PARAPROFESSIONALS/COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMS

Community activities include many different types of programs such as Headstart, Manpower, Upward Bound, summer minority groups, churches, and other group programs. Discussion is on a general level with a primary focus on simplicity for a better understanding (i.e., Headstart Programs which enrolls children ages 5-6 emphasize physical and medical needs of the child). Teachers and parents are taught to recognize the symptoms of a crisis and the factors of play, environment, infection, etc. that may precipitate a crisis.

Program Goals:

• Create within the community an awareness of sickle cell disease

• Instructing the community on how to help those with sickle cell disease

• Understanding hemoglobin types

• Make available current and updated literature

• Inform the community of recent advances in management of sickle cell disease