Healthy child care, healthy children: Partnering with child care health consultants to promote young children's health and safety

Nearly three-fourths of America's children under five with working mothers are cared for by someone other than their parents, according to the National Survey of America's Families. Usually, this care is in early care and education (ECE) settings such as Head Start, child care centers, or child care homes. Child care health consultants (CCHCs)—usually health professionals with an interest in and experience with young children and knowledge of resources and regulations—serve a core role in helping ECE programs to improve health and safety practices and to support the physical, social, and emotional development of the young children in their care. Thirty-seven states have CCHC systems providing ECE programs with onsite and/or telephone consultation, such as training providers and parents, consulting on policies and procedures, and providing referrals to community services. Studies have shown CCHC services to have a positive impact on improving ECE provider health and safety practices, prevention of communicable diseases, and reduction of SIDS. State approaches to structuring and funding their CCHC initiatives vary, reflecting the particular needs and resources in each state. The purpose of this session is to explain how systems-building among CCHCs and other community health providers plays an increasingly critical role in states' ability to sustain these supports in today's uncertain economic times. Participants will also learn how partnerships and linkages across service “silos” can increase the ability of providers supported by diverse funding streams to identify and meet common goals for the strong and healthy development of our nation's youngest children.