Handout E-1: Kingpin County Head Start
THe staff at KIngpin County Head Start has been working for some months on a work-place-wellness program. Led by their health coordinator, they have held a number of staff meetings to look at the various challenges to health which they feel exist in their jobs. They have looked at the information their program has about lost work days and discussed the various issues over their lunch breaks. THey have managed to make a few positive changes in their workplace: they now have a separate area where they are able to take brief breaks from the activity, and they contacted a local bottled water and juice distributor who is willing to donate beverages to their center for staff use. In this way they hope to cut back on the amount of soda and coffee they are drinking.

However, they have noticed that, despite their efforts, headaches are a still a major complaint within their work group. Some staff members are out of work occasionally because of migraines, but many staff members find their heads aching somewhat regularly at the end of the day. ALthough a few of the staff members remain unconvinced of the need to address the issue, they are certainly not opposed to addressing it. THe staff has had discussions with the physician who is on their Health Services Advisory Committee, with a massage therapist who works at the local hospital, and with the curandera who is consulted by many of the Latino parents in the program.

Staff have learned a number of relaxation and headache-stopping techniques form theses practitioners. They are:

It is very difficult for staff to get time off together to do relaxation exercises or other stress management activities. However, they think that they will be able to support each other in doing these minor activities through the day. THey are prepared for action.


Remember that some headaches signal illness. If a headache is severe, if it lasts for several days, or if it does not respond to the usual remedies, you should discuss it with your health car provider.


Handout E-2 | Module 3 | Index