One of the primary goals of Early Childhood Educators is to nurture and protect children as they grow. Child Care Health Consultants can help you implement and streamline policies and procedures that will help provide an environment that is both nurturing and safe and keep your centers children and staff healthy and happy. Below is a list of some of the resources and services CCHCs can provide for you.
Telephone and Onsite Consulting - CCHCs can help with the following:
- Immunization record review
- Health and safety review for your program
- How to assess for illness: look, listen, feel, and smell. When to exclude children and staff for illness.
- Illness and Injury documentation and tracking
- Implementing or providing healthy practice policies
- Referrals for early intervention, behavioral, medical , dental, vision, nutrition, and mental health services
- Referral for annual well child checks
- Emergency preparedness (public health emergencies and disaster plans)
- Cleaning and sanitation
- Food handling and storage
- Breast milk storage and handling
- Nutrition
- Hand washing
- Oral hygiene
- Playground safety
- Universal precautions
- Staff health policies
An easily accessible resource for immediate information is Caring for Our Children:
National Health and Safety Performance Standards, Second Edition, 2002 http://nrckids.org/CFOC/PDFVersion/list.html.
The following sites have a variety of information, checklists and downloads on health and safety in the early childhood education setting:
CCHC Contacts:
Northern Nevada CCHC:
Rebecca Gonzales RN, BSN
E: rgonzales@washoecounty.us
P: (775) 328-2627
Southern Nevada CCHC:
Gwen Osburn, RN
E: osburn@snhdmail.org
P: (702) 759-0883
Statewide Social – Emotional:
Ann Polakowski, LCSW apolakowski@dcfs.nv.gov or
Maureen Lee, Early Child Mental Health Services Intake Coordinator (702) 486-7764