Supporting Head Start Centers
The LEARN Early Project
Discover the LEARN Early Project!
Keeping children safe through allergy emergency prevention and preparedness
What is the LEARN Early Project?
The LEARN Early Project is the food allergy and anaphylaxis safety program created by allergists for early childhood education centers.
We provide Head Start early learning centers with education and training on food allergy and anaphylaxis. While the best way to treat an allergic reaction is to prevent one from happening, we know that accidents happen so teach center personnel and families how to recognize and respond to an allergy emergency.
About Us
The LEARN Early Project is led by community allergist Dr. Kelsey Kaman in association with the Code Ana Program. Dr. Kaman is passionate about helping children succeed in life and, as an allergy physician, she is uniquely suited to share her knowledge of food allergy and allergy emergencies – anaphylaxis – with her community.
Dr. Kaman works closely with Dr. Alice Hoyt, the founder, and chairman of the Code Ana Program. Code Ana equips schools for medical emergencies by guiding schools in the development and implementation of their own medical emergency response prevention and planning programs.
Drs. Kaman and Hoyt are delighted to have the following community partners in the LEARN Early Project:
- The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’ Allergists’ Foundation*
- Code Ana
- Emily Brown of the Food Equality Initiative
- Mike and Becca Suhy of the Allison Rose Foundation
- Christopher Flessner, Ph.D., of the Pediatric Anxiety & Allergy Research Program (PAARC)
*We are especially grateful for the funding provided by the ACAAI’s Allergists’ Foundation to support this work.
Our Mission
The mission of the LEARN Early Project is to provide food allergy and anaphylaxis education to early childhood education centers and their communities so that children can be safe, included, and well-fed despite their food allergies. Our unique program will achieve its mission by:
- Working with Head Start centers to better understand the food allergy and anaphylaxis needs of each center
- Provide anaphylaxis prevention and response training to the center’s staff and families
- Teach each center’s staff and families the truths about food allergy and how kids can be included and safe despite these medical conditions
Our Leadership
Kelsey Kaman, MD
Allergist and Director of the LEARN Early Project
Possessing a contagious enthusiasm, Dr. Kelsey Kaman leads the LEARN Early Project. Her warmth, creativity, and clinical excellence makes her the ideal leader of this project.
Alice Hoyt, MD
Allergist and Founder of Code Ana
With a nurturing personality and hands-on approach towards learning, we are thrilled to have Dr. Alice Hoyt as a part of our team. She is committed to utilizing education to bridge the gaps between communities and healthcare.