This week, I had the pleasure to serve my community. I was able to help with routine health screenings at the local Headstart. I had heard a little about the program prior to this event, but did not know much about it. The nursing manager in charge explained that it is a program for low-income children in our community. They start out at 6 ½ weeks old and go up until kindergarten (around 6 years old). Each class has their own curriculum so, it is not just a "glorified" daycare. They provide all the basic necessities including diapers, formula, and food. The parents do not have to send anything with the children.
One of the best parts of the program is how much it helps the parents. The staff help the parents set goals and meet them. If their child needs some medical attention, the staff even provide the transport and will go with the parents for support. Within the program, they have 998 children. Sadly, less than 8% of the children come from two parent homes. Of the single parents, the majority are single mothers. Headstart has a program where they try and get the dads involved. They invite them to do arts and craft and other fun events throughout the year. I appreciate how they try and help the entire family.
The day I went, we set up 6 different stations for the children aged 3-4:
* Height/Weight
* Blood Pressure
* Hearing Checks
* Vision Checks
* Physicals
* Lead and Hemoglobin Testing
I was primarily in charge of conducting the vision checks. I got to use this really cool machine (see below) that checked the children's eyes for any abnormalities. It was quick, easy, and painless. Luckily, I did not have anyone fail. However, if they had, the staff would have set up a consultation with a local optometrist. I also helped out with some of the physicals.
Even though the children came from the same income bracket, it was amazing how differently they were taken care of. Most of them were dressed nicely and warmly (it was a chilly day) and had their hair done really nice. However, there were a few children who seemed like they had just got up and dressed themselves without even brushing their hair or teeth. One particular child was wearing shoes that were way too small (with no socks) and a jacket with sleeves that came up almost to his elbows. He was very quiet and did not speak much. I can only imagine how his home life was.
One particular touching moment came when a little girl got done getting her finger pricked for a lead and hemoglobin test. She sat down to wait for the rest of her class and was just balling her eyes out. We made eye contact and I stuck my arms out in her direction. She ran up to me and climbed into my lap. For the next few minutes I rocked her and calmed her down. It made me feel good that I was able to help her out in a difficult situation.
All-in-all, is was a wonderful experience. It felt so good to give back to the community I have called home for the past eight years. All children deserve a chance to have a good education. This program definitely instills a passion for learning. I encourage you to find out about your local Headstart. Maybe you could donate your time and/or some clothing. After all, children are our future!
