GRDHD - Healthy Start

Governor Paul Patton’s Early Childhood Initiative (KIDS Now) was established in order to reach the goal that all children in Kentucky are healthy and safe, possess the foundation that will enable school and personal success, and live in strong families that are supported and strengthened within their communities.

Healthy Start in Child Care was set up to train, educate, and consult with child care providers and parents in health, safety, nutrition, early intervention, and mental health. Emphasis is also placed on the prevention of communicable disease in the group setting.

There are approximately 2,040 licensed child care facilities in Kentucky, and 814 certified family homes that will benefit from assistance to upgrade health and safety conditions and staff/parent training. In a random sampling of 330 licensed centers by the Louisville Courier Journal, 39% of them had health and safety violations and 73% had evidence of violation of state regulations at least once in the past two years.

Services for child care providers:

Provide health, safety, nutrition, early intervention, and mental health information on site and via phone/fax/email
Collaborate with the local Resource and Referral Agency
Train providers (clock hours/certificates provided—FREE!!)
Education through monthly newsletters
Provide playground safety consultation and assessment
Assist in linking children, families, and providers with community health resources
Assist in the development and implementation of written health policies
And more!!!!!!!!

Classes for children include:

Glo-germ—when and how to wash your hands
Fire Safety/Sesame Street—what’s hot and what’s not
Nutrition—Vegetable Friends/Fruit Heroes
Stranger safety—who is a stranger and what should I do?
Personal hygiene—importance of taking care of yourself
Anger management—hands are not for hitting
Others available!!!