Child Care Health Consultation
Building a Healthy Future: The Importance of Early Childhood Health
The health and wellness of children from birth to five years of age form the foundation for future health outcomes. During these crucial early years, children often spend significant time in early care and education (ECE) programs, making these settings vital for fostering healthy development – especially for those children at elevated risk of poor health outcomes. In light of these critical early years, the NC CCHC program is designed to equip ECE providers with the knowledge and resources necessary to create safe and healthy environments.
Key Benefits of Child Care Health Consultation
The NC Child Care Health Consultation (CCHC) program offers essential support and education to enhance the quality of care and safety in ECE settings. The NC CCHC program is founded on the knowledge that consistent statewide child care health consultation services positively impact the quality-of-care children receive in ECE programs. Based on research provided by the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness, CCHC programs:
Increase staff knowledge of health issues in child care settings.
Improve compliance with health and safety best practice.
Enhance the quality of health and safety policies and practices like handwashing and safe sleep.
Strengthen environmental health and sanitation strategies.
- Promote the inclusion of children with special health care needs.
The Child Care Health Consultation program is guided by the NC CCHC Service Model, CCHC Standards of Practice, and the CCHC Competencies.
Your Partners in Health: Understanding Child Care Health Consultants
Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) are health professionals with experience in both child and community health and early care and education. CCHCs work in child care centers to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate strategies to achieve high quality, safe and healthy child care environments. The ECE programs play an active role in determining how they engage with the program and what level of support they require.
The Path to Quality Improvement
CCHCs work to achieve high-quality, safe, and healthy ECE environments in the focus areas defined by the National Child Care Health Consultant Competencies through:
Outreach and collaboration with regulatory agencies and community partners.
Engaging in quality improvement processes with early educators including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
The consultants provide training and technical assistance (TA) through coaching and consultation to early educators involving the development of a Quality Improvement Cycle using the NC Health and Safety Assessment and Encounter Tool (HSAET). CCHCs ensure that the support provided is tailored to meet the specific needs of each child care program, facilitating effective quality improvement strategies.
After the implementation of a Quality Improvement Cycle, a follow-up health and safety observational assessment will be completed by the CCHC. This is an opportunity to evaluate whether areas identified as needing intervention were comprehensively addressed with sustainable outcomes. The CCHC and early educators work together to achieve shared goals.
If you would like further information see Helpful Links and Resources. To connect with a CCHC use the link below:
Find a Child Care Health Consultant: https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/find-a-cchc/
Contact
NC State Child Care Nurse Consultant: Katie Foster, B.S., B.S.N., R.N.
Office Phone: 919-707-5665
Work Cell: 919-215-8981
Email: Katie.Foster@dhhs.nc.gov
Helpful Links and Resources
About Child Care Health Consultants: https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/child-care-health-consultants/about-cchc/
Child Care Health Consultant Program Manual: https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/17234/2022/11/CCHC-Service-Model-1.pdf
Child Care Health Consultant Competencies: https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/publication/child-care-health-consultant-competencies
Partner Programs
Division of Child Development and Early Education: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/
NC Partnership for Children/Smart Start: https://www.smartstart.org/
NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center: https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/