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What is Healthy Child Care
Texas (HCCT)?
Healthy Child Care Texas originated in Tarrant County with the Tarrant County
Health Department and Camp Fire USA, First Texas Council. Over the years it had
moved to various state agencies to find its permanent home at the Texas Health
and Human Services Commission (HHSC).* HHSC collaborates with the Department of
State Health Services in the development of materials with as up-to-date medical
information as possible. However, health and safety recommendations are
constantly changing and expanding. Therefore, recommended procedures in written
materials should be used as guidelines, and early care and education providers
should check with their child care health consultant and/or medical consultant
for specific assistance.
The goals for HCCT are to
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maximize the health, safety, well-being, and developmental potential of
all children so that each child experiences quality child care within a
nurturing environment and
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help increase children’s access to preventive health services, including a
medical home.
To improve the health and safety of children in child care, the HCCT initiative
brings together health care professionals, early care and education
professionals, child care providers, and families. The current HCCT initiative
has a two-pronged approach to training consultants. It trains qualified
individuals to be Child Care Health Consultants (i.e., registered nurses, child
development specialists, early childhood education specialists) or Medical
Consultants (i.e., physicians, residents, physician assistants, nurse
practitioners).
See “What is a Child Care Health Consultant?" or "What is a Medical Consultant?" for
more information.
HCCT is also part of a larger initiative called Raising Texas. Raising Texas is
a statewide, collaborative effort to strengthen Texas' system of services for
young children and families so that all children enter school healthy and ready
to learn. Through a collaborative partnership of state agencies, community
based organizations and key stakeholders, a state plan has been developed to
improve the current system of services for all children age birth to 6. Visit
the Raising
Texas website to learn more about the project.
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Although funding has ended, HHSC continues to support the principles of this
initiative and is willing to assist local communities in finding resources to
support this project. |
