Safety Services

Ensuring Safety in the Classroom

Promoting and guiding excellence in Sacramento County Head Start and Early Head Start Programs through collaboration

Training / Meetings

Staff review the Supervision Policy & Procedure two times a year to ensure topics stay in the forefront.  This includes training for multiple departments beyond teaching staff as well as substitute staff. We provide coaching available for individual concerns and challenges. Ongoing meetings & communication between Union and Management occur to address any matters that may come up and to provide consistent messaging.

Facilities

Facility modifications are made when possible. This may include items such as reverse mirrors, gate enhancements, gathering space markers and blocking areas that children should not enter.  Work Order follow up procedures give enhanced consideration to safety concerns.

Raising Awareness

In addition to staff awareness, parents are informed of safety strategies during parent meetings and enrollment appointments including the importance of communication during sign in and sign out. Children are made aware of safety strategies with the PAWS safety curriculum and PAWS materials posted in the classroom.

Tools / Resources

Transition sheet are used to document the movement of children throughout different areas of the center. (Such as indoors to the playground or from the playground to an indoor restroom) Wipe and erase boards are posted prominently to ensure the number of children in care is known at all times. Staff are also responsible for updating individualized Center/ Classroom Safety Plans to determine strategies that address challenges that may be unique to their location.

Safe Environments

Head Start provides safe environments for children at all centers. Each center is monitored on a regular basis and information is reviewed for action to meet performance standards, assuring all children and staff are free from injury and harm.

SETA requires all teaching staff be certified in CPR/First Aid and prepared for unexpected child and adult emergencies. Two administrative staff are Medic Alert certified trainers and offer regularly scheduled on-site CPR/First Aid refresher sessions to ensure staff stay current on certifications.

SETA Head Start has a comprehensive Disaster Preparedness Plan. Each center’s plan is custom designed, a “Disaster Plan-Quick Reference” binder is accessible in the classroom, and disaster bins with recommended disaster food and supplies are available in case of disaster. Each staff member has received training on what to do in the event of a disaster, and first aid training. Community based organizations have entered into agreements to provide a temporary staging site for each center for reunification of parents with their children if off-site evacuation occurs. An overview of the plan is provided to parents at enrollment.

Health & Safety education must be provided to children and parents. Children may learn these procedures during classroom activities and at home with parental involvement. SETA’s PAWS for Health & Safety Curriculum resources include multiple activities that support overall safety. Teachers integrate these topics into lesson plans and activities. These activities include:

  • Pedestrian Safety – monthly
  • Fire Safety – monthly
  • Earthquakes – every other month
  • Disaster Safety – intermittently
  • Sun Safety – seasonally
  • Water Safety – seasonally

SETA Head Start strives to have the safest environments and is continually working on pest management to ensure centers are pest free. The State of California has developed a comprehensive pest management document for proactive deterrence of pests in the daycare setting. SETA Head Start is working closely with all SOP Head Start Centers to make sure centers are pest-free.

Keep in mind, the best way to end pest problems is to be proactive and ensure the environment is free of the availability of unused foods, clean sinks, and no standing water.

Though California has addressed lead poisoning for many years through stringent construction and chemical mandates, there still is a threat of lead poisoning among our most vulnerable population, infants and children. SETA Head Start has created the Lead Can Hurt campaign to address the need for early Lead Blood Level assessment in children. All centers are displaying posters and providing important information.

SETA staffs a nine-member facilities/maintenance team to make certain all Head Start centers are safe, in good repair, and well-maintained at all times. SETA supports an 8,000 square foot warehouse so that classroom supplies and materials are readily available for staff and routine maintenance/repairs are done on-site, resulting in cost savings to the program.