Head Start Family News News from Lorain County Community Action Agency Head Start • April 2021 Director’s Corner
More Students Coming Back to Centers
Greetings Head Start Family and Happy Spring! I love spring because it brings “New Life.” We will begin to see flowers grow, baby birds hatching, grass growing again, and an overall freshness to the spring air. While I love the beauty of winter and all of the seasons, spring brings us a renewal that is so needed as the weather changes. I am ready to start anew and work toward getting life back to normal aren’t you? We are getting there! The COVID-19 vaccine has been rolled out, and there are many opportunities to receive it. Go to the Lorain County Department of Health’s website (https://www. loraincountyhealth.com/) to see guidance on the vaccine and the various providers throughout the county. This brings us a renewed hope of getting the coronavirus under control. It increases our ability to move forward with program planning and getting children back in school. Beginning April 13, we will increase our classroom
capacity to 12 children per classroom and increase the number of days to four per week. This is our normal program schedule. We will continue to focus on children who are transitioning to kindergarten, but we will be able to invite additional children. The length of day will continue to be 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at most centers since we are still providing some virtual services and teachers need the end of the day to complete those tasks. Your Family Service Worker will be calling you to see if you are interested in having your child come back to classroom. We will also be extending the year for many children. Our scheduled spring break is canceled at most centers to keep continuity for children who are just returning, as those pictured below. Have a wonderful Easter holiday!
Head Start Works! www.lccaa.net 1-888-245-2009
Shauna Matelski, Ed.D. Head Start Director
Many Early Speech Concerns Correctable Developing children sometimes acquire skills and abilities at different rates. This includes speech and language skills. Speech therapy is one of the most common referrals from LCCAA Head Start and many other school programs. Most concerns are mild and correctable. Speech Language Pathologist Susan Powers, who contracts with LCCAA Head Start for screenings and therapies, said a child’s speaking or language skills may seem limited for a number of reasons: XX Frequent ear infections can make hearing difficult; once they are cleared, the child is on her way to typical speech development. XX Attention span lengthens as a child grows; expectations should be age appropriate. XX Birth order can matter. The youngest child of four, for example, may not see much need to talk if siblings speak for him. If the speech issue is cause by a physical (many muscles are used to speak) or neurological issue (transferring information from the brain to the voice), early intervention is critical, Powers said. Children’s brains are “very plastic” from zero to three, she added,
meaning they absorb and learn things quickly. “The earlier you get them in, the better the outcome is going to be,” she said. Powers added that speech and language development typically follow a child’s age. For example, a one-yearold will speak in one word at a time (“truck”) while a two-year-old will be able to put two words together (“big truck”) and so on. Early words are most often nouns, followed by basic adjectives and finally verbs. Five year olds should be able to speak in complete sentences and be easily understood by most adults. Other advice for parents who may be concerned about speech includes: XX Read to your child daily. XX Talk in a normal voice with good vocabulary. XX Keep eye contact when talking to your child. XX Be ready to repeat yourself. XX Do not interrupt your child and finish for him. XX Be mindful of background noise, such as leaving the TV on all the time. XX Talk to your child’s teacher if you are concerned. Free evaluations are available in some cases. For more tips, visit www.asha.org.
Activities are returning at LCCAA Head Start. Dr. Seuss week was celebrated as a limited number of students were welcomed back to in person learning in a new hybrid model. Socks were sent home to be decorated and worn on Crazy Sock Day (left). The popular Daddy Hair Care event was held via Zoom with licensed cosmotologist and loctitian Tieya Riggins who demonstrated how to maintain locs on Head Start graduate Victoria (right).
Does Your Child Get Enough Sleep? Does your child get enough sleep? To answer this question, it is best to go to the experts. Below is a chart by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) that shows how much is needed at different stages of your child’s life. Remember, these totals include naps. After consulting the chart, you may realize that your child is not getting the recommended hours of sleep. Here are some tips provided by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help you increase those sleep hours: Be a Role Model. Set a good example by making sleep a priority for yourself. Talk about how much better you feel when you have enough sleep. Keep to a regular daily routine. Not only do routines help your child feel safe and comfortable, but they also make for a smooth bedtime. Staying with the same routine, such as brush, book, bed can make bedtime easier wherever you are.
Be active during the day. Physical activity and fresh air during the day make for better sleep at night. Monitor screen time. The AAP recommends keeping all screens— TVs, computers, laptops, tablets, and phones -- out of children’s bedrooms, especially at night. To prevent sleep disruption, turn off all screens at least an hour before bedtime.
Book of the Month: Rhyming Dust Bunnies
Rhyming Dust Bunnies by Jan Thomas is a silly story that helps children practice the important skill of rhyming. Each page gives a word and asks what rhymes. Before turning the page to find the answer, have your child brainstorm a list of words that rhyme. The surprise ending will have you laughing just as much as the silly nonsense words that your child may list. At this age, naming nonsense words is fine if they follow the rhyme pattern. After they have the skill mastered, then you can talk about whether they are “real” words or not.
Make bed a place to sleep. Don’t fill up your child’s bed with toys. One or two things—a favorite doll or bear, a security blanket—are okay and can help ease separation anxiety. Following these tips and the recommended sleep guidelines will have your child waking up wellrested and ready to take on the day!
The Week of the Young Child™ is an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the world’s largest early childhood education association. LCCAA Head Start will participate in events between April 10 and 16. Families and children are invited to join a fun-filled week celebrating early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. The schedule will include: Music Monday, Tasty Tuesday, Work Together Wednesday, Artsy Thursday and Family Friday. Additional details will be posted on Classtag.
Outdoor Safety Tips to Share with Kids
Nice weather is finally here! Take some time and talk about these safety tips with your kids before their next outdoor adventure. 1. Establish safe play areas. Let your kids know the street is not a safe area to be, even if their toy or ball goes there. 2. Never speak to strangers. No matter how friendly someone seems, children should never speak to or go anywhere with a stranger. If a stranger approaches them, they should run away or head inside. 3. Never wander off alone. Remind younger children to always stay within range of supervision. Older kids hanging out with friends
should remain with the group. 4. Be aware of surroundings. Common play areas like a field or a playground can hold hidden safety hazards, so it’s important to examine these areas for things like broken glass before playing in them. Proper shoes are also a must. 5. Be mindful of the rainy weather. Even sunny days can experience a rapid, unexpected weather change. If the weather does change drastically, children should return home or seek shelter. 6. Always wear sunscreen or protective clothing. Remember that sunscreen needs to be reapplied often, especially if you’re at the
beach or pool, or if you’re sweating. 7. Remember to hydrate. Teach kids about dehydration and the importance of replenishing with water—not sugary drinks. 8. Wear proper clothing and equipment for the sport or activity. Thin-layered, long-sleeved clothing is ideal for outdoor activities. For bike rides, always wear a helmet. 9. Apply bug spray when needed. 10. Never consume anything found outdoors. Let them know that despite what they might have seen on TV, it’s not safe to eat anything they find in the wild. Tips provided by Gilbert Cho.
Ideas for Living a Healthy, Active Life There are lots of ways to grow healthy but you don’t have to do them all at once. Look at the list below and try to put one of the suggestions into place for your family. Once that is successful and part of your healthy routine, pick another to continue your journey to live a healthy active life.
5 2 1 0
Eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. Keep screen time (TV, video games, computer) to 2 hours or less per day. Get 1 hour or more of physical activity each day. Drink 0 sugar-sweetened drinks. Replace soda pop, sports drinks and fruit juice with milk or water.
Tips for Understanding Your Health Information Many people find it hard to understand the health information they need to take care of themselves and their families. Not understanding can lead to fear and frustration. The National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness offers the following tips for families: XX Ask for help if you do not understand a health form or don’t know how to fill it out. XX Ask for handouts in the language that is easiest for you to read. XX Write down questions you have before you go on any health care visit. XX Tell your doctor if you do not understand what he
or she is saying. XX Go to the library and ask how to find accurate information about your health concerns and medicines. XX Ask your Head Start or child care program for information on health issues that concern you. XX Go to health workshops at your child’s Head Start program and in your community. When parents and caregivers understand health information and how to use it, children are less likely to miss school. They will also make fewer trips to the doctor or emergency room and generally live healthier lives.
Couponing From Your Phone
Couponing doesn’t have to be extreme to translate to big savings. Rachel Krych of Couponing with Rachel spoke to Head Start parents earlier this year providing some tips and tricks for saving money right from your smart phone. “A lot more coupons are on your phone now – you don’t have to buy a newspaper,” she said. She encouraged families to look for apps and deals where they shop most often. Grocery rewards cards can often be loaded with digital coupons and many restaurants offer daily deals in their apps. These apps will also track points if the company uses them and you can save money with very little effort, she said. Some store apps will also allow users to scan barcodes in the store and help you find coupons. They may also suggest similar products that cost less or do have a coupon. Learn more by joining Rachel on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/couponingwithrachel where she regularly posts local and online deals.
Partner Spotlight: OBC
For nearly a decade, Medical Assisting students from Ohio Business College have been getting hands on experience while conducting screenings for Head Start students. Although COVID-19 has halted these services, the agency looks forward to their return to assist our staff with heights, weights, hearing, and vision screenings as required by Head Start Performance Standards. We will also welcome their participation in our “Wild about Health and Nutrition” events, and their services during orientation. You can learn more about Ohio Business College and their programs by visiting https://ohiobusinesscollege.edu/
Help Available for Victims
“COVID has been a nightmare for all of us, but it’s been an extra nightmare for domestic violence victims,” says Genesis House Community Education Manager Meg McIntyre. McIntyre discussed the resources offered by Genesis House during Head Start parent meetings earlier this year. “The ripple effect on victims has been horrible,” she said. “We are looking forward to this being over so we can properly care for victims.” For many domestic violence victims, their home is the least safe place they can be, she added. In many cases, stay at home orders have trapped victims. Nationally, there have been more domestic violence homicides since March 2020 than in the last three years combined, McIntrye said. Genesis House offers emergency shelter for both men and women as well as an after-care program. Many victims need to rebuild support structures after leaving an abuser and find value in connecting with other survivors. McIntyre noted the average victim leaves an abusive partner only to return between 7 and 10 times. This can put quite a strain on the victim’s other relationships, she said. Genesis House also offers programs for schools to educate both boys and girls and a Men’s Anti-Violence Program. They also accept men in their shelter, she said. Both phone and web chats are available and discreet, staffed by volunteers 24 hours a day. Chats can be initiated at www.genesishouseshelter.org. Victims can also call 440-244-1853 or 440-323-3400.
LCCAA Head Start Menu for April 2021 Wednesday
Tuesday Breakfast
6
WG Mini Bagel, Applesauce
Thursday 7
(provided Tuesday to take home)
WG Mini Bagel, Applesauce
Friday 8
Yogurt, Fruit, Granola Parfait
Lunch
Beef & Veggies w/Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, WG Garlic Toast, Diced Peaches
Grilled Cheese, Yogurt, Baby Carrots w/ Ranch Dip Fresh Orange
WG French Toast Sticks, Chicken Sausage Patty, Tater Tots, Tangerine
Snack
Pretzel Sticks, Fresh Apple
WG Bunny Grahams Milk
WG Tortilla Chips Salsa
Breakfast Lunch Snack Breakfast Lunch Snack
WG Blueberry Waffle, Applesauce
13
14
Berry Patch Smoothie, Annie’s Bunny Grahams
WG Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Diced Peaches
15
9 No School
Yogurt, Berry & Granola Parfait
Meatball Sub, Assorted Raw Veggies w/ Ranch Dip, Diced Pears
BBQ Glazed Chicken Drumstick, Carrots & Green Beans, WG Italian-Seasoned Pierogies, Tropical Fruit Salad
Homemade WG Mac-n-Cheese, Steamed Broccoli Sweet Mango
Orange Chicken Stir Fry, Brown Rice, Stir Fry Veg, Fresh Mango
Fruit Cup, WG Chocolate Chip Oat Bar
WG Graham Crackers, WOWBUTTER® and Jelly
WG Pretzels Cheese Dip Cup
Applesauce, WG Goldfish Crackers
WG Banana Bread & Locally Grown Apple
20
21
Frosted Mini Wheats, Seasonal Melon
22
WG Bagel w/Cream Cheese, Applesauce
Beef Nachos topped with choice of Black Beans, Salsa, Cheese; Clementine
BBQ Chicken Sandwich, Cole Slaw Mandarin Oranges
WG Pepperoni Pizza, Tossed Salad w/ Cheese, Croutons, Dressing; Tropical Fruit Salad
WG Graham Crackers & Juice
Diced Pear Cup, WG Granola Bar
Local Apple, WG Pretzels
27
28
23 No School
29
30
Breakfast
WG Blueberry Waffle, Applesauce
Berry Patch Smoothie, Annie’s Bunny Grahams
Lunch
Chicken Tortilla topped with choice of Cheese, Lettuce, Salsa; Mango Chunks
Chicken Grillbites, Ketchup, BBQ, Honey Mustard; WG Pasta Salad w/ Veg; Mandarin Oranges
WG Spaghetti w/Meatballs, WG Breadstick, California Veggie Blend, Fresh Fruit Salad
Turkey w/ Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, WG Dinner Roll, Fresh Melon
Fruit Cup, WG Chocolate Chip Oat Bar
WG Graham Crackers, WOWBUTTER® and Jelly
WG Pretzels, Cheese Dip Cup
TRY DAY: Black Eyed Pea Cowboy Salsa, WG Chips
Snack
16
WC Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Diced Peaches
Yogurt, Berry and Granola Parfait
Milk is served daily at breakfast and lunch. Children less than 2 years old are served whole milk. When a specific food allergy is identified, appropriate food substitutions will be provided. Menu items are subject to change due to food availability or unplanned school closings. Menus are reveiwed and approved by M. Robison, MPH, RD, LD. Equal Opportunity Provider.
Meal Breakfast (Portions & Servings)
Food Components
Ages 1-2
Ages 3-5
Fluid Milk
1/2 cup
3/4 cup
Fruit or Vegetable
1/4 cup
1/2 cup
1/2 serving, 1/2 cup, 1/8 cup
1/2 serving, 1/2 cup, 1/8 cup
1/2 cup
3/4 cup
Breads, Cold Cereal, Granola Fluid Milk
Lunch (Portions & Servings)
Meat or Cheese Cooked/Dry Beans/Peas Peanut Butter, Nut/Seed Butters
1 1/2 oz. 3/8 cup
2T
3T
1/2 oz.
3/4 oz.
1/2 cup 1/8 cup each
3/4 cup 1/4 cup each
1/2 serving, 1/4 cup
1/2 serving, 1/4 cup
Fluid Milk
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
Vegetable
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
Fruit
1/2 cup
1/2 cup
Nut and/or Seeds Yogurt Vegetables and Fruits (1 each) Breads/Grains, Pasta
Snack (Portions & Servings) Must Select Two Different Protein Components
1 oz. 1/4 cup
Meat or Cheese
1/2 oz.
1/2 oz.
Cooked/Dry Beans/Peas
1/8 cup
1/8 cup
Peanut Butter, Nut/Seed Butters Nut and/or Seeds Yogurt Breads/Grains, Pasta
1T
1T
1/2 oz.
1/2 oz.
1/4 cup 1/2 serving, 1/4 cup
1/4 cup 1/2 serving, 1/4 cup
Rent and Mortgage Programs Continue If you are behind on your rent or mortgage due to COVID-19, LCCAA can help! To be eligible for rent assistance, residents must: XX Be behind on rent or facing eviction, AND XX Live at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income ($60,800 for a family of four), AND XX Have been directly affected by COVID-19 (loss of income, increased expenses, etc.), OR XX Be a member of a population especially vulnerable to COVID-19. LCCAA has partnered with Lorain County Job and Family Services to provide better service to renters
throughout the county. Visit www. lccaa.net/programs/2021_cares_ rent_assistance to learn more and apply. Assistance is paid directly to landlords. Mortgage assistance is available to homeowners who have or have had a COVID-19 related forbearance granted from their lender since April 1, 2020. The home must be
The State of Ohio has made it easier to apply for non-emergency energy assistance online. Lorain County residents do not need an appointment at LCCAA to apply for an annual HEAP benefit, to apply for PIPP Plus or to reverify their income for PIPP Plus. To help residents navigate these systems, LCCAA has published “A Guide to Applying for LCCAA Energy Services.” The booklet is being mailed to all current clients of the Energy Services Department and is also available on www.lccaa.net. Local appointments at LCCAA, currently conducted by phone due to COVID-19, are reserved for emergency services: winter crisis, summer crisis and service transfers. To apply for regular services, residents must go to energyhelp. ohio.gov. To create a free account, all you need is a valid email address.
Your account can be used as long as and as often as you need it. Residents are encouraged to plan ahead. Online applications can take up to eight weeks to process. Applications can be tracked at energyhelp.ohio.gov. Applications can also be printed and mailed; however, those applications take up to 12 weeks to process and cannot be tracked. “It’s particularly important for PIPP customers to plan ahead,” said Bobby Taylor, Planning and Community Services Director. “PIPP customers need to reverify their income once each year by a date that is unique to them. It is as simple as ‘know your date and apply to the state.’” Emergency services do require a local appointment and appointments at LCCAA are reserved for those situations. Appointments can be made at app.capappointments.com.
Funds have been fully expended in the CARES 2021 Water Assitstance Program. Renters may be able to get help with water bills through the Rent Assistance Program.
the applicant’s primary residence. Households must live at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income. A forbearance indicates the mortgage holder is in communication with their lender and has demonstrated hardship. Proof of the forbearance will be required. Assistance will be paid directly to the mortgage holder. The mortgage holder must agree to participate and provide proof of past due balances. The mortgage assistance program was temporarily suspended in March for a systems upgrade. However, funding remains available. Visit www.lccaa.net/programs/2021_ cares_mortgage_assistance to learn more and apply.
Utility Help Becomes Energy Services
Upcoming Events at LCCAA Head Start Cascade Head Start April 5: Meal Distribution *April 7: Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m. April 12: Meal Distribution *April 14: Book Club, 4 p.m. April 19: Meal Distribution *April 22: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m. April 23: No School April 26: Home Visits April 26: Meal Distribution *April 29: Education Advisory, 9 a.m.
Hopkins-Locke Head Start April 5: Meal Distribution *April 7: Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m. April 12: Meal Distribution *April 14: Book Club, 4 p.m. April 19: Meal Distribution *April 21: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m. April 23: No School April 26: Home Visits April 26: Meal Distribution *April 29: Education Advisory, 9 a.m.
Firelands Head Start *April 7: Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m. *April 14: Book Club, 4 p.m. April 23: No School April 26: Home Visits *April 29: Education Advisory, 9 a.m.
LaGrange Head Start April 5: Meal Distribution *April 7: Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m. April 12: Meal Distribution *April 14: Book Club, 4 p.m. April 19: Meal Distribution *April 21: Parent Meeting, 11 a.m. April 23: No School April 26: Home Visits April 26: Meal Distribution *April 29: Education Advisory, 9 a.m.
Griswold Head Start April 5: Meal Distribution *April 7: Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m. April 12: Meal Distribution *April 14: Book Club, 4 p.m. April 19: Meal Distribution *April 21: Parent Meeting, 10 a.m. April 23: No School April 26: Home Visits April 26: Meal Distribution *April 29: Education Advisory, 9 a.m.
April 10-16
Wellington Head Start *April 7: Scavenger Hunt, 2 p.m. *April 14: Book Club, 4 p.m. *April 21: Parent Meeting, 11 a.m. April 23: No School April 26: Home Visits *April 29: Education Advisory, 9 a.m. Home-Based Head Start *April 16 & 30: Early Head Start Socialization *April 30: Head Start Socialization * Indicates a virtual event. Please see ClassTag or your child’s teacher for details.
