Head Start facility awarded 5-Star award

By Meg Grey

October 06, 2006 03:02 pm

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DANVILLE — The Hendricks Family Resource Center here is the recipient of a 5-Star environmental award from The Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
According to a press release, the Indiana 5-Star Environmental Recognition Program for Child Care Facilities recognizes facilities providing the children they enroll with a healthy environment for learning and playing. The program places an emphasis on environmental threats, health and safety, and environmental stewardship.
Facilities earn “stars” for assessing and managing environmental health hazards including lead, radon, asbestos, carbon monoxide, asthma triggers, PCBs, pesticides and mercury. Efforts to address fire safety, energy efficiency, and environmental education are also considered.
IDEM Environmental Manager Andrew Macintosh said this is a voluntary program that HFRC opted into and received the highest award level. Not only did the center meet the criteria, it exceeded it by recycling and using low mercury light bulbs and reusable dishes, he said.
“They’ve actually gone way above what the law tells them to do,” Macintosh said. “This is something the management has to decide that they want to do.”
Head Start Site Manager Diane Smeelink said the federally funded preschool program serves 56 families throughout the county. She said they decided to apply for the award because the program is very health conscientious. She said they stress hand washing and teeth brushing during class time, provide nutritious meals and snacks, and require physicals and lead screenings.
“It was a really good process for us to go through and made us realize what we already do,” she said.
Outside of the center, Smeelink said home-based programs are offered so parents can also be educated on a variety of health issues and safety drills. Head Start also has facilities in Owen, Putnam, Clay, and Morgan counties.
“One of our goals is to have the IDEM 5-Star award in all of our facilities,” she said.
Other facilities receiving IDEM awards were Lori’s Ton ‘O’ Fun Daycare, Inc. in Brown County, Bicknell Head Start in Knox County, and Karen’s Kidz Daycare in Washington County. All of those facilities are renewing their awards from last year.

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