Child Care Health Consultant Job Description

							Child Care Health Consultant Job Description
Background Information                          Duties and Responsibilities                     3. Decrease the spread of infection.
Each child care program should have             The child care health consultant can:           Environment: Make sure adequate
access to a child care health consultant who    • Underscore the importance of a primary        hand-washing equipment and supplies
can provide consultation and technical            health care provider to serve as the          are provided (ie, soap, sinks, and hands-
assistance on child health issues. This           “medical home” for each child.                free, lidded trash cans).
consultant should have expertise in child       • Ensure a system for communication             Operations: Teach children and staff
health and development, and knowledge             among the child care provider, parent,        about proper hand-washing techniques.
about the special needs of children in            and primary health care provider              4. Facilitate well-child preventive care.
out-of-home child care settings.                  and consult when health issues arise.         Environment: Evaluate the information
                                                • Perform on-site assessments of                on the child health forms and set up a
Basic Functions                                   the child care environment and/or             tickler system to identify children who
The child care health consultant’s basic          program operations.                           are due for immunizations, well-child
function is to prevent harm and promote         • Assist child care providers in developing     examinations, or other routine care.
optimal health in child care programs. The        general policy statements and an annual       Operations: Assist staff in learning how
health consultant should seek to establish        plan for the child care program (eg,          to interpret the information on the child
a relationship with child care providers;         management of infectious diseases,            health records as they receive them,
identify, implement, and evaluate strat-          fevers, and use of medications, and           facilitate implementation of the tickler
egies to achievequality child care; establish     exclusion policies).                          system, and make appropriate pediatric
basic health and safety operational             • Provide telephone consultation to child       referrals.
guidelines and plans for the child care           care providers as issues arise concerning     5. Encourage the inclusion of children
program and provider; and serve in a              specific policies and procedures.             with special needs.
liaison capacity to other health profes-        • Help child care providers obtain,             Environment: Identify necessary changes
sionals and community organizations.              understand, and use information about         that can be made to the physical environ-
    The child care health consultant              the health status of individual children      ment to accommodate children with
can be involved minimally (provide                and staff.                                    special needs.
information over the telephone) or              • Educate children, their family members,       Operations: Help develop an individual-
more extensively (provide advice                  and child care providers about child          ized treatment plan or specific guidelines
and educational activities on-site). The          development, mental and physical              for injuries or conditions of any child
health consultant should work closely             health, safety, nutrition, and oral           with special needs.
with the local public health and child            health issues.
care resource and referral agencies and         • Link staff, families, and children            Enhancements
should have access to the state child             with community health resources.              Administrators of larger center-based
care health consultant (if applicable).         • Help identify and implement                   or institutional child care programs or
                                                  improvement plans.                            programs serving children at increased
Education, Expertise, and                       • Educate and collaborate with licensing        risk may choose to identify a staff person
Abilities                                         staff and policy makers to improve            with child health expertise or interest to
Optimally, the child care health consultant       regulations, inspections, resources,          serve as a point person on health issues,
should be a pediatrician, pediatric nurse         and policies that promote safe and            or as an on-site “health advocate.” The
practitioner, pediatric or community              healthy child care.                           health advocate can serve as a liaison
health nurse, or a health professional with         Following are examples of specific          between the staff and the consultant to
expertise in mental health, nutrition, health   activities of a child care health consultant:   identify and prioritize areas to be
education, oral health, environmental           1. Increase interactions that promote           evaluated or where improvements need
health, and/or emergency management.            brain development.                              to occur. The consultant can educate
Familiarity with out-of-home child care         Environment: Discuss the importance             and empower the health advocate to
regulations and community resources             and availability of interactive play            promote child health and safety in the
is essential. Knowledge and experience          equipment.                                      child care setting on a daily basis,
related to early brain and child develop-       Operations: Identify/enhance strategies         maximizing the effective use of
ment, early childhood education, and            to maintain adult:child ratios and recruit      available resources.
child care health and safety issues are         and retain competent staff.
preferred. The ability to work as a             2. Decrease the incidence of injuries.
program consultant and strong written,          Environment: Check for proper surfacing
verbal, and interpersonal communication         under and around playground equipment.
skills are necessary.                           Operations: Ensure adequate supervision
                                                during active play.

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