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Child Care
Health
Consultants
What is a Child Care Health Consultant?
A Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) is a specially trained health or early
childhood professional who offers consultation, training, and technical
assistance to early care and education providers (including family homes) in
recognizing and promoting the health and safety of children, families, and early
care and education staff. ,CCHCs are knowledgeable about child health, child
development, and health and safety in early care and education settings. ,CCHCs
work together with early care and education providers as well as Medical
Consultants to promote healthy and safe environments for young children and to
improve the quality of care provided. ,CCHCs have expert information, resources,
and referrals to offer providers.
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How Does A Child Care Health Consultant Differ From A Medical Consultant?
Child Care Health Consultants and Medical Consultants perform very similar
roles. There are differences in the manner in which training is offered,
the required qualifications, and areas of expertise. Child Care Health
Consultants (CCHCs) must be registered nurses, child development specialists,
early care and education specialists, or health promotion/education specialists
who have attended an HCCT-sponsored four-day training session. CCHCs work
directly with early care and education providers.
Medical Consultants (MCs) must be physicians, residents, physician’s assistants,
or nurse practitioners who have completed a required on-line CME course.
MCs may consult directly with early care and education providers, Child Care
Health Consultants, or both. MCs may provide assistance on-site or over
the telephone. The goals of CCHCs and MCs are the same: to help early care
and education providers improve the health, safety, and quality of their
programs. MCs will have extensive knowledge about growth and development
and health issues whereas CCHCs may have more extensive knowledge about early
care and education programs. MCs and CCHCs are encouraged to work
together.
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Why Should You
Become a Child Care Health Consultant?
Being a Child Care Health Consultant can be a very rewarding experience.
As a CCHC, you will be play a unique role in assisting early care and education
providers offer quality care in safe and healthy environments. Your
assistance will impact our most precious resource, our children, for generations
to come. You will be part of a statewide team of child care health
consultants and be on the cutting edge of a national initiative to recognize
this new type of early care and education trainer/consultant. You will
sharpen your training and consultation skills and enhance your career by being a
leader and advocate for quality care in Texas. You can also complete an
application to be listed as a trainer in the
Texas Trainer Registry.
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Why Are Child Care Health Consultants Needed?
Some statistics tell the story:
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More children than ever are cared for, starting at an early age, in
out-of-home settings
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Early care and education providers deal with such issues as asthma, obesity,
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), dental cavities, children with special
health care needs, Type 2 diabetes, food related illnesses and infectious
diseases
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Asthma is a leading cause of hospitalization for children under the age of
15 years
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Increasing numbers of children are obese and acquiring type 2 diabetes
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Infants are developing cavities in their baby teeth which interferes with
eating, speech development, and the health of their permanent teeth
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A high proportion of food related illnesses are caused by mishandling food
or improper sanitation
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Many early care and education providers unknowingly contribute to or cause
illnesses due to inadequate policies and procedures
A
Child Care Health Consultant can help providers handle these and many other
health and safety issues.
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What Does A Child Care
Health Consultant Do?
A
Child Care Health Consultant consults with and provides technical assistance and
training to early care and education staff. The assistance can be given
over the phone, during onsite visits, and at conferences/workshops. A
Child Care Health Consultant might:
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Provide onsite assessments of the health and safety practices of the early
care and education staff
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Provide onsite assessments of indoor and outdoor environments such as
playgrounds
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Assist early care and education providers with inclusion of children with
special needs
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Assist in the development of policies, procedures and maintenance of health
records
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Assist in linking children, families and early care and education staff with
community health resources
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Advocate and promote developmentally appropriate environments and practices
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Advocate and educate families and early care and education providers about the
importance of a “medical home”
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Assist in developing partnerships betwen families, early care and education
and health care providers
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What Is the Role of
Healthy Child Care Texas?
Healthy Child Care Texas is responsible for:
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Providing oversight of the statewide initiative
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Determining minimum qualifications for Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs)
or Medical Consultants (MCs)
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Determining the application process
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Approving applications submitted to be a CCHC or MC
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Determining the content of CCHC and MC training
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Overseeing/helping to coordinate CCHC or MC training sessions
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Determining the responsibilities of CCHCs and MC
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Collecting data from consultations and trainings provided by CCHCs and MCs
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Determining recertification process and requirements
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Updating and maintaining the HCCT website
Links to a full description of Healthy
Child Care America and
Healthy Child Care Texas initiative and the goals and objectives of
each can be found in the "About Us" menu at the top of the page.
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How Can I Become a
Child Care Health Consultant?
To become a Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC), you must meet the minimum
qualifications, submit an application and be approved, complete a four-day
training session provided by HCCT-approved NTI trainers, and agree to provide a
specified number of trainings and consultations.
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What
are the Qualifications to Be a Child Care Health Consultant?
The qualifications to be a Child Care Health Consultant include
education/training, experience/knowledge and skills/abilities.
Education and Training
A
Bachelor’s Degree is required in one of the following areas
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Child Development
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Early Childhood Education
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Nursing and be Licensed as a Registered Nurse
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Health Education/Promotion
Experience and/or Knowledge with:
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Early Care And Education Settings
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Child Health And Safety Issues
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Community Resources
Skills and Abilities to:
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Train adult learners
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Provide consultation
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Communicate orally and in writing (including electronically)
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Evaluate program effectiveness
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Work independently
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Work with diverse populations
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What Does
The Child Care Health Consultant Training Cover?
The four-day course covers the following:
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Consultation Skills
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Texas Minimum Standards
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Quality Early care and education
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Environmental Rating Scales
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Cultural Competency
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Child with Special Health Care Needs, ADA
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Infectious Diseases and Sick Children
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Oral Health
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Playground Safety
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Injury Prevention
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Nutrition
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Abuse and Neglect
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Mental Health
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Staff Health
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Policy Development
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What Does The Training Cost?
Sponsoring agencies set the costs of the trainings. Typically, the fee ranges anywhere between $100 -$300 per person, which covers the costs associated
with conducting the training. Participants will receive a manual and
additional handouts and resources as part of the training. Costs may vary depending on funding availability and need in the community.
Additional fees may be charged if Continuing Nursing Education credit or other
Continuing Education Units are offered.
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Is There An Application Fee To Become A Child Care Health Consultant?
There are no application fees to become a Child Care Health Consultant or
Medical Consultant.
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What
Are The Responsibilities Of A Child Care Health Consultant?
An applicant must agree to:
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Function as a Child Care Health Consultant within a specified period of time
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Conduct a specified number of training sessions on how to use the Lone Star
Guide for Healthy Child Care and other related topics
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Conduct a specified number of on-site assessments
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Provide the Health and Human Services Commission data from each visit by
completing the on-line data form
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Will I Be Paid As A
Child Care Health Consultant?
Individuals either carry out their duties as Child Care Health Consultants (CCHC)
as part of an existing job or as an independent trainer/consultant. If the
CCHC is an independent trainer/consultant, he/she may charge the early care and
education providers a consultation fee.
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When, Where, and How Are
The Trainings Held?
Currently, there is no set schedule for the training. It depends upon when
trainers are available. Future trainings will be posted on this website
and flyers announcing specific training schedules will continue to be
distributed.
Trainers have conducted the four-day training using different formats. The
formats have included four days in a row, two days per week over a two-week
period and one day a week over a four-week period. Training schedules are
based on the hours that will attract the most participants in a specific
geographic area.
CCHC trainings, to date, have occurred where our NTI CCHC Trainers are located:
El Paso, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and Corpus Christi. Training may be
possible in other geographic locations if funds for the trainers’ travel can be
obtained. Please contact the HCCT Coordinator for more information.
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What Data Must Be Reported?
Data plays a critical role as Texas moves forward with the Healthy Child Care
Texas initiative. Data information is very important when applying for
funding. Some of the data elements collected include the number of
contacts made by CCHCs, the purpose of the contacts, the methods of contact, and
the number of early care and education providers using CCHCs. Whether
applying to a public or private funding source, applicants must usually provide
current stats and how the proposed project will impact those stats. Such
data can help HCCT determine the success of this program.
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How Do I Find Early Care and Education Providers Who Need Assistance?
The Health and Human Services Commission has a Memorandum of Understanding with
each of the Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies in Texas. They will
add the names of CCHCs to their database as resources for early care and
education providers. To find the CCRRA that covers your geographic area,
go to the
member organizations page of the
Texas Association of
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (TACCRRA) Website. CCHC contact
information also appears on this HCCT website.
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How do I apply?
To
request an application and learn more about the program, see contact information
below.
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How Do I Contact HCCT?
Contact Healthy Child Care Texas by:
Jackie L. Taylor
Early Childhood Coordinator
Office of Program Coordination for Children and Youth
Texas Health and Human Services Commission
P. O. Box 13247, BH 1542
Austin, Texas 78711
Plans For Ongoing Communication
It is planned to have a listserv as part of this website. The purpose of
the listserv is to provide and opportunity for CCHCs and MCs to communicate with
each other. Questions about the program, trainings, and current best
practices are just some of the topics consultants might ask each other about.
Check back for further information.
Contact
Information for Current Child Care Health Consultants
Please note: This list of Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) in not an
endorsement of these individuals by the Health and Human Services Commission.
It is simply a geographic listing of individuals who have successfully completed
the required training. Any one planning to use a CCHC should check their
references.
Healthy Child Care Texas
Consultant List
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