Child Care Health Consultants
Early care and education providers are often entrusted with young children for many hours every day. While providing early education services, they must also keep children safe and protected from injuries and potentially serious illnesses. Child care staff also work with families to promote good social, emotional and physical health for children. Center staff may not have the knowledge or background to answer all health related questions.
As a provider, child care health consultation offers many benefits. Child care health consultants (CCHCs) are experts in child health and are available to support providers in the provision of safe and health care. CCHCs provide advice, information or guidance on the well being of a single child, a classroom, a family child care home or a center so that child care staff can provide appropriate health prevention and intervention. CCHCs act as a one-stop health resource by offering:
- Onsite and telephone guidance and consultation
- Staff training on health and safety best practices and requirements
- Nutrition and physical activities information, including ideas for combating obesity
- Connections to community resources
- Information for families
Child care health consultants will be affiliated with County Health Departments, community health centers, hospitals and Indian Health Service or Tribal health clinics. Linking to a licensed medical facility assures a system that provides the umbrella of malpractice insurance, medical practice oversight, medical consultation, quality assurance review, and continuous training in specified health care issues germane to children in early care and education settings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. How many centers/children are covered by a child care health consultant?
A. The recommended caseload is one consultant per 30 facilities.
Q. How does the child care health consultant work with providers?
A. Centers and homes enrolled in Quality First! will have a child care health consultant available to them. The consultant will provide an initial review of health and safety of the environment and the health and safety policies within the center or home. Based on that review, the consultant will work with the Quality First coach and the center to develop a plan for addressing any concerns or staff training needs identified. CCHC’s are also available to provide assistance to programs that are serving children with special health care needs and to assist with emergency health and safety concerns related to illness or disease within the center.
Q. Does the child care health consultant provide treatment to children?
A. No. The CCHC will help child care providers identify health professionals and/or health resources in the community that can provide needed treatment for individual children. The CCHC serves as a link to the community and assures that appropriate referrals are made to address the needs of specific children.
Q. Do health consultants work directly with families?
A. Generally, CCHCs work directly with child care providers. They are skilled in providing technical assistance and coaching to staff regarding information to parents. When circumstances require direct communication with parents, CCHCs have the skills to provide them with information and referral.