
Health & Safety
Our Top Priority
At Head Start of Morris County, providing a secure and healthy environment is at the heart of everything we do.
We follow and implement rigorous safety standards and protocols, supported by continuous staff training, to ensure that every child is safe, protected, nurtured, and appropriately supervised by knowledgeable and highly trained early childhood professionals.
Secure Facilities & Entrances
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Controlled Access: Our center entrances to our centers are secured with keycard access systems to help; ensure that only authorized employees can enter the building. Families and visitors are required to enter through designated screening vestibules before accessing the facility, helping maintain a safe and secure environment for children and staff.
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Classroom Design: Every classroom features its own secure entrance, specifically designed with children’s safety in mind to prevent children from exiting the classroom without adult assistance while supporting a safe, supervised and controlled learning environment throughout the day. Our classrooms are intentionally designed and organized using Classroom Environment Rating Scales and other evidence-based practices to strategically arrange learning centers, maximize children’s learning opportunities, and promote active supervision. The thoughtful placement of materials, furniture, and learning areas allows teachers to maintain clear lines of sight and remain actively engaged with and responsive to children throughout the day.
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Authorized Pick-up: During enrollment, parents/guardians provide a list of authorized individuals for pick-up. Our staff strictly enforces this policy by checking photo identification for anyone they are not familiar with.
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Parental Empowerment: We provide you with activities and strategies to enhance your child's learning through your everyday home routines. Families are a child’s first and most important teachers, making strong family partnerships essential to children’s success. We value families as active partners in their child’s development and learning and work together to build meaningful, trusting relationships that support each child’s growth and success.
Advanced Monitoring & Emergency Preparedness
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Continuous Supervision: Many of our classrooms, playrooms, and playgrounds are equipped with security cameras, allowing our receptionists and site directors to monitor activities in real-time.
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Rapid Response: Our centers are equipped with "panic buttons" that immediately alert local police in the event of an emergency.
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Regular Drills: We conduct monthly fire and lockdown drills in accordance with state regulations. These practices help children and employees respond calmly and effectively, ensuring everyone knows exactly how to act in an emergency.
Our Qualified Team
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Rigorous Screening: All employees undergo comprehensive criminal background checks and required screenings before employment. Background checks are renewed as required by applicable laws and regulations to help ensure that children are cared for by qualified, trusted and appropriate personnel.
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CPR & First Aid Excellence: Our centers exceed regulatory requirements for certified staff. Additionally, each site is equipped with a pediatric-grade AED (Automated External Defibrillator).
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Onboarding & Mentorship: New employees participate in a comprehensive, specialized onboarding process designed to ensure they understand and are fully prepared to uphold our high-quality standards from their first day. This training establishes clear expectations for child safety, supervision, emergency procedures, and program protocols, helping ensure consistency and quality across all areas of our program.
Health & Wellness
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Expert Allergy Management: We are a strictly nut-free program. Our program provides all meals on-site, which are carefully supervised and validated by our staff nutritionist to ensure every meal is safe, healthy, and free from allergens and meet CACFP standards. This direct oversight allows us to maintain a secure and inclusive environment where all dietary needs are monitored and met with the highest standards of safety.
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Safe Sleep Practices: Our classrooms follow all legislated safe sleep procedures. Staff are trained in safe sleep practices and remain attentive to children throughout rest periods to promote their health, safety, and well-being.
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Playground Safety: We conduct daily and monthly inspections of all outdoor equipment and surfaces to identify and resolve potential hazards, allowing children to play and explore with confidence.