Health feels that the following exclusion and return policies reflect the best judgment with the least inconvenience possible. The policies can be modified in the case of an outbreak.

New Castle County Head Start, Inc. follows Standard Precautions Procedures. Gloves, cleaning, sanitation and disposal materials are provided.

Emergency Procedures
Emergency First Aid will be performed as needed by trained staff. For serious injuries, Head Start staff will dial 911 immediately.

Every effort will be made to contact a parent, guardian, or other emergency contact whenever a child is injured. If a child must be taken to an emergency medical facility, a Head Start staff person will accompany the child.

AN ACCIDENT REPORT WILL BE COMPLETED AND SENT HOME ON THE SAME DAY OF THE INJURY.

Please keep your emergency card at the center up-to-date, reporting any changes immediately to your Family Service Worker.

Head Lice Policy
New Castle County Head Start, Inc. cannot permit a child with Head Lice symptoms to be admitted or to remain at the center. The following procedure will be followed:

1. After it has been established that a child has Head Lice, the parent/guardian will be contacted. A note and instructions sheet will be sent home with the child. Also, at this time, other Head Start parents/guardians will be informed of Head Lice infestation and an information sheet on Head Lice will be given to each parent/guardian.

2. The parent/guardian will be responsible to treat the child with an over-the-counter product from a drug store or physician prescribed treatment and must repeat the treatment 7-10 days later to kill any surviving nits. Proof of the treatment (such as the box top) must accompany the child when he/she returns to the Head Start program.

3. After the first treatment, the child can return to the center. However, there can be no signs or symptoms of Head Lice. If there are symptoms, the child will be returned home. It is understood that the parent/guardian will repeat the treatment 7-10 days after the first application.

4. If the child becomes reinfested, the parent must take the child to their physician. The child will not be able to return until treated by the physician, and can be proven by a note from the doctor.

5. If a child gets reinfested within one month after the previous treatment, the Family Service Worker will do a home visit to further assist the parent. Once again, a child cannot return without proof of medication or a doctor’s note.

6. Classroom and home sanitation procedures will be as follows: remove lice and fallen hairs with attached nits from rugs, upholstered furniture, stuffed animals and car seats by vacuuming. All fabric items, such as clothing and blankets need to be washed in hot water and dried in the dryer. Once washed and dried, place in an airtight bag for 72 hours. Then wash and dry the items again. All hard surfaced items need to be washed.

Immunization Policy
All children enrolled in the Head Start program shall have a current up-to-date immunization record as dictated by their age. Children, who do not, must have a minimum of the initial immunization series (DPT, OPV, Hep B, MMR, HIB) and a written schedule to complete immunizations. Either the public health clinic or your child’s physician must develop this schedule. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to keep the schedule of immunizations for their child and submit proof of all updates as they occur. Ask your Family Service Worker for help with this process, if needed.

Failure to obtain a written immunization schedule and get the needed immunizations is sufficient cause to dismiss your child from the Head Start Program.

Once the child is dismissed from the program, the child’s enrollment slot will be given to another child. Your child cannot re-enter the program until the immunizations are up to date and there is an opening.

Licensing
Each center is licensed by the State of Delaware yearly. If you are interested in the licensing requirements we will be happy to discuss the procedure with you at your convenience. Contact the Center Coordinator for more information.