Children in Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care’s Head Start pre-kindergarten child care program, Head Start pre-kindergarten program, and Home Based Head Start programs have been the recipients of a partnership between AHSCC and the Lewiston-Auburn School-Based Health Centers, part of Community Clinical Services, a Federally Qualified Health Center, affiliated with St. Mary’s Health System. AHSCC is federally mandated to assist children and families with many health related issues, including lead poisoning and oral health. Planning meetings for H1N1 clinics were held beginning Fall 2009 between Jim Lysen, FQHC executive director; MaryAnn Amrich, public health liaison, Western Maine District, CDC, DHHS; Sylvia Normand, L-A SBHC administrative coordinator; Dorothy Crowley Noel, health/nutrition manager, AHSCC; Norma Larocque, health coordinator, AHSCC; and Estelle Rubinstein, executive director, AHSCC. L-A SBHCs provided on site H1N1 vaccination clinics for children, families and staff at no cost to the recipient. With the assistance of Sylvia Normand and other L-A SBHC staff, including Nurse Practitioner Shelley Hickey, as well as volunteer nurses, two clinics were held at each Head Start site for children, families and staff.

All children participating in Head Start programs must have received a blood draw to determine lead levels. Proof usually is obtained from the child’s medical provider; however, in some cases, children have not been screened for lead poisoning. WorkMed, also a division of St. Mary’s Health System located in Auburn, provided Head Start with onsite lead screening clinics. Children receive a blood draw and lab results are sent to their medical provider as well as to Head Start. Initial funding for lead screenings was provided by a grant from the Lewiston Auburn Children’s Fund, with St. Mary’s providing additional financial assistance and manpower to help Head Start meet all of their federally mandated requirements for children’s health.

Jim Lysen also was instrumental in assisting AHSCC to meet the many challenges of federal mandates in the area of oral health. Lysen assisted in obtaining a memorandum of understanding with the dental program at the B Street Health Center. This agreement allows Head Start children to utilize the quality oral care provided by the dental program to meet the mandates placed upon all Head Start programs for oral health.

Partnerships between Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care and local businesses and non-profits are instrumental in continuing the mission to “promote the positive growth of children, families and staff.” The partnership created with the L-A SBHCs, Community Clinical Services and St. Mary’s Health System has been extremely beneficial to AHSCC and the children and families participating in Head Start programs.

Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care has provided quality early care and educational services to pregnant women, families, and children for over 44 years. Program options include Full Day Head Start pre-kindergarten and child care, Half Day Head Start pre-kindergarten, Home Based, Family Child Care, Infant and Toddler Early Head Start, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program. Services through these programs are provided annually to over 400 children and families throughout Androscoggin County.

Applications for all programs are accepted at any time. Please call 795-4040 ext. 325 for more information or visit www.androkids.com. Androscoggin Head Start and Child Care is a United Way funded and Lewiston and Auburn CDBG supported agency.

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