BUILDING BRIDGES WITH CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANTS
Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs)
What is a Child Care Health Consultant?
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A child care health consultant (CCHC) is a health professional who has interest and
experience in child and community health and early care and education. A CCHC also
has knowledge of resources and regulations and is comfortable linking health
resources with facilities that provide primarily education and social services.
Who can be a CCHC?
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Child care health consultants include professionals such as nurses, nurse practitioners,
physician assistants, physicians, health educators, dental hygienists, sanitarians, and
medical social workers who have:
o Knowledge and experience in child care health and safety practices
o CCHC training
It is important that state regulations are followed. These regulations may determine
who can be a CCHC and whether or not a program is required to have a CCHC.
RELATIONSHIP BUILDER: The link below provides information on who to contact about your
state’s licensing requirements as they relate to CCHCs and other issues:
http://www.nrckids.org/STATES/states.htm
It is important to note that in many states the CCHC “workforce” is quite variable. It can
range from organized groups affiliated with a state department of health, or Child Care
Resource & Referral agency to formal or less formal consultants. Many states identify a
strong need to better understand, organize, and train the CCHC workforce.
POTENTIAL IDEAS FOR STATE LEADERSHIP TEAMS:
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Identify the key organizing body or leader for CCHCs in your state and develop a trainthe-trainer program to train CCHCs about Early Brain and Child Development (EBCD)
Develop a strategic plan to embed EBCD in child care health consultation in your state
Develop tools for advocates to use to promote policies and funding that support the
integration of EBCD into ongoing child care consulting efforts
TOOLS:
1. Sample outreach email to your state’s CCHC leader
2. Foundational PowerPoint
BUILDING BRIDGES WITH CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANTS
Sample outreach email to your state’s CCHC leader:
Email Subject Heading: An Opportunity to Collaborate with Your AAP Chapter
Dear [insert name],
It is a pleasure to reach out to you as the Building Bridges State Early Brain and Child
Development (EBCD) Team Leaders (member of our American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Chapter and Early Childhood Systems Representative). As you may know, the AAP has made
EBCD a strategic priority. This is an incredible opportunity to ensure that children are supported
early with nurturing environments and relationships that promote health and success.
We are interested in exploring how we can work together to incorporate EBCD efforts into the
work of our state’s CCHCs. In this regard, we would like to plan a meeting or a call to identify
collaborative efforts and opportunities.
Below are the days and times we are available during the next 2 weeks for your consideration.
[insert dates and times]
If you have any questions, please let us know. We are looking forward to speaking with you and
exploring ways that we can work together.
Sincerely,
Names
Contact Information