Health Services Essentials

Head Start programs partner with parents to provide high-quality health, oral health, mental health, and nutrition services that support each child’s growth and school readiness. The Health Services Essentials course is designed to support health staff in developing the fundamental knowledge they need to meet the expectations of the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS), and support children and families on their path to a healthy future.

For new and experienced health service staff alike, this course covers requirements in physical/oral health, mental health, nutrition, disabilities, safety, and staff wellness. Learners will walk away with concrete suggestions on how to ensure the HSPPS are met through well-child checks, vision and hearing screenings, dental exams, and more. They will also develop an understanding on how to support others in their role and to train teachers in supporting child safety and development through daily health checks, acute care, and classroom safety checks.

Course Level: 

Intermediate

Requirements/Prerequisites: 

None

Target Audience: 

Course Meeting Times: 

In addition to completing online modules, learners will be required to attend live sessions, on the first and third Mondays of each month at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Completion Timeline/Duration: 

1 month

Head Start Alignment: 

This credential supports programs in meeting 1302 Subpart D—Health Program Services requirements of the HSPPS, in which programs must “provide high-quality health, oral health, mental health, and nutrition services that are developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate and that will support each child’s growth and school readiness.”