• L.C. Tyson, Health Services Manager

    The Washington County Opportunities Head Start/Early Head Start Program helps participating families recognize the importance of prevention and early identification of health concerns. Collaborative efforts with health care providers are being made to help connect families to available resources in their community. The program works toward improving children's health. Healthy living habits and injury prevention techniques are combined into the classroom curriculum. Personal hygiene is a part of your child's daily routine, such as hand washing and brushing teeth. The daily health needs of each child are identified upon the child's arrival at school.

    Health Services Include:

    • Up-To-date Shot Record

    • Health screening (vision, hearing, nutrition, dental, medical, and developmental screening, and follow-up when needed)

    • All children have a complete physical exam (blood lead testing, hemoglobin screening, vision)

    • Infants and toddlers receive ongoing monitoring to ensure they are up to date on an age-appropriate schedule of well-baby care visits and immunizations. The teaching staff provides developmental screening according to the child’s age.

    • Dental screenings

    • Health, wellness, and safety education for all families and children.

    • Height and weight measurements are completed twice during the year.

    • Resources and referrals for family health issues.

  • Mary Maiten, Nutrition Specialist

    Good nutrition plays a vital role in the physical development of preschool children. WCOI HS/EHS’s child nutrition services help families meet each child’s nutritional needs and establish good eating habits that nurture healthy development and promote life-long well-being. The USDA “Grow It, Try It, Like It”, Ed Said, My Pyramid & My Plate curriculums are utilized in the classroom emphasizing the importance of healthy food choices and participating in physical activities every day.

  • Jacqueline Carrol, Disabilities/Mental Health Specialist

    WCOI Head Start/Early Head Start believes a child’s Mental Health is as important as physical health. The primary role of Mental Health Services is to provide activities that encourage the social and emotional development of children enrolled in the program. The agency has a Mental Health Consultant to assist with family support issues, assess children’s needs, conduct parent and staff workshops, train staff in making referrals for needed services, and provide parent consultation.

  • Jacqueline Carrol, Disabilities/Mental Health Specialist

    The Disabilities Service Area is designed to identify, evaluate needs and coordinate services to children with special needs and their families. Children with disabilities may be dually enrolled in both Head Start and special education programs. The child development staff works closely with local school districts and agencies to provide services to these children.

  • Jennifer Bettis, Education Manager

    At WCOI HS/EHS, we understand that the first five years of life are critical to a child’s lifelong development. Young children’s earliest experiences influence brain development and establish neutral connections that provide the foundation for language, reasoning, problem-solving, social skills, behavior, and sound emotional health, and families and communities play critical roles in helping children get ready for school.

  • Bulah Jones, Pregnant Women Coordinator

    A healthy pregnancy directly influences a child's health and development. The prenatal period has a lasting impact on the child's potential for healthy growth and development. Washington County Opportunities Early Head Start (EHS) program provides services to pregnant women, expectant families, and children from birth to age three.