To improve compliance with health standards and reduce rates of children's illnesses in childcare centers, health consultants need to develop collegial relationships with childcare staff and parents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of health consultation on center compliance with health and safety standards and childcare staff's opinions about health-related issues. Five childcare centers serving 3-5 year old ethnically-diverse children enrolled in the intervention study. Health consultation was provided for six months, involving regular on-site visits and health workshops. Ninety-six childcare teachers completed a Health Survey before and after the intervention, including information on knowledge and understanding of health issues, rating child health problems, and rating health services needed. An observational measure, Health and Safety Checklist, was completed by research assistants to monitor center compliance with recommended standards. Descriptive results of the Health Survey showed a trend for teachers to strongly agree with statements before intervention and showed less extreme responses after intervention (e.g. agree, neutral). The teachers rated colds, fever, and frequent coughing as most common childhood illnesses in their centers. Most needed health services were initially rated as health workshops for staff, but after the intervention information on health referrals and updates on health policies were rated as most needed. Three out of five centers showed improved compliance on Health and Safety Checklist after intervention. These results showed that health consultation can improve center compliance with health and safety recommendations and teachers' understanding of health issues in childcare centers.
Learning Objectives: After the session, the participants will be able to: 1. Identify health needs in childcare settings. 2. Understand ways to evaluate health consultation services in childcare centers. 3. Identify key components of effective health consultantion in childcare centers
Keywords: Child Care, Child Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.