of families enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start have a medical home
of families enrolled in Head Start/Early Head Start have medical coverage
of children completed a professional dental examination during the program year
of children are up-to-date on all immunizations appropriate for their age
It allowed me to see my children's strengths and know where they need help.
I learned to be a better parent and spend time playing and teaching the kids.
We love our teacher she is great!
The program has given us child socializations with other families, parenting information and advice on education and school.
Our child is speech delayed so our teacher helped her. She is getting better and talking more. Thank you!
My family was able to understand the stages of our child and readiness for Kindergarten.
We have been able to learn the ages and stages of our son.
Both my children have learned and evolved from the program.
Now we have a teacher that provides us with age appropriate activities.
I have gained a lot of knowledge about children and can get along with children better.
Number of children had medical screenings
Number of newly enrolled children had developmental, sensory, and behavioral screenings
Number of families that received emergency/crisis intervention (e.g. food, clothing, or shelter)
Number of families that received research-based parenting curriculum
Number of families that received education on preventive medical and oral health
Number of families that received education on nutrition
Number of families experiencing homelessness acquired housing during the enrollment year (out of 182)
89% of families received at least one family service during the program year.
Number of pregnant women enrolled
Prenatal health care
Postpartum health care
Mental health interventions
Substance abuse prevention
Substance abuse treatment
Pregnant women with medical insurance
Pregnant women who received a dental exam
Prenatal education on fetal development
Information on benefits of breastfeeding
Pregnant women identified medically high risk
UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing (BIMSON) Masters Entry Program in Nursing Student Interns provided education and training programs to Head Start families and staff. In the summer of 2023, the students focused on the following projects:
Early childhood health screenings such as growth assessments, hearing, blood pressure, and vision screenings are a few of the necessary screenings that are important for the health and wellness of children. BIMSON students helped screen an estimated 300 children enrolled in Head Start.
BIMSON students conducted activities and games that involved physical activity, nutrition, and health education and introduced preschoolers to new foods.
Early Smiles Sacramento Program partnered with BIMSON students to provide oral health education and dental screenings. BIMSON students worked with teachers to provide fun ways to educate children on proper toothbrushing techniques and preventing cavities by eating nutritious food and snacks
Sacramento State’s Audiology Department Hearing Screenings are conducted by a cohort of students supervised by the audiologist. The partnership provides the university students the clinical practice they need for their training while assisting the program in fulfilling the Head Start hearing screening requirements. CSUS students screened 225 children in the 2022-2023 program year.
TB testing is required for staff annually to keep enrolled children and staff safe from infectious diseases. BIMSON students administered 91 TB PPD skin tests to SETA Head Start staff in two onsite clinics while providing education about the disease, its management, and prevention.
SETA Head Start is part of the pilot Medical Dental Referral and Navigation System (MDRAN) sponsored through the Sacramento County Department of Public Health, Medical Dental Advisory Committee. The pilot allows partners in Sacramento to use the MDRAN database that directly connects the user with Medi-Cal dental providers to exchange information. This vital connection allows health and nutrition services staff to send direct referrals and help families navigate the Medi-Cal system. Referrals can be made to set appointments and provide translation and/or transportation services directly to the dental provider.
The committee was revitalized in January of 2023, onboarding 18 members. This committee comprises current parents, grantee and delegate staff, and community professionals such as nurses, dentists, and registered dieticians. The Committee advises Head Start programs on health policies and advocates for families and children’s medical, dental, and mental wellness needs.
SETA partners to provide dental services and oral health education at community events. In the 2022-2023 program year, the agency partnered with ACCESS Dental at three community health events. ACCESS Dental is also an active committee member of HSAC.
SETA partners with the UC Davis Cooperative Extension Food and Nutrition Education Program to provide parent education on communicable disease prevention, awareness of healthy food choices, nutrition and health education, and childhood obesity prevention. Through this partnership, families and staff are provided trainings on health and nutrition topics, curriculum materials, and resources for family and center use.
From August 2022 to April 2023, the Early Smiles Sacramento Program provided dental screenings to 1,979 participants (children and adult family members). The following chart is a summary of screening results. This free screening assisted families with the prevention, early identification, and early treatment of dental caries.
SETA participates in Sacramento County Oral Health Program’s “School and Preventative” Subcommittee, which aims to expand services in children in school settings, providing dental sealants to children and expanding the use of oral health assessments in preschoolers.
SETA, Delegates, and Partners continue to provide families and staff access to COVID-19 testing kits and vaccinations. By coordinating with county health agencies, the grantee was able to distribute these materials and operate clinics at different Head Start locations in the county.
From September 2022 to March 2023, in partnership with Sacramento County Public Health, Immunization Assistance Program, we offered vaccination services to families. This included childhood vaccinations for eligible children, flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines, and boosters, free of charge to uninsured children who have a managed care plan or Native American/Alaskan Eskimo. These services were provided countywide:
