• What is a Child Care Health Consultant?
• What is a Medical Consultant?
• Why do you need a Child Care Health Consultant or Medical Consultant?
• What does a Child Care Health Consultant or Medical Consultant do?
• What can't a Child Care Healthy Consultant or Medical Consultant do?
• How do you find a Child Care Health Consultant or Medical Consultant?
• What is the Texas Trainer Registry?

What is a Child Care Health Consultant?

A Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) is a local health or early childhood professional who has gone through specialized training in order to assist you.  CCHCs know about child health, child development, and health and safety in child care settings. CCHCs work together with early care and education providers to promote healthy and safe environments for young children. CCHCs have expert information, resources, and referrals to offer providers.

Your Child Care Health Consultant should have knowledge of:

• Child Care Licensing Regulations
• Child Growth and Development
• Injury Prevention and Safe, Active Play
• Infection Control
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Children with Special Health Care Needs
• Cultural Diversity in Child Care
• Linking to Community Resources
• And more…

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What is a Medical Consultant?

A Medical Consultant (MC) is a physician, resident, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner who has gone through specialized training in order to assist you with improving the health and safety of your early care and education program.

Your Medical Consultant should have knowledge of

• Infectious Disease
• Environmental Hazards
• Child Development
• Nutrition and Physical Activity
• Immunization
• Safety/Injury Prevention
• Emergency Response (Disaster Preparedness)
• Children with Special Needs
• Suspected Child Abuse
• Medical Home Recommendations
• Linking to Community Resources

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Why do you need a Child Care Health Consultant or Medical Consultant?

• Because children deserve health and safety support at a level that goes well beyond minimum standards acceptable in child care licensing
• Because caregivers need a link to other experts in child health and safety
• Because new research and information on child health and safety can be difficult for providers and parents to sort through and understand
• Because Child Care Health Consultants and Medical Consultants serve as powerful advocates for children
• The future of our children depends on it.

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What does a Child Care Health Consultant or Medical Consultant do?

Many CCHCs work independently while others work for such entities as child care licensing, Head Start, or local workforce development programs. Thus, in most cases, they are not responsible for regulating or monitoring your programs. They assist child care owners, directors, and their staff in understanding best practices through onsite or telephone consultation, training, and/or technical assistance.

Specifically, CCHCs can

• Help link staff, families and children with community health resources
• Assess and promote developmentally appropriate environments and practices
• Assess the health and safety needs and practices in the child care facility and discuss best practices on how to manage and prevent injuries or infectious diseases.
• Review health, safety and nutrition practices and assist in developing policies and procedures
• Help develop strategies for inclusion of children with special health care needs
• Provide health education for staff members, families and children.

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What can't a Child Care Healthy Consultant or Medical Consultant do?

CCHCs cannot

• screen and assess children at the facility
• provide medical treatment for illness/injury

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How do you find a Child Care Health Consultant or Medical Consultant?

There are three ways to find a CCHC and/or a MC in your area:

1.  The best way to find a CCHC and/or a MC is to contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency. The Texas Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agency’s website can help you find the child care resource and referral agency that covers your geographic area. The local CCRRA will assist you in finding a consultant to meet your needs.

2.  Look at the list of CCHCs and MCs on this website to see a list of consultants by geographic area. Click here

3.  Contact the Healthy Child Care Texas Coordinator.

What is the Texas Trainer Registry?

You may want to find out if the Child Care Health Consultant is registered on the Texas Trainer Registry with Texas Early Care and Education Career Development System (TECECDS).