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

Preface

"What if I give the wrong amount of medicine to Malik?"
"What if Lianne has an asthma attack and I don't know what to do?"
"What if..."

Many of the fears about caring for children with chronic medical conditions begin with "what if...". Let's imagine for a moment another set of "what ifs...".

• "What if every child with a chronic medical condition could learn and play together with other children?"
  
• "What if parents took their children to Head Start confident that the staff could handle a medical crisis safely and sensitively?"
  
• "What if all children learned that everyone has unique strengths and challenges, and that by appreciating these strengths and accommodating these needs, we emerge a stronger, richer, and more humane community?"
  

As seen by these "what if" questions, there are responsibilities and risks–as well as rich rewards–in trying to make our schools and communities safe and welcoming places.

Caring for Children with Chronic Conditions is intended to help Head Start programs answer the "what ifs." Our commitment is to inclusive, family-centered programs that support family strengths. To achieve this, we must know ourselves and our programs, as well as the individual children and families. Then we can engage in creative, individual planning so that each classroom teacher, parent, and child can feel safe and confident. The teacher will know how to make sure she gives Malik the right amount of medicine. Lianne's Mom will know that the health coordinator has information from Lianne's doctor in case her asthma flares up and she needs treatment. And when those "what ifs" are answered, we can learn the answers to the next set of "what ifs."

The concepts and activities in this guide build on each other, so users should proceed from the beginning to the end. However, the learning activities can be adapted to each program's situation. For example, any workshop activity can be adapted to use with a smaller group, or you can insert stories and issues from your own program.

Training materials are most effective when applied to the everyday work setting. Knowledge and skills developed during training must be supported by follow-up activities. This guide contains sections titled "Next Steps: Ideas to Extend Practice" and "Continuing Professional Development," to help users design long-term learning plans.

Many Head Start programs across the country helped to develop this guide. Our sincere thanks to the Head Start staff and parents who discussed the challenges they faced, shared their stories, participated in trainings, and provided feedback on the activities. We appreciate the feedback from the Head Start Bureau, Regional Offices, Training and Technical Assistance Network, and National Training Contractors. We especially value the detailed review and input provided by the guide's development team of Head Start staff and health professionals.

We hope that Caring for Children with Chronic Conditions helps you to develop an effective partnership among Head Start staff, parents, health professionals, and children that will prepare you to answer the "what ifs" faced by Head Start programs and families. Because when frightening scenarios are faced head-on and planned for, dreams can–and do– come true.