Home Based Group Socialization

POLICY:

NOCAC Head Start/Home Based (HS/HB) will provide Home Base Socializations as outlined in the Head Start Program Performance Standards.

PROCEDURES:

1. HS/HB Home Based Socializations will be planned jointly with families, conducted with both child and parent, and occur in a classroom, community facility, home, or field trip setting, as appropriate.
2. Age-appropriate activities will be planned that align with the School Readiness Goals, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five (ELOF), and the home-based curriculum.
3. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to share their child’s developmental experiences with other parents/guardians to help promote their understanding of child development.
4. Opportunities are provided by the home visitor with the intent of supporting parenting skill development or family partnership goals as identified.
5. Peer interactions are developed to increase the children’s social, emotional, and language development and progress toward the School Readiness Goals.
6. Parents are encouraged to observe and actively participate in activities, as appropriate.
7. The areas for learning, playing, sleeping, toileting, preparing food, and eating in facilities used for group socializations in the home-based option meet the safety standards described as follows in 1302.47 ii through vii

• (ii) Clean and free from pests
• (iii) Free from pollutants, hazards, and toxins that are accessible to children and could endanger participant’s safety
• (iv) Designed to prevent child injury and free from hazards, including choking, strangulation, electrical, and drowning hazards, hazards posed by appliances, and all other safety hazards
• (v) Well-lit, including emergency lighting
• (vi) Equipped with safety supplies that are readily accessible to staff, including, at a minimum, fully-equipped and up-to-date first aid kits and appropriate fire safety supplies
• (vii) Free from firearms or other weapons that are accessible to children
• (viii) Designed to separate toileting and diapering areas from areas for preparing food, cooking, eating, or children’s activities

8. Screenings may be conducted during group socializations by the home visitor or NOCAC staff.
9. Screening results will be discussed to report on a child’s progress by the home visitor or NOCAC staff.
10. If a meal is served age-appropriate CACFP Meal Patterns will be followed infant 0-5 months and record-keeping page, 6-11 months and parent preference letter and 1-5-year-old meal patterns.

Forms and Additional Guidance:

• School Readiness Goals, Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five (ELOF)
• CACFP Meal Patterns