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Safe & Healthy Child Care through Health Consultants Background With so many families needing to access out-of home care for their children, the quality of that care is of increasing concern. Parents are concerned about finding a place where they are comfortable to leave their children. In addition, they need to know what factors make a quality program. One aspect of quality is a program that offers services to enhance the health and safety of children’s lives. Child Care Health Consultants Following basic regulations for operating a child care facility does not always ensure that quality care is offered. At the same time, providing quality care is too big a job for a single agency. It requires collaboration among various professionals within the community. Child Care Health Consultants can offer a new avenue for quality child care in Wyoming. Through the Healthy Child Care Wyoming Project, child care health consultants are trained to offer support in health and safety issues to benefit child care staff, children, and families. Requirements of Health Consultants Public health nurses, school nurses, pediatric nurses, nurse practitioners and other health professionals take special training to serve as Wyoming Certified Child Care Health Consultants in communities. These individuals have knowledge in topics including early brain development and child development, familiarity with child care licensing regulations, expertise in mental health, nutrition, health education, oral health, environmental health, and emergency management. Services Offered The services offered by Child Care Health Consultants are not required through child care licensing regulations but are one of the criteria choices for a 2 year license. Health consultation is suggested by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau as a standard most needed to protect children from harm in out-of-home care settings. Health consultants will provide both on-site and phone assistance in various health and safety issues through child care settings, including Head Start, family child care and child care centers. They can also assist families in obtaining health insurance through Medicaid and the state’s Children’s Health Insurance Program (KidCare), and accessing other services in the community. The health and safety of children is but one aspect of health in child care environments. Through health consultants, the child care setting will be a point of access to promote health and well-being for children, their families, and child care workers. Caring for children of any age takes much physical activity, requiring providers to have good mental and physical health of their own. In addition, families of children in care may receive training and information through their program’s consultant. |
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Healthy Child Care - Wyoming |
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Health Consultants provide both on-site and phone assistance |
