Healthy Start in Child Care is a Kids NOW Initiative providing consultation on health, safety and nutrition to child care providers. Trained Healthy Start child care consultants from local health departments participate in joint activities with the resource and referral agencies in their areas to ensure collaboration and coordination regarding health, safety and nutrition issues impacting the quality of child care.
Healthy Start in Child Care supports the health and safety of children and their families receiving out of home childcare. During the first five years of life, children of full-time working parents may spend more time in out of home childcare facilities than they spend in K-12 school. It is critical to use this window of opportunity to provide accurate health, safety and nutrition information to parents and child care providers.
Goals of CCHC
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To promote and protect the health and safety of children in and out of home child care.
- To promote collaboration and coordination with the child care resource and referral agencies and others with responsibilities for child care.
Qualifications
A person with a bachelor of arts or science degree from an accredited college or university, registered nurse or public health administrator.
Training
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in child care training is required and designed to help Healthy Start in Child Care consultants identify risks and act to protect young children’s social/emotional health and provide recommended strategies.
Service Activity
Outreach
Outreach includes activities to promote awareness of the program among child care providers and early childhood partners.
Consultation
Participants confer to make decisions and plans to improve child care services specific to health, safety and nutrition. Services can be provided by telephone, on site, or virtual visits.
Follow-up
Follow up is an option to child care providers after playground safety consultation with identifed hazards.
Resource/Referral
Services may involve local health department, mental health specialists, medical providers, and First Steps.
Collaboration
Involves groups working together toward the common goal of quality child care.
Education/Information
This is an effort to provide education/information to child care providers, parents and children on health, safety and nutrition.