The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #60322

Sherry Gaines, PhD, RN¹, Judith L. Wold, PhD, RN¹, Lorine M. Spencer, MBA, RN², and Janie M. leary, BSW¹. (1) Childcare Advantage Network, School of Nursing, Georgia State University, MSC 2A0965, 33 Gilmer Street SE, Atlanta, GA 30302-4019, 404-663-9284, sgaines@gsu.edu, (2) Community Involvement Branch, Divison of Health Assessment and Consultation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MSC E-32, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333-

Child care in America is very much a major public health concern. In 1999, over 40% of children under one year of age were in non-parental care and by age four, that percentage increased to 80%. With so many young children spending time in groups and non-parental care, health and safety concerns become public health priorities. Furthermore, child care settings provide ready access for health promotion and disease prevention for a vulnerable population in need of expert health consultation, preferably by Public Health Nurses (PHNs) prepared for this role. In preparation for submitting a grant to support a child care health consultation program for PHN’s, a survey was conducted among all child care centers and home child care providers in one state to determine their interest in hiring PHN Child Care Health Consultants as well as to evaluate their health needs and practices. Obtaining information from home providers in addition to directors of center-based child care was a unique feature of this effort. A statewide task force of child health providers and early childhood educators from the Healthy Child Care Georgia Advisory Group designed the survey, resulting in a comprehensive database that describes behavioral and environmental health as well as physical health in child care. The results of this survey support the targeting of child care for PHN population-based practice. Presenters will share the public health needs and child care health practices from the survey. Support for creating an evidence-based population practice focused on healthy child care will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
• Describe the results of a comprehensive statewide child care health needs and practice assessment.
• Discuss health needs and health practices of child care as support for an evidence-based population-focused practice targeting healthy child care.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Children's Health

Related Web page: www.gsu.edu/~wwwcan

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.