Recorded presentation

Angela A Crowley, PhD, APRN, PNP, Yale University School of Nursing, P O Box 9740, 100 Church Street South, New Haven, CT 06536-0740, 203-737-2548, angela.crowley@yale.edu and Jonna M. Kulikowich, PhD, The Pennsylvania State University, 231 Cedar Building, University Park, PA 16802.

The purpose of this evaluation was to determine the effect of training on child care health consultants’ knowledge and practice. The State of Connecticut, DPH, requires that health consultants (RN, APRN, physician or PA) conduct weekly visits to child care centers/ group homes that enroll children under three years of age; however, no preparation is required for the role. Eighteen experienced child care health consultants (2 APRN and 16 RN) completed the 30 hour training based on the National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants’ curriculum, which was sponsored by Healthy Child Care Connecticut. Pretest/ posttest results indicated statistically significant (p<.05) knowledge gains for health consultants in 8 of the 13 modules and an increase in knowledge in three additional modules. Fourteen health consultants provided pretest/ posttest evaluations of health and safety policies and practices in their child care programs. Improvements were seen in policies and four of the five practice areas, with a statistically significant improvement (p<.02) in placing infants in the back position for sleep. Fifteen child care health consultants reported their initial activities pretraining, and weekly and continuing activities, for 15-20 weeks during and after training. Initial activities to new activities (z=3.296, p<.001), initial to continuing activities (z=3.408), and new activities to continuing activities (z=3.237, p<.001) all showed significant increases. Additionally, all the child care health consultants reported that they did not use national health and safety standards (Caring for Our Children, 2002) previous to training but utilized that reference to guide their practice post training.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe the training developed by Healthy Child Care Connecticut based on the curriculum created by the National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants.
• Discuss how the training improved the knowledge and practice of experienced health consultants.

Keywords: Child Care, Child Health

Related Web page: www.sph.unc.edu

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants-funded by USDHHS, MCHB
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Healthy Child Care Connecticut

Recorded presentation