7. VOLUNTEERS IN THE HEALTH SERVICES COMPONENT
There are several performance standards for the health services component that either require the use of volunteers organ be met by using volunteers.
7.1 Health Services Advisory Committie(HSAC)
Creating the Health Services Advisory Committee(HSAC) involves the services of the various health professionals and parents. The HSAC is responsible for the oversight of the health services plan and operations.
REFERENCE TEXT CITATION
"Head Start Program Performance Standards". 45-CFR 4304, Health, Subpart C--Health Services Objectives and Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-10 Health Services Advisory Committee
The plan shall provide for the creation of a Health Services Advisory Committee whose purpose shall be advising in the planning, operation and evaluation of the health services program and which shall consist of Head Start parents and health services providers in the community and other specialists in the various health disciplines...Related Performance Standard Guidance
In order to achieve to the comprehensive goals, the health program should be planned by professionally competent people. Planning must take place early and should involve a wide cross section of the professional health talent available in the community. The committee should be represented by all four areas of health professionals, i.e., medical, dental, mental health, and nutrition...
Involving parents, health professionals, and their organizations in planning will ensure that the health program is tailored to the needs of the children, and that it utilizes fully the resources available in the community without duplication already existing services...
Another standard reiterates the role of the HSAC and of parents in
the review of the nutrition services.
REFERENCE TEXT CITATION
Head Start Program Performance Standards." 45-CFR 1304, Health, Subpart C--Health Services Objectives and Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-10 Nutrition services
(e) The plan shall make special provision for the involvement of parents and appropriate community agencies in planning, implementing, and evaluating the nutrition services. It shall provide that:(1)The Policy Council or Committee and the Health Services Advisory Committee have opportunity to review and comment on the nutrition services....
Related Performance Standard Guidance(e) Parents should be encouraged to participate in nutrition program activities such as planning menus and working in classroom nutrition activities, to serve as volunteers or in jobs in food service and in on-going monitoring of the nutrition component....
7.2 Volunteers and Health Services
Programs are encouraged to obtain health examinations and services from private practitioners, public health agencies, and groups that provide special health services on a voluntary basis.
Nonprofessional volunteers and community groups may provide important support services. These include helping to arrange needed services and transportation, taking care of the child's siblings while the examination is being done, assisting with certain health screenings, and teaching the children good health practices.
REFERENCE TEXT CITATION
"Head Start Programs Performance Standards." 45-CFR 1304, Health, Subpart--Health Services Objectives and Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-4 Medical and dental treatment
(a) The plan shall provide for treatment and follow-up services which include:(1)Obtaining or arranging for treatment of all health problems detected....
Related Performance Standard Guidance(1) Head Start funds should be used only after all community resources and third party payments for which each child is eligible have been used. Only if existing services cannot be modified should new services be arranged or purchased.
Every community will have available many of the resources listed in the following table. The program may contract with existing agencies to provide some or all of the health services:
1. Private Practitioners of Medicine, Dentistry, Optometry, Psychology-- individual or group.
1. May provide all types of health services (consultation and planning, administrative, examinations and screening tests, treatment, immunization, health education, and continuing health supervision) on a volunteer, contract, or fee-for-service basis.
10. Special Voluntary Agencies and Public Agencies.10. May provide funds or services for screening or treatment and rehabilitation of certain health problems....
"Head Start Program Performance Standards." 45-CFR 1304, Health, Subpart C--Health Services Objectives and Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-8 Mental health services
(b) The plan shall also provide(2) Use of existing community mental health resources
Related Performance Standard Guidance
(2) Procedures for utilizing existing community mental health resources including specified contact persons. These procedures should be developed in conjunction with the mental health professional for identifying and contacting resources.
"Head Start Program Performance Standards." 45-CFR 1304, Health, Subpart C--Health Services Objectives and Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-4 Medical and dental history, screening, and examinations
(b) Health screenings shall include:(2) Vision testing
Related Performance Standard Guidance(2) When there is no established screening program and consultation from eye specialists is not available to a community, the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness or its State or local chapters, or the Volunteers for Vision, may assist in setting up a screening program....
Strabismus testing can be performed by well trained staff or volunteers. The common tests for strabismus are the Cover Test and the Hirschberg Test. Frequently, strabismus testing is performed during the physical examination.
All staff, including volunteers, are encouraged to eat with the children in a family-style setting. Regulations stipulate that the Head Start grant may pay for volunteer meals when the meals are eaten with children in the classroom.
REFERENCE TEXT CITATION
"Head Start Program Performance
Standards." 45-CFR 1304, Health, Subpart
C--Health Services Objectives and
Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-8 Mental health services
(b) The plan shall also provide(2) Use of existing community mental health resources
Related Performance Standard Guidance
(2) Procedures for utilizing existing community mental health resources including specified contact persons. These procedures should be developed in conjunction with the mental health professional for identifying and contacting resources.
"Head Start Program Performance
Standards." 45-CER 1304, Health, Subpart
C--Health Services Objectives and
Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-4 Medical and dental history, screening, and examinations
(b) Health screenings shall include:(2) Vision testing
Related Performance Standard Guidance(2) When there is no established screening program and consultation from eye specialists is not available to a community, the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness or its State or local chapters, or the Volunteers for Vision, may assist in setting up a screening program....
Strabismus testing can be performed by well trained staff or volunteers. The common tests for strabismus are the Cover Test and the Hirschberg Test. Frequently, strabismus testing is performed during the physical examination.
All staff, including volunteers, are encouraged to eat with the children in a family-style setting. Regulations stipulate that the Head Start grant may pay for volunteer meals when the meals are eaten with children in the classroom.
REFERENCE TEXT CITATION
"Head Start Program Performance
Standards." 45-CER 1304, Health, Subpart
C--Health Services Objectives and
Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-10 Nutrition services
(c)(6) Children and staff; including volunteers, eat together sharing the same menu and a socializing experience in a relaxed atmosphere....
7.3 Protection of Confidentiality of Children's Health Records
The health records of the children contain confidential information. These records must be kept in a secure location accessible only to authorized individuals.
The Health Services Plan should state the agency's policies on who may have access to the health records. Like staff, volunteers with access to personal health information must be trained in maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of this information.
REFERENCE TEXT CITATION
"Head Start Program Performance
Standards." 45-CER 1304, Health, Subpart
C--Health Services Objectives and
Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-5 Medical and dental records
The plan shall provide for: (a) the establishment and maintenance of individual health records which contain the child's medical and developmental history, screening results, medical and dental examination data, and evaluation of this material, and up-to-date information about treatment and follow-up....Related Performance Standard Guidance
In order to be useful to health workers and individual children, the health records must contain a large amount of information of a confidential nature. The privacy and confidence of this information must be respected. The records should be kept in a place that is not accessible to unauthorized persons.... A child's health record should be transferred to the school in order to ensure continuity of health services.
"Head Start Program Performance
Standards." 45-CER 1304, Health, Subpart
C--Health Services Objectives and
Performance Standards, November 1984.1304.3-8 Mental health services
(b) The plan shall also provide(4) Confidentiality of records
Related Performance Standard Guidance
(4) Only authorized persons should be permitted to see the records. Parents and staff should jointly decide if such records are forwarded to the school system.
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