HEAD START®

Caring for Children with
Chronic Conditions

Training Guides for the Head Start Learning Community

Table of Contents | Preface | Introduction | Module 1 | Module 2 | Module 3
| Continuing Professional Development | Resources

Module 1: Activity 2 - Alike and Different?

Module 1 | Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Activity 4 | Next Steps

Purpose: This activity helps participants appreciate the similarities and differences in the needs of children with chronic vs. acute illnesses. It also helps staff realize that they already know how to make many of the accommodations needed to care for children with chronic illnesses.

For this activity you will need:

• Handout C-1: Alike and Different–Acute (front and back) and Handout C-2: Alike and Different–Chronic (front and back)
  
  
• Handout D: Alike and Different Discussion Guide
  
  
• Flip chart and markers
  

Trainer's Preparation Note:

Before beginning this activity you will need to:

1. Make two-sided copies of Handouts C-1 and C-2: Alike and Different. (Note that the front sides of the handouts are the same but the back sides are different.)
   
   
2. Cut along the horizontal lines to make 10 strips.
   
   
3. Make 10 copies of Handout D: Alike and Different Discussion Guide.
   

Step 1: Start the activity by asking participants:

• What does "chronic condition" mean?
  
  
• What are some examples of chronic conditions that children in your Head Start program have had?

Briefly list the responses on flip chart paper (e.g., it lasts a long time, it probably cannot be cured but it can be managed or controlled, it usually is not contagious, it can stay the same or change over time).

Step 2: Divide participants into 10 groups of two to four people, depending on the number of participants. Give each small group a story strip from Handout C-1: Alike and Different–Acute or C-2: Alike and Different–Chronic and a copy of Handout D: Alike and Different Discussion Guide.

Step 3: Instruct the small groups to read their story strip, front and back sides, and answer the questions on the Discussion Guide. Allow 10-20 minutes.

Step 4: Bring the participants back together. Ask each group to say the name of the child in their story and have the groups with the same child's name come together. Instruct the small groups to compare their two story strips, front and back, and their responses to the questions on the Discussion Guide.

• Which responses are similar?
  
  
• Which responses are most different?

Step 5: Bring the whole group back together. Have each small group read aloud their story on the front of the strip, then the two different back sides. Ask participants:

• What did you learn from this activity?

Step 6: Return to the original flip chart list of characteristics of chronic conditions. Ask participants:

• What did you learn from this activity?

Step 7: Return to the large group. Write the headings Child, Parent, and Staff on three pieces of flip chart paper and post them.

Ask participants:

• After completing this activity, is there anything you would like to add to your list of what chronic conditions mean?

Points to Consider:

• Many things are the same for children with chronic and acute conditions, such as how they might feel and what caregivers need to do. Some things may be different, such as the child's and family's ongoing needs from Head Start and other service providers. Families with children with chronic conditions may need closer communication, more accommodations, and more emotional support.
  
  
• The accommodations needed to care for children with chronic conditions are often similar to those made for children with acute conditions (e.g., giving more individual attention and comfort, modifying activities or diet, giving medications, and assisting with movement). To care for children with chronic conditions, Head Start staff can build on the skills that they already have.
  
  
• The Characteristics Cards in this activity described functional characteristics rather than simply listing diagnoses. To care for a child with chronic conditions, Head Start staff need to know the child's characteristics, abilities, and care needs.