To ensure the safety of all chilren, parents are asked to refrain from leaving children unattended in their automobilies while they enter the Head Start facility.

Consistent attendance at Head Start will help make your child's adjustment to school easier and also make him/her feel more part of the class. The habit of attending school regularly will prepare your child for the years of schooling he/she will need to ensure success in life. Review our Health Policies and use your judgement as to whether or not your child needs to stay home. Please call the center and let us know if your child will be absent.

Our grant requires us to maintain 85% attendance.

If your child has three consecutive absenses a staff member will contact you to see if we can be of assistance.

Safe guarding the confidentiality of information in records pertaining to the personal lives of Head Start families is of utmost importantance to us. In order to protect the rights and provacy of parents and their children, all records containing personal information about families are kept in locked files.

Any information in these files will nto be transferred to any public or private agency without the written consent of the parent or guardian.

Parents and guardians have the right to review and inspect all materials in the files relating to their children or themselves.

Tri-County Head Start will honor a request by the custodial parent to deny access to his/her children within the limitations of a divorce decree or other court order if such decree or court order is on file at the Head Start Center.

It is generally best to resolve problems or disputes which may arise during the year concerning the Head Start program with the staff emmeber who is closest to the situation. If you as a parent have any questions about anything which is said or done by the staff, you should first attempt to discuss the problem with that person. If the problem cannot be resolved at that level, you should approach the area coordinator. If the issue remains unresolved, the Director can be contacted.

An appeal is made to Policy Council if the Director has not resolved the issue. If your appeal to Policy Council is not answered to your satisfaction then you should contact the Tri-County Community Action Program's Executive Director and the CAP Board of Directors.

The Regional Office of the Department of Health and Human Services in Boston, Mass can be contacted once all local level persons have been approached.

Head Start staff is not permitted to administer any prescription medication without written consent of a parent, guardian or doctor. Head Start does not administer non-prescription medications becasue children are not in school for more than four hours.

Families must complete and sign an Authorization to Administer Prescription Medication form before any meds will be given to their child. These forms can be obtained from the staff at the Head Start site. Staff will document the date, time and amount of dosage given on this form. Medication must be in its original container and will not be given beyond the date of expiration. The prescription label will serve as a written order from a licensed health practitioner

The medication and the Authorization Form must be given directly to a Head Start staff member by the parent or guardian.

For the child's safety, it's important that parents keep Head Start staff informed of any medication their child is taking at home; possible side effects and any changes to the type, frequency or dosage to the medication.

Questions about this Medication Policy or any of the Head Start Health Policies should be directed to the Head Start staff.

Large parties and eleborate holiday celebrations are often confusing and stressful to young children. Holiday celebrations and observances are family events. For some families they are fun, others they bring back sentimental memories, while others may experience sad or stressful times.

Celebrations of any type should be developmentally apporpriate and provide a valuable learning experience for children. We have allowed room in our curriculum for gatherings such as fall harvest, winter fest celebrations, and picnics. Parents are welcome and encouraged to help plan there.

If you would like more information on developmentally appropriate celebrations and activities, contact the Head Start Staff.

Head Start requires that anyone picking up a child at the center be prepared to show appropriate idenification. Release of children is limited to those names indicated on the Emergency Form.