2025-2026
FAMILY HANDBOOK
IMPORTANTCONTACTS
Name
BethVossler
LisaCumins
YolandaSmith
TammyHawk
TracyPistel
MelissaScheer
JackieRivera
KishiaHarms
ShereBruner
ShellyWeed
Position
HeadStartDirector
AssistantHeadStartDirector
ChildDevelopmentAdministrator
FamilyAdministrator
FamilyAdministrator NutritionAdministrator
HealthAdministrator
MentalHealth&Wellness Administrator
HomeBased/Prenatal/ WERDCC Administrator DataSystemAdministrator
lisac@cmca.us bethv@cmca.us
tracyp@cmca.us
shereb@cmcaus kishiah@cmcaus shellyw@cmca.us tammyh@cmca.us
jackier@cmca.us
BrandyCotten brandyc@cmca.us
MyriamDominguez
TawnyaPaceor TeressaHuskey
StaffingCoordinator
InterpretiveServicesSpecialist
melissas@cmcaus myriamd@cmca.us yolandas@cmca.us
SiteAdministrators tawnyap@cmcaus teressah@cmca.us
FAMILY REUNIFICATION
Whatisthat?
Intheeventofanemergencythat requiresustoevacuateandrelocate, studentsmaybepickedupata designatedreunificationlocationbyan identified,responsibleadultwhohas beenlistedonthechild'semergency contacts.
Reunificationlocationsfor ourchildcareprogramwill varybysite.Familieswillbe informedofthetwopossible locationsduringorientation. Ifyouareeverunsureofthe reunificationspots,please reachouttotheSiteDirector forassistance.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
September
1st:LaborDayAllClosed
15th:StaffTrainingDay-Close
October
20th:StaffTrainingDay-Close
November
7th:HermitageClosed
25th-28th:AllSitesClosed
December
January
1st-3rd:WinterBreakAllSitesClosed
20th:MLKDayAllClosed 26th:StaffTrainingDay-Close
February
16th:PresidentsDayAllClosed
19th:1/2DayEarlyRelease-TeacherWorkDay
22nd-31st:WinterBreakAllClosed
SCHOOL CALENDAR
March
9th-13th:HermitageSpringBreak1 24th-25th:SpringBreaksitesclosed except:Glasgow,Fayette,R-6
30th-3rd:SpringBreakforGlasgow, Fayette,R-6Closed
April
20th:StaffTrainingDay-AllSitesClosed
June
18th:1/2DayEarlyRelease-CenterWorkDay 19th:JuneteenthAllClosed
July
3rd:4thofJulyAllClosed
August
3rd-7th:StaffTrainingAllClosed 10th-14th:StaffTrainingAllClosed
May
4th:AgencyDay-AllSitesClosed
8th:Truman’sHoliday-AllSitesClosed 25th:MemorialDay-MondaySitesClosed 26th:MemorialDay4DayCentersONLYClosed
SCHOOLMENU
7 week menu
7 week menu
ORIENTATION REGULATIONS
TheseregulationsaretheguidancemandatedbytheOfficeofHeadStart. Programproceduresandpoliciesaredevelopedinaccordancewiththese regulations.HeadStart.gov
StateofMissouriChildcareLicensing
Everylicensedchildcarefacilitymustfollowtheseregulationswhichare availableonthewebtoviewatanytime.OfficeofChildhood
FoodProgramRegulations
TheChildandAdultCareFoodProgram(CACFP)hasregulationson whattype,amount,etc.offoodisallowedtobegiven. CACFP
Severalofthefacilitiesareaccredited. Accreditationisthe benchmarkofqualityamongearlyeducationprograms.There areadditionalstandardsofqualityinordertoachieve accreditation
NAEYC
ORIENTATION SAFETY
ProgramSafety
CMCA is committed to providing a high-quality education and learning experienceforchildreninasafeenvironment.Alladultsinthefacilitywill undergo a background screening. Anyone who has been convicted of a sexual offense against a child, and/or is a registered sex offender, shall notbeallowedtoenteraHeadStartCenterwithoutpermissionfromthe CMCA Executive Director. Adult anger, threats, or violence will not be tolerated.HeadStartstaffwillcall911intheeventthat:
Anadultyellsatanotheradultorchildandisunabletocalmdown Anadulthasaweaponorthreatenstouseone
Anadultphysicallyattacksanadultorchild Ifastaffmemberfeelslikehis/hersafetyorthoseundertheircareare injeopardy
Anadultthreatensthelifeorsafetyofstaffandchildrenatthecenter
ChildAbuseandNeglect
AllemployeesofCMCAHeadStartaremandatedreportersofchildabuse andneglect Ifanemployeesuspectsabuseorneglect,theyarerequired by law to report their concerns. It is important for parent/guardians to knowsigns&symptomsofabuseorneglect.Possiblesignsincludebutnot limited to: child is withdrawn, shows aggressive or destructive behavior, hurts other children or animals, states they are afraid of a particular person, has repeated injuries, or is poorly cared for (dress, hygiene, etc) Toreportanysuspectedchildabuse/neglect,calltheMissouriChildAbuse andNeglectHotlineat1-800-392-3738.
Tobacco/SmokeFreePolicy
CMCArecognizesitsresponsibilitytopromoteanhealthyenvironment. OurTobacco/SmokeFreePolicystatesthattobacco,vape,smokeless tobacco,ormarijuanausebystafforothersonthepremisesis prohibited.Anyhomevisitsshouldbetobaccofree.
ORIENTATION Safety
VideoRecording
Theprogramreservestherighttovideotapeitsfacilities,indoorandoutdoor,forsafety, security,HR,aswellasstafftraining Theserecordingsarenotavailabletothepublic
Shouldtherebeanincidentthatrequireslawenforcement,OfficeofHeadStart,or children’sdivisioninvolvement,thoserecordingswillbemadeavailabletothose organizations.
Thecamerascanalsobeusedtoobservechildrenwiththepermissionofthe parent/guardian.
ActiveSupervision
Yourchild'ssafetyisourtoppriority OurprogramfollowstheHeadStartapproachto activesupervision,whichmeansstaffarealwayswatching,listening,andengagingwith childrentoensuretheyaresafeandaccountedforatalltimes Childrenareneverleft aloneorunsupervisedwhileinourcare.
Confidentiality
Wearecommittedtoprotectingyourfamily’sprivacy.Ourprogramkeepsallpersonal information(PII)aboutchildrenandfamiliesconfidentialandonlysharesitwhenrequired bylaworwithyourwrittenpermission.
ORIENTATION HEALTH&DENTALREQUIREMENTS
Head Start is required to screen all children within the first 45 days of enrollment to determine the developmental level and abilities of a child. Screenings performed by trained staff will only be done with parent/guardian permission. All screening information will be shared with the parent/guardian Screenings are performed in order to detect concernsthatmayimpactachild'sabilitytolearn Thefamilyisresponsibleforanyhealth follow-up.
DEVELOPMENTALSCREENINGS
PreschoolersuseDevelopmental IndicatorsfortheAssessmentof Learning(DIAL)whichscreensfor motor,concepts,andlanguage. Infants/ToddlersusetheAgesand StagesQuestionnaire-3(ASQ-3) whichscreenslanguage development,grossmotor,finemotor, problem-solving&personal/social skills.
VISIONSCREENINGS
Infantsundertheageof6monthswill haveafunctionalvisionscreensuchas trackinganobject.
Childrenovertheageof6monthswill havethePediavisionSPOTthatdetects concernssuchas:
Near-sightedness(myopia)
Far-sightedness(hyperopia)
Unequalrefractivepower (anisometropia)
Pupilsizedeviations(anisocoria)
Eyemisalignment(strabismus)
HEARINGSCREENINGS
AnOtoacousticEmissions(OAE)hearing screenisusedtoidentifyhearinglossin children.Childrenmaybereferredto theirPrimaryCarePhysicianor Audiologistbasedontheresultsofthe OAE.
BLOODPRESSURE
Childrencanhaveheartattacksand strokes,justlikeadults Bloodpressureis checkedonallchildrenovertheageof3 years
HEIGHT&WEIGHT
Growthassessmentsaredone2times duringtheschoolyear.Growthchecks helpensureyourchildisgrowingata averagerate.
ORIENTATIONHEALTH&DENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Head Start is required to screen all children within the first 45 days of enrollment to determine developmental level and abilities of a child Screenings performed by trained staff will only be done with parent/guardian permission. All screening information will be shared with the parent/guardian. Screening are performed in ordertodetectconcernsthatmayimpactachild'sabilitytolearn.
PHYSICALEXAM
Aphysicalexambyahealthcare professionalisrequiredtopromote wellnessandtoidentifyanyexisting healthproblems Forchildrenages3to5 years,aexamisrequiredannually For infantandtoddlers,theexamisrequired onamorefrequentbasis. Thefollowingscheduleistherequired agesforphysicalexams:
1month 2months 4months 6months 9months 12months 15months 18months 24months 3years 4years 5years
DENTALEXAM
Anexambyadentistisrequiredwhen teethbegintoerupttomakesureyour child'steetharehealthy,strong,and growingproperly Teethareimportantfor chewing,talking,andsmiling Healthy babyteethguideinhealthypermanent teeth.Requiredannuallybut recommendedevery6months.
HEMOGLOBINORHEMATOCRIT
Ahemoglobinorhematocritlevelchecks foranemia(notenoughironinthe blood).Childrenthatdonotgetenough ironfromtheirdietmayalsobeanemic Ifyourchildisfoundtobeanemic,then yourdoctormayprescribeiron supplements.Increasingfoodhighiniron mayalsohelpwithanemia.Requiredat1 year,2yearsand5yearsofage. Recommendedat3yearsand4yearsof age.
LEAD
Leadpoisoningcanlowerachild'sIQ, interferewithgrowth,andcancause behaviorproblems.InMissouri,lead poisoningisaspecialconcerndueto miningofleadandothermineralsinthe state Leadcanalsobefoundinolder homes/buildingswithlead-basedpaint andlead-contaminateddust.Other possiblesourcesofleadcouldbe contaminatedair,water,andsoil Leadscreeningiscompletedyearly CertainHighRiskcountiesmayrequire bloodleveltestinginadditiontoa screening
ORIENTATIONCENTER REQUIREMENTS
ATTENDANCE
Yourchild'sattendanceisveryimportant! Weencouragearrivalnolaterthan9amto bepresentfortheinstructionalportionof theday Ifyourchildhasanappointment, makesureyouinformthestaff.Thisissothe centercanensureappropriateratioand supervisionofchildrenaswellasprovide qualityinstructionaltimefortheclassasa group.
Weunderstandthatthingshappen:illness, vacations,andemergencies Whenthis occurs,callthecenterandletthemknow thatyourchildwillnotbeatschool.Ifwedo nothearfromyou,wewillcallorpossibly cometoyourhouse.Wewanttomakesure thateveryoneisokay Ifattendancefalls below90%aplanwillbedeveloped Childrenarerequiredtobepickedupbefore thecenterclosesoratadesignatedpickuptime.Ifyouarelate,thereisa$5per minutelatefeeorvolunteertimethatwould beowed HeadStartfundingonlycovers halfoftheday
REST TIME POLICY
Children have time to rest or sleep every day Missouri licensing requires preschoolers to rest of a minimum of 30 minutes on a cot. After 30 minutes, children are allowed to play quietly. Infants and toddlers are allowed to sleep whenever they are tired. Infants less than a year old are put to sleep on their backs in their crib Infants who cannot roll front- to-back and back-tofrontwillbereturnedtotheirsbacksifthey roll over while sleeping. Blankets and toys are not allowed in cribs, and children's heads are never covered Infants can wear a sleep sack to keep them warm if needed. Children over 12 months need parent/guardian permission to be moved toacottosleep.Staffwillphysicallycheck all children while sleeping to ensure safety
ORIENTATION CENTERREQUIREMENTS
BREASTFEEDING
HeadStartencouragesbreastfeeding motherstocontinuebreastfeedingwhile yourinfantattendthecenter.
Mothers are welcome to visit the center to breastfeed their infant. Mothers can express breast milk and Head Start will bottle-feed the expressed milk. Breastfeeding mothersareaskedto:
Storetheirbreastmilkinthe refrigeratororfreezerrightafter theyexpressitandlabelthe bottles/storagebagswithbaby's name,date,andtimethebreast milkwascollected
Fillthebottles/storagebagswith theamountofbreastmilkthe babyusuallydrinksatonefeeding leavingatleast1inchatthetopof thecontainer,iffreezingbreast milk
Carrybottle/storagebagsoffresh orfrozenbreastmilktothecenter inacoolerwithanicepacks.
Ifyouhavequestionsorconcerns regardingbreastfeeding,pleasetellthe staffsotheycanhelpyoucontacta certifiedlactationcounselor.
CANIBRINGINFOODORDRINKFORMY
CHILD'S CLASS? For safety reasons, parents and/or guardians may NOT bring in food or treats to their child's classroom. This includes drinks and bottles.
MEALSFORCHILDREN
HeadStartwillprovidemealsandsnacks foryourchild.HeadStartparticipatesin theChildandAdultCareFoodProgram (CACFP),whichhelpsensurethechildren areservedhealthymealsandsnacks thatmeettheirdailynutritional requirements Preschoolersandtoddlers areservedfamily-stylemealswherestaff andchildreneattogethersharingthe samemenu.Infantsarefedondemand. Infantmealswillbedocumentedonthe DailyReportFormandsenthomewith youeachday Infantswillbefed accordingtowhattheinfantiseatingat homeandaccordingtoUSDA'sfood programguidelines.HeadStartwill providedformulaandbabyfood.
Infantswillbeheldwhilefeeding breastmilk/formula.
Bottlefeedingsaregraduallyshiftedto cupfeedingsanytimebetween6and 18monthsofage.It'sbesttowean babiesfromabottletocupabout1214monthsofage.
Infantsareweanedfromformulato wholemilkbetweenagesof12-13 months
Babyfoodisusuallyintroduced around6-8months.
Staffwillcommunicatewiththefamily ontheinfantsnutritionalneeds.
ORIENTATION
HOMEBASEDREQUIREMENTS
AttendanceinHome-BasedProgramOption:
Yourchild’sattendanceisveryimportant!
Wearerequiredtoconductweekly90minutehomevisitsinyourhomeoranother agreed-uponlocation
Thesevisitsareessentialtosupportyour child’sdevelopmentandtoworktogether onyourfamily’sgoals.
Youandyourhomevisitorwillwork togethertoestablishaconsistentdayand timeeachweekforyourindividualized homevisits
Regularattendancehelpsensureyourchild receivesthefullbenefitoftheprogram. Ifyouneedtorescheduleavisitdueto illnessoremergency,pleasecontactyour homevisitorassoonaspossible.
Missedvisitsshouldbemadeupwhenever possible
Ifattendancefallsbelow90%aplanwillbe developed.
Eachweek,yourhomevisitorwillbring individualizedlearningactivitiesintoyour homethatsupportyourchild’s developmentalmilestonesandlearning goals.
Theseactivitiesaredesignedtobe engaging,age-appropriate,andtailoredto yourchild'suniqueneedsandinterests. Parentsareencouragedtotakeanactive roleinplanningandparticipatinginthese activities.
Yourinputhelpsusensuretheexperiences aremeaningfulandrelevanttoyourfamily. Together,wecansupportyourchild’s growthandlearninginthemosteffective way
AttendanceinPrenatalProgramOption: Yourattendanceisveryimportant! Wearerequiredtoconductweekly60minutehomevisitsinyourhomeor anotheragreed-uponlocation
Thesevisitsareessentialtosupportyour prenatalandfetaldevelopmentandto worktogetheronyourfamily’sgoals. Youandyourhomevisitorwillwork togethertoestablishaconsistentday andtimeeachweekforyour individualizedhomevisits
Regularattendancehelpsensureyou receivethefullbenefitoftheprogram. Ifyouneedtorescheduleavisitdueto illnessoremergency,pleasecontactyour homevisitorassoonaspossible. Missedvisitsshouldbemadeup wheneverpossible
Ifattendancefallsbelow90%aplanwill bedeveloped.
Eachexpectantmotherenrolledinour programwillbeinvitedtoattendour monthlyvirtualbabyshowers These eventsaredesignedtocelebrateand supportyouduringyourpregnancyby providingessentialitemsforyourbaby, increasingprenataleducation,and connectingyouwithotherprenatal momsintheprogram
Ourgoalistopromotehealthyprenatal developmentandsupportpositivebirth outcomesbyprovidingeducationon topicsthataremostcriticaltoahealthy pregnancy.
Throughindividualizedsupportand evidence-basedinformation,weaimto empowerexpectantmotherswiththe knowledgeandtoolsneededfora healthypregnancyandastrongstartfor theirbaby.
ORIENTATION SICKCHILDPOLICY
WHATIFMYCHILDISSICK?
Ifyourchildissick,he/shewillnotbe allowedtoattendatthecenter Parents areresponsibleforthechild'scarewhen sicknessoccurs.Anychildtakentothe centersickwillbesentbackhome.
Thehealthofyourchildisoneofourmain concerns Eachday,teacherswillperform aquickhealthcheckforobvioussignsor symptomsofillness.Ifthereisaconcern thatyourchildmightbeill,thenthecenter willcontactyoutopickupyourchild.
Licensingregulationsrequirebylawthata childNOTattendwiththefollowing sign/symptomsofillness:
Diarrheamorethanoncewithina24 hourperiod
Severecoughingdifficultorrapid
breathing
Yellowishskinoreyes
Pinkeye
Unusualspotsorrashes
Sorethroatortroubleswallowing
Infectedskinpatch(crusty,bright yellow,dryorgummyareasofskin)
Unusuallydark,tea-coloredurine
Greyorwhitestool
Feverover100degreesFahrenheit
Headacheorstillneck
Vomiting
Severitchingofthescalp
Ifyourchildexhibitsoneormoreofthe symptoms,thenyourchildwillbekept isolatedfromotherchildren,butclosetoa staffmemberuntilhe/sheispickedup.
WHENCANMYCHILDRETURNAFTERAN ILLNESS?
Achildmayreturntothecenterafter he/shehasnotshownanyof signs/symptomsfor24hours.
WHATIFMYCHILDHASBEENDIAGNOSED WITHACOMMUNICABLEDISEASE?Ifa childhasbeendiagnosedwitha communicabledisease,thenawritten releaseisrequiredfromaphysician statingthatthechildisfreefromall communicablediseases.Communicable diseasesinclude,butnotlimitedto: Measles ChickenPox Impetigo Hepatitis Mumps Scabies Rashes DiagnosedTB StrepThroat ViralorBacterial Infection *Lice Influenza(flu) Meningitis
RingWorm PinkEye
*HeadStarthasaNONITPolicyregarding headlice.
CANMYCHILDHAVEMEDICATIONATTHE CENTER?
Childrenrequiringmedicationatthecentermust haveadated,written,signedActionPlanfroma healthcareprofessional. Theonlymedicationsnotrequiringaprescription orActionPlanaresunscreen,teethinggel, VaselineandOTCdiaperrashointments Allmedicationmusthaveasignedmedication authorizationform.
ORIENTATION
FAMILYCODEOFCONDUCT
CMCAHeadStarthasadoptedtheNationalAssociationfortheEducationof YoungChildren(NAEYC)CodeofEthicalConductandtheCommunityAction WorkersCodeofEthics Allemployees,consultantsandvolunteeragreeto thesestandardsofconductastheyrelatetochildren,families,staff,and communities.CMCA'sFamilyCodeofConductincorporatesmanyofthesame standardsandexpectations.
CMCAFAMILYCODEOFCONDUCT
AsaFamily,Iagreetorespecteachchild,family,andstaffmember,andwill notstereotypebasedofgender,race,ethnicity,culture,religion,sexual orientation,ordisability.
AsaFamily,Iagreetoberespectfulofchildren,staffandfamilieswhen visitingtheclassroomsandcentersandonhomevisitsconductedoffsite
AsaFamily,Iagreetoattendfamilyfunctionsincludinghomevisits,center meetingandtrainings,andParentTeacherConferences.
AsaFamily,Iagreetofollowprogramconfidentialitypoliciesconcerning informationaboutchildren,familiesandstaffmembers.
AsaFamily,Iagreetoopenlytalkwiththeprogramstaffandworkto resolveissuesthatmayarise
AsaFamily,Iagreetousepositivelanguageandhaveapositiveattitude
AsaFamily,Iagreenottophysicallypunishordisciplinemyownchild(ren) oranychildwhileatthesite.
AsaFamily,IunderstandthatthemostimportantthingIcandoatmy child’scenteristobeapositiverolemodel.
ORIENTATION FAMILYPARTNERSHIP
CMCAHelpsFamiliesSucceedThroughCoachingandSupport
At CMCA, we believe in supporting the whole family. Our early childhood program is guided by the Family Pathways Framework, a comprehensive approach that promotes long-term success for both children and adults. Each family is partnered with a Family Success Coach—a dedicated staff member who works alongside parents or caregivers to identify strengths, set goals, and overcome challenges. While your child learns and grows in the classroom, your Family Success Coach provides one-on-one support to you, helpingyourentirefamilymoveforwardtogether.Together,webuildpathwaystolastingsuccess.
FamilyDevelopmentPath
TogetherwithyourFamilySuccessCoach,youwill:
Completesurveysandassessmentstoexploreyourinterests,strengths,andneeds Identifyapersonalgoalthatyouarereadytoworkon
Receivesupportinfindingtheresourcesandtoolsneededtoachieveyourgoal
Families enrolled in center-based programs will participate in monthly coaching sessions lasting up to 60 minutes.Yourjourneyisunique andwe’reheretosupportyoueverystepoftheway.
ORIENTATION PROGRAMSUPPORTS
PolicyCouncil
PolicyCouncil(PC)isagroupofparents andcommunityrepresentativesthat supportsthemanagementstructureofthe HeadStartprogram PCassistsinguiding qualityimprovementsandstrategic directionfortheprogram.
Eachcenterhasatleast1parentelectedto PCtorepresenttheirarea.Thisaleadership opportunityforparents.Itcanseem overwhelmingatfirst,buttheservice providedtotheprogramdirectlybenefits ownchildandfamily.
PCmeetsmonthlyvirtually.Meeting informationisemailed.Themeetingisrun inabusinessformatwithvoting,butdon't worry,theProgramDirectorand AdministrativeCoordinatorarepresentto helpguidethemeeting.
Familyopinionsandpointsofvieware criticaltothesuccessoftheprogram.
Non-FederalShare
HalfofthedayisfundedbytheFederal GovernmentthroughtheOfficeofHead Start Forevery$1theprogramMUSTget $025fromthecommunity Thatisyou! Wecollectthislargelythrough volunteering.
Youcanhelpsupportthegoalsinmany ways,suchas:
Workingonyourchild'sgoals Volunteeringintheclassroom Volunteeringoutsidetheclassroom (ex:helpingatparentmeetings) BeingapartofthePolicyCouncil Donations
Alltimemustbetrackedandwehave simpleformsforthatandwillprovideitto you.Parentsareaverylargeresourceto collecttherequiredmatch.Thisishow weshouldthegovernmentthatthis programhasthesupportofthe community!
ADMINISTRATION
PROGRAMADMINSTRATION
Thissectiondescribestheadministrationandprogramproceduresusedto operate.CMCAiscommittedtoprovidingaqualityearlychildhoodprogram.
ProgramOperations
CENTERBASED
Yourchildattendsaclassroom4-5daysperweekwhere they socialize with their peers, participate in the structuredcurriculumHighScope,andreceivenutritious meals. Head Start funding pays for half the day and we offer extended child care to families that are working or inschoolforafee Theprogramhasanopendoorpolicy andfamiliescancomebyatanytime
Visits
HOME BASED The home based program serves children from birth to 3 years. Children and their families receive weekly 90-minute home visits focused on parent/child relationships, infant/toddler development, parenting skills,andschoolreadiness
Familiesandhomevisitorworktogethertoplanactivities each week that is tailored to meet the needs of their child/family.OurhomebaseprogramusestheHawaiian EarlyLearningProfile(HELP)curriculum.Familiesinhome base program are encouraged to attend group socializations that are offered 2 times per month This group socialization is called "Parent and Child Together Time"(PACTT).
PRENATAL
OurHomeBasedvisitorsconductprenatalserviceinthe home through weekly home visits Prenatal services place a strong emphasis on understanding fetal development, learning parenting skills, recognizing postpartum depression, etc. Each family is encouraged to attend group socializations that are offered 2 times permonth.
Group socializations have valuable prenatal topics and provide opportunities to interact with others. Pregnant mothers in the program continue enrollment until their baby is 6 weeks old Staff will assist families in applying for our home based or center based services for their newborn.
PROGRAMADMINSTRATION
ENROLLMENT
ADMISSIONS
To be eligible for the program, families must meet the federal income guidelines and their child must be ageeligible Eligibilityfortheprogramisdeterminedatthetime ofapplicationortransition.Childrenwhoareaboveincome guidelines, transition from Infant/Toddler to Preschool, or are enrolling in a third year of preschool must repeat the eligibilityprocess.
In accordance with Head Start Performance Standards, families are enrolled into the program based upon the program 'sselectioncriteria.
Prior to enrollment, all families must complete orientation at the Head Start Center and provide documentation that the child has up-to-date immunizations and a current physicalexam
CARE
While enrolled in the Head Start the family will participate in a quality early childhood development program that includes, but not limited to: a structured curriculum, nutritious meals/snacks, health, mental health, and family developmentservices.
SIGN-INANDSIGN-OUT
Itisveryimportantthatchildrenaresignedinandouteach day Staffmustrecordthedate/timeandthesignatureof theadultthatisbringingthechildorpickingthemupfrom school.
Inthecaseofanemergency,thisdocumentationwillbe vitalinensuringthatyourchildissafe.Yourteacherwill helpbyprovidingyouwithremindersbeforeyouleavethe classroom
Transitions
Families separate from the program for a variety of reasons. If you choose to remove your child from our program, please notify your Head Start center's Site Directorassoonaspossible
PROGRAMADMINISTRATION
EMERGENCIES
Whathappensinanemergencyorduringbadweather?
Intheeventofanemergency,theprogramwilldecideonthebestcourseofaction for keeping children safe. Head Start's policy is to hold children until the safety of leaving the center has been established Each staff is trained in Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, and CPR Emergencies include, but are not limited to, tornado, fire, earthquake, bomb threat, and intruder alert. Each Head Start center maintainsnon-perishablefoodandwaterincaseofemergency.
SCHOOLCLOSINGS
Forschoolclosing,oralatestart,oremergency,pleaselistenforinformationon yourlocalTVstationsandlookforatext/email/callfromtheyourchild'scenter
CommunicationApp
ChildPlus Communication App is a messaging system that can notify families of center closings, upcoming parent events, and other important information. The system will send out an email or text to all identified individuals Please be sure to update your contact information if it changes so that we can contact you as needed.
PROGRAMADMINISTRATION
DUALLANGUAGELEARNERS
Children who are learning two or more languages at the same time, or those that learned one language first and a second one later, are considered Dual LanguageLearners
Whatdoesthismean?
Itmeansthatchildrenarebuildingup twoormorewaystospeak,listen,write, read,understandtheworld,andto organizelotsofinformationintheir minds.Mostofthetime,theywillfeel morecomfortablecommunicatingina preferredlanguage(usuallythehome language)
Thelanguageyouspeakwithyour childisthefirstlanguagetheywill learn Itistheirfirstconnectiontoyou, totherestoftheirfamily,andtotheir culture&community.Itisthe languagetheyfirstusetolearnabout theworldaroundthem.
Beingbilingualhelpschildrenbuild strongthinkingskills.Helpingthem learnyourfamily'slanguageand culturearesomethingtobeproudof
BilingualFamiliesintheProgram
Communicationwithfamiliesisvery importantinHeadStart Westriveto communicatewithfamiliesintheir preferredlanguagethrough interpreters.
CMCAHeadStarthasahighquality programwherewerecognizethe cultureandvaluesoffamiliesand embracediversityandencouragesthe childrentofeelproudoftheir backgrounds.
Howtogetinterpretiveservices
CMCAprovidesinterpretiveservicesin personorvirtuallyproviding immediate,effective,and comprehensivecommunication.You mayrequestinterpretiveservicesor translationforfree.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Our program are family centered and recognize families as their child's primary teacherandnurturer.Weexpectthatyouwillbefullyinvolvedasanequalpartner in the education and development of your child. Our objectives are to educate children and families alike, create individualized family goal plans, and work cooperativelywithfamiliestowardsreachingtheirdreamsforthefuture
Howyoucanbecomeinvolved
Wewelcomefamiliestohelpplanand shapeourprogrambyparticipatingin classroomactivities,helpingteachers planeducationalexperiences,parent committee,PolicyCouncil,trainings, familyactivitynights,workathometo supportthechild'seducationalneeds, etc.
CoachingSessionsforcenter-based AtCMCA,wevaluebuildingstrong, supportiverelationshipswithbothyour childandyourfamily Ourcommitment includesregular,personalizedsupport throughmonthlycoachingsessions designedtohelpyoureachyourgoals. YourFamilySuccessCoachwillmeet withyouforupto60minuteseach monthtolisten,guide,andsupportyour family’sjourney.
MaleInvolvement
Weencouragefathersorothermale figurestobeengagedinhomevisits, thefamilypartnershipagreement,goal settings,andtovolunteer.Strong relationshipswithmaleswhotakean activeroleinchildrenhavebeenlinked tomanypositivelifeoutcomes.
ThePartnershipProcess
Ourgoalistobuildapartnershipwith you,basedonmutualrespectand trust,andgearedtowardsassisting youinmeetingtheneedsofyourchild andstrengtheningyourfamily.Your FamilySuccessCoachwillworkwith youtoexploreyourstrengths,interests andgoals.Ifyouhaveanunmetneed, emergency,orcrisissituationwewill helpyouthroughit.Weencourageyou toaskforhelpwhenitisneeded.
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
ParentInterestSurvey
Wewanttosupportyouintopicsthatareofinteresttoyourfamily.YourFamily SuccessCoach/HomeVisitorwillprovideeducationalinformationperyour interests.Ifthereisatopicnotlistedonthesurvey,pleasetalkwithyourFamily SuccessCoach/HomeVisitorsotheycansupportyou
ParentingCurriculum
Our evidence-informed parenting curriculum is designed to strengthen the parentchildrelationship,promotepositiveinteractions,andfosteressentiallifeskillsforboth parents and children. Through engaging parent-child activities and guided sessions, the curriculum empowers caregivers with the tools and knowledge needed to raise confident,healthy,andwell-adjustedchildren. Ourparentingcurriculumisgrounded in research and designed to equip caregivers with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to support their child’s healthy development and foster strong family relationships. Core components include: communications skills, practical parenting skills, understanding child development, building a secure attachment and many otheressentialtopicstailoredtomeettheneedsoftoday’sfamilies.
HEALTH
HEALTHSERVICES
Health services include health, nutrition, disability, and mental health services. EarlyidentificationofhealthproblemsisalargefocusinHeadStartasachild's health status greatly affect his/her ability to learn If a health problem is identified, staff follow-up with families by assisting identify resources or assist withapplyingforhealthcoveragesuchasMedicaid.
Health/MentalServiceAdvisoryCommittee(HMSAC)
FamiliesareencouragedtojointheHMSACwhichadvisestheactions,policies, andproceduresofhealthinHeadStart HMSACismadeupafamilies, communityrepresentatives,andstaff.PleaseletyourSiteDirectorknowifyou wouldliketojoinus!
Immunizations&Schedule
Immunizationsareextremelyimportantforachild'shealth ItisMissouriState LicensingRegulationandLawthatallchildrenattendingachildcarefacilitybe properlyimmunized.Achildwillnotbeabletoattendalicensedfacilityifthey arenotup-to-date,ordonothavetheproperdocumentationforexemptions. Childrenthatarenottoattendwillstillreceivehomevisitsuntiltheyareableto returntoclass.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT
CLASSROOMSERVICES
ContinuityofCare
Continuityofcaremeansthatyour childwillstaywiththesameteacher foraslongaspossible.Thisletsthem buildastrong,trustingrelationshipand helpsthemfeelsafe.Thisalsoletsyou andyourchild'steacherreallygetto knoweachotherandworktogetherto besthelpyourchild.
Staff-ChildRatios
Thisishowmanychildrenateacheris allowedtosupervise Forpreschool classrooms,eachteachermay supervise10childrenwithamaxof20 childrenintheclass.Forinfant/toddler classrooms,eachteachermay supervise4childrenwithamaxof8 childrenintheclass.
DevelopmentalScreenings& Assessment
TheDIAL/ASQscreeningshelpidentifyifa childmayneedadditionalservices
Ongoingassessmentsarecompletedfor eachchildtoguidetheirdevelopment andlearning. Thisassessmentisshared withthefamilies.
Thefamily'sinputbeginningat orientationisanimportantfactorin assessmentthechild’sdevelopment.
Curriculum-HighScopeisbasedupon principlesofactivelearningandisa curriculumapprovedforagesbirthto five Children'sinterestsandchoicesare theheartofHighScopeclassrooms. Thisapproachiscalled"ChildInitiated Learning".Teachersprovidechildren withawidevarietyofmaterials,plan experiencesthatbuildontheirinterests, andexpandtheirlearningthrough positiveadult-childinteractions.Each day,aHighScopeclassroomfollowsa consistentscheduleofeventscalled thedailyroutine.CMCAassesseach child'sdevelopmentthreetimesper year Thisinformationissharedduring the2homevisitsand3parentteacher conferenceswehavewitheachfamily throughouttheyear.
HighScopeGoalsforPreschoolers Learnthroughactiveinvolvementwith people,materials,events&ideas Becomeindependent,responsible,and confident.Learntoplantheirowntasks, carrythemout,andtalkwithothers aboutwhattheyhavedoneandlearned
HighScopeforInfants&Toddlers Learnwiththeirwholebody&senses Sustaintheirnaturalcuriosityanddesire tolearnCommunicatewhattheyknow Learnwithinthecontextoftrusting relationships
CLASSROOMSERVICES
ClassroomBehaviorManagement
GuidanceandDiscipline
CMCAencouragestheuseofsafety, kindnessandresponsibilityguidelines foreachclassroom.Theexpectation forachild'sbehaviormustbe developmentallyappropriatetohelp thechilddevelopself-controland assumeresponsibilityforhis/herown actions.Adultsintheclassroomwill usepositivewordsandactionsthat encourageconversationsfrom childrenthroughoutallpartsoftheday exceptresttime.
ConsciousDiscipline
Weteachchildrenwhatbehaviorsare expectedusingtheConscious Disciplineapproach.Thefoundationof thisapproachissafety,connection, andproblem-solving Thisapproachis proventoincreaseself-control, developasenseofsafety,create connectionandaconcernforothers, andtoimprovemotivationinboth childrenandadults
ToiletTraining
Tohelpchildrenusethebathroomon theirown,staffmembersworkwith familiestomaketoilettrainingplans Weencouragechildrentousethe bathroomandpositivelyreinforcethe childfortheirefforts.
Diapering
Adiaperingprocedureensureschildren aresafeandtheclassroomisclean. Diapersarecheckedforwetnessorstool atleastevery2hours,orwhenevera childseemsuncomfortable Childrenwill bepromptlychangedwhenwetorsoiled Diapersareprovidedforfree.Ifyour childrequiresadifferentbrandyoumust getanotefromthedoctorstatingthe medicalreason.Familiesare encouragedtobringanextrachangeof clothingincaseofaccidents
OutdoorPlayHeadStartprovidestimefor childrentoparticipateinlargegroup outdooractivitiestosupportmotor developmentonadailybasis Childcare regulationsrequireoutsidetime CMCA usetheChildCareWeatherWatchto determinewhentogooutside.This meansthatchildrenwillbegoingoutside exceptduringstorms,veryhot,orvery coldweather
FieldTrips
Fieldtripsareinimportantpartofthe curriculumandareusedtoenhance eachchild'seducationalexperiences. Familiesareinformedofthefieldtripsin advanceandareencouragedtojoin theirchild.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
MENTALHEALTH&WELLNESS
MentalHealth&Wellness
This includes our emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. It affects how we think, feel, and act It is important to a child because it affects their abilityto:
Expresstheirneeds
Payattention
Solveproblems
Getalongwithothers
Followdirections
Persistwhenchallenged
Manageemotions
Takeinitiative
Becuriousandinterestedin learning
Itisimportanttoanadultbecauseit affectstheirabilityto:
Havehealthyrelationships
Makegoodlifechoices
Maintainphysicalhealth&well being
Handlethenaturalupsanddowns oflife
Discoverandgrowtowardsour potential
PromotingMentalHealthandWellness ServicesprovidedbytheMentalHealth andWellnessTeam:
Reviewingsocial&emotional screenings
ClassroomandchildObservations
Consultationswithcaregivers, teachers,andcommunityhealth providers
Referralstooutsidementalhealth providersforchildrenoradultsinthe family
Opportunitiesforparenttraining
Staff meet with classroom teachers to identify social, emotional and/or behavioral issues and develop strategies to support the child in the classroom. Please feel free to contact the Mental Health and Wellness staff with questions or concerns you might have regarding your child's social and emotional development We also provide play therapy at no cost to children enrolled in the program. If you are interested in speaking with our licensed therapist to learnmore,pleaseletusknow.
MENTALHEALTH&WELLNESS
Situationsthatcanaffectachild'smentalhealthandwellness
AdverseChildhoodExperiences(ACEs)aredifficulteventsthatsometimes happeninourlives
Examplesmightincludedeathoflovedone,caraccidents,emotional,physical orsexualtrauma,incarcerationofaparent,divorce/separation,etc.
Ourabilityto"bounceback"(resilience)trumpsourACEs!Resilienceisourabilityto returntobeinghealthyandhopefulafterbadthingshappen.Researchshowsthat ifparentsprovideasafeenvironmentfortheirchildrenandteachthemhowtobe resilient,reducestheeffectsofACEsonthechild.
MentalHealthCrisis: Ifyouoranyoneinyourfamilyisexperiencingamental healthcrisis,call,text,videophoneorchat988toreachtheSuicide&Crisis
LifelineMissouri Gotomissouri988orgformoreinformation
IfaHeadStartchildishavingamentalhealthemergencyandthebehavioris puttingthemselvesorothersinimmediatedanger,staffwillensureastaff memberstayswiththechildwhileanotherstaffmembercontactstheMental HealthandWellnessAdminisrtator.TheMentalHealthandWellness Administratorwillconsultwiththestaffandfamilytodevelopaplanfor immediatesafety,aswellasalongtermplanforsuccess,
ScreeningTool:DevereuxEarlyChildhoodAssessment(DECA)
OneofthetoolsHeadStartusestogatherinformationaboutachild's social/emotionaldevelopmentistheDECA.Thechild'steacherorfamilymember completestheassessment.Theinformationgatheredisusedtoplanlearning experiencesforeachchildtomeettheirdevelopmentalneeds Strategiesarealso providedtofamiliestosupporttheminteachingtheirchildinthehome DECAhasthreeprotectivefactors:
1.Attachment/Relationships:Thechild'sabilitytopromoteandmaintainmutual, positiveconnectionswithotherchildrenandsignificantadults
2Initiative:Thechild'sabilitytouseindependentthoughtandactiontomeet his/herneeds
3.Self-Regulation:Thechild'sabilitytoexpressemotionsandmanagebehaviors inhealthways
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
COMMUNITYRESOURCES
ThereareseveralresourcesthatsupportyouwhileparticipatingintheHeadStart programatCMCA.
ChildCareSubsidyThisprogramcanassistwiththe costsofchildcare.Youcanapplyonlineat: https://dss.mo.gov/fsd/child-care-benefit.htm
MedicaidMoHealthNetcoversqualifiedmedical costsforindividuals.Thisresourcecanpossiblycover notonlychildrenbutnowwithadults.Visit myDSS.mo.gov/healthcare
FoodAssistance
FoodStamps(SNAP):supportbuyingfoodfor income-eligibleindividuals.
Visitmydssmogov/food-assistance FoodPantries:Thereareover1,000acrossthe state.
Visitfeedingmissouri.org Women,Infants,andChildren(WIC):supports nutritiontoincome-eligiblewomen,infants,and childrenupto5years
Visitwicmogov
CentralMissouriCommunityActionCMCAhassomany more programs to assist you, not just Head Start! Visit wwwcmcaus for all the resources, but below are a few resources:
EnergyAssistance
Housing
FinancialOpportunityCenter(financialeducation)
Weatherizationforyourhome
SkillUp(supportingjobskills)
ShowMeHealthyRelationships
Women'sBusinessCenter
BRIDGE(supportsintoelementarygrades)
