Initiative

Child Care Health Consultation

Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) are health professionals with expertise, education, and experience in child and community health. To improve the quality of early education programs, CCHCs work collaboratively with early educators to promote healthy and safe environments for children, staff, and families in child care.  CCHCs primarily work with early educators in regulated child care programs and provide technical assistance, professional development, coaching and consultation with programs serving children ages 0-5 years old. CCHCs serve as liaison between the child care provider, the family and the child’s health care provider. They promote the use of the Learn the Signs, Act Early materials for providers to use in identifying needs as early as possible and connecting families to services. CCHCs are embedded in their local communities and are knowledgeable of community resources. In 2021, NC has local CCHCs in about 38 counties. There is currently regional coverage in 17 counties and expansion of CCHC services in 22 counties.

 

 

Home Pathways Action Map Child Care Health Consultation

Fast Facts

Relevant Actions Action 2.1, Action 4.5
State or Local?

Local
Counties

All Counties
Lead Agency

NC Division of Public Health and NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center
Type of Lead Agency

State/Local Government Agency
Racial Equity Lens
  • All CCHCs in NC are required to take a course and receive qualification. The guiding documents and course aligns with the National CCHC Competencies. Principles of health equity and cultural and linguistic competence in working with child care programs, including staff, children and families are applied.
Community Voice
  • CCHCs advocate for child health, safety, and child development in child care by serving on local committees and engaging with community partners with a focus on early childhood education.
Impact
  • Studies have confirmed that CCHCs improve the health and safety of children in early care and education programs by: Increasing staff knowledge of health issues in child care settings
  • Improving children’s access to a medical home, enrollment in health insurance, and up-to-date immunization status
  • Promoting the inclusion of children with special health care needs
Next Steps
  • In late 2020, DCDEE allocated CCDF funds to expand CCHCs services to counties/regions that do not currently have a CCHC.
  • Local Smart Start Partnerships are engaging within their community to create new CCHC positions. The overall goal is that all licensed child care facilities can have access to a CCHC.
Primary Partners
  • NC Division of Public Health
  • NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center (UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health)  
  • NC Partnership for Children
  • NC Division of Child Development and Early Education
  • NC Child Care Health Consultant Association
Primary Funders
  • NC Division of Child Development and Early Education, Child Care Development Funds
  • NC Division of Public Health
  • Smart Start
Contact

Amy Petersen

Active Counties