Healthy Kids Learn is a community partnership between a School of Nursing and the regional Head Start program. The primary goals of this partnership is to provide health promotion and health maintenance for children enrolled in Head Start. The current health care delivery system fails to meet the health care needs of the children and young families residing in this community. Research findings indicate that children enrolled in the Head Start program frequently fail to obtain all the necessary prerequisite health requirements. Once enrolled in the Head Start program the children are frequently absent or unable to achieve academic success due to health related problems such as vision, hearing, dental caries, or recurring illness. Early detection and intervention are necessary to assist children achieve academic success. Healthy Kids Learn is a collaborative project that provides health care services to Head Start families. Nursing students with faculty supervision, provide physical examinations, screenings, and health promotion teaching for Head Start families. This collaboration reduces the fragmentation of health care services, which discourages young families from seeking preventative health care. Research supports that for optimal learning to occur, early detection and intervention for potential or existing health concerns are necessary for children be physically and developmentally healthy. The Healthy Kids Learn health fairs provide hands on clinical experiences for undergraduate and graduate nursing students. The integration of students from different levels provides collaborative learning experiences for all involved with Healthy Kids Learn. Learning experiences that also provide service to Head Start families allow students to achieve nursing curriculum objectives, model the values of the nursing profession, meet the goals of a community agency, and contribute to good of society.
Back to Accepted Posters
Back to 37th Biennial Convention - Clinical Sessions
Sigma Theta Tau International