Delaware's Healthy Child Care America Program
Children deserve the very best care that Delaware has to offer. Ensuring that every child has a healthy and safe child care environment is important. Linking child care providers to health and safety resources is the mission of Delaware's Healthy Child Care America Program.
The Delaware Healthy Child Care America program with funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) has provided training and development of a statewide network of Child Care Health Consultants.
A Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) is either a medical professional, such as a nurse, doctor or mental health specialist, or an early care and education specialist specifically trained to work with child care providers to promote health and safety for children, their families and their teachers. The Division of Public Health has partnered with Wesley College, Department of Nursing and the National Training Institute for Child Care Health Consultants, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, to provide a nationally approved training program for child care health consultation in Delaware.
Ensuring the health and safety of Delaware's youngest children and promoting quality early care and education is a primary function of the CCHC. The CCHC does this by:
- Email consultation
- Phone consultation
- On-site visits
CCHCs can provide expert guidance and technical assistance on the following:
- Assess health and safety needs and practices in the child care setting
- Help care givers develop strategies for caring for children with special health needs
- Develop and establish safety and health policies
- Provide health education and wellness programs and trainings
- Offer solutions for managing injuries or infectious diseases within the child care settings
- Connect caregivers and families with community health care resources
- Provide up-to-date information on the latest guidelines, policies and standards regarding child health and safety
- Offer hands-on support through telephone advise or regular on-site visits
- Conduct child care staff trainings
By utilizing Child Care Health Consultants, child care providers have access to a unique resource - one who stands ready to lend assistance, support and expert information regarding the health and safety of children in their care.
Contact a CCHC
A CCHC is an independent service provider who contracts with the child care provider directly. Use this link to see a directory containing the names and contact information of trained CCHCs in Delaware .
Family & Workplace Connection provides the link for free or reduced cost child care health consultation when federal or private finding is available. If you are unable to pay for a CCHC, you may be able to qualify for free or reduced cost services. Please contact Family & Workplace Connection at (302) 479-1665 (800-660-6602 in Kent and Sussex Counties).
If you would like training to become a Child Care Health Consultant:
Contact Wesley College, Department of Nursing at (302) 736-2488.
For more information:
- Infectious Disease in Childcare Settings: Informational Guidelines for Directors, Caregivers and Parents, 2nd Edition [ PDF | Text ]
- Healthy Child Care America
- Healthy Child Care America - Delaware Page
- National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC)
- National Training Institute for Child Care Consultation
- Family & Workplace Connection
- Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DAEYC)
- Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
- Administration for Children & Families Child Care Bureau
Return to the Early Childhood Program Home Page
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