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 2: Key to Activity 3 - The Story of Monique and Jabari - For Trainer Only

Module 2 | Activity 1 | Activity 2 | Activity 3 | Key to Activity 3 | Activity 4 | Activity 5 | Activity 6 | Activity 7 | Next Steps

Part 1

It is the first week of school...

Monique is glad that her son, Jabari, is starting Head Start. She's going back to school to get her GED, so both she and Jabari are looking forward to school. Jabari is four. He is small, a bit shy, and very smart. Jabari has Sickle Cell Disease.

Monique discussed Jabari's health history with the home visitor and helped complete Jabari's Child Health Record when they enrolled him in Head Start. (Distribute Handout O: Jabari's Child Health Record and give participants a few moments to review.)

The health coordinator told you that Jabari has Sickle Cell Disease, but you don't really know what that means. You notice that Jabari is small and seems hesitant to play, but that is not unusual the first week of school. One day he seems tired and has a runny nose and a cough. He appears to be a little flushed. At free play time, you notice him hunched over and crying. He looks scared and says his arms and legs hurt a lot. You try to comfort him but he's inconsolable and proceeds to wail in pain.

Part 2

During the first month of school, the health coordinator called a meeting to develop an Individualized Health Plan for Jabari. The meeting included the health coordinator, Monique, you (Jabari's teacher), Jabari's primary care nurse practitioner, and a nurse from the local hospital's Sickle Cell Disease program. Everyone shared information on Jabari's condition and his health care needs in routine and emergency situations. Together you developed an Individualized Health Plan to care for Jabari in Head Start. (Distribute Handout P: Jabari's Individualized Health Plan and briefly review it with the participants.)

It's eight months later and Jabari's class is getting ready for summer...

It's a hot day and you're preparing to take the children out to the playground.* (Remind Jabari that it's hot out and he needs to try to stay cool and keep drinking water. Ask him to fill up his water bottle to take with him outside. Make sure he's not overdressed. Watch him closely.)

After playing for a few minutes, Jabari comes up to you. He looks a little tired and flushed, and he says he's thirsty.* (Give Jabari more water to drink. Ask him if anything hurts him. Ask Jabari if he'd like to play near you in the shade where it's cooler. Feel his forehead–if he feels warm, take his temperature. Have him rest indoors in a cool place. Call the health coordinator. Watch him closely.)

While watching Jabari play quietly with a truck, you notice that he's guarding one hand and not using it much, as though it might hurt.* (Ask Jabari if his hand hurts. Call Monique–describe Jabari's symptoms, tell her that you're concerned about him, ask if she has any other recommendations, and suggest she pick him up. Have Jabari rest in a cool room. Give him water and Ibuprofen. Watch him closely until Monique picks him up.)