PROBLEM
The North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS), working with the North Dakota Department of Health, seeks to expand the collaborative efforts of state and local child care and health agencies. Strengthening these partnerships will enhance support services available to the state’s early care and education facilities and increase the quality of care provided by these facilities. The quality of care is not necessarily assured by existing licensing standards. North Dakota has adequate child care licensing rules that enforce health and safety standards. However, with a regulatory program, violations do occur, and, in 2002, 281 rule violations were reported. The need for care for the state’s youngest citizens is growing. Last year 34% of parents using Child Care Resource & Referral to search for child care requested care for infants 12 months and younger. Because care settings greatly influence infant brain development, infant care must be of high quality and staffed by well-trained personnel (the number one factor influencing the level of quality in a child care setting). However, recruiting and maintaining well-trained staff is difficult. In 2002, 19% of family child care providers and 36% of center staff left the child care profession due, in part, to low wages, high job stress and inadequate training. This turnover diminishes the knowledge and skill level of the child care work force contributing to the lack of quality care throughout the state. An environmental rating scale assessment, the Infant-Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS), conducted in approximately 2/3 of the state’s centers that care for infants and toddler, indicates care in these facilities meets children’s basic health and safety needs, but little warmth and support or learning experiences are provided for the children. If continued funding is available for this project, the North Dakota Department of Human Services, with the support and expertise of health professionals on state and local levels, will strengthen provider support recourses and training increasing the health, safety and quality of child care in North Dakota.
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
A. Build linkages with local/state health and child care providers.
0. Maintain a statewide network of agencies and organizations dedicated to enhancing the health and safety of children in child care settings.
0. Promote awareness of child care issues to the health care community, encourage local linkages and share resources available through the Child Care Health Consultants.
B. Strengthen the infrastructure of people trained as child care health consultants to provide local support and information to child care providers, parents and other interested individuals.
1. Maintain the current child care health consultation services available through CCR&R offices to provide technical assistance, consultation, trainings, and resource development for the child care system.
2. Maintain linkages with local pediatricians to access information and technical assistance as needed.
3. Recruit and train persons interested in providing child care health consultation and training on a local level.
C. Establish the child care community as a vehicle to educate providers and families on access low-cost insurance and medical home.
METHODOLOGY
A statewide systems approach will be utilized to improve the quality of care through improved health and safety practices for children in child care settings. A statewide advisory committee will oversee the HCC/ND project. Ongoing health consulting services will be maintained throughout North Dakota utilizing nurse consultants within the Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) system. Three nurses have successfully completed HRSA’s National Trainings Institute for Child Care Health Consultants. They will be the anchor trainers for new child care health consultants.
COORDINATION
The Program Administrator of the Department of Human Services/Early Childhood Services will act as the Project Director for Healthy Child Care/ND. The majority of the funds will be contracted to CCR&R. They will employ the health care professional needed to carry out the project. The Maternal and Child Health Division, North Dakota Department of Health, will provide technical assistance and consultation support for CCR&R and the CCHC.
EVALUATION
All project activities will be tracked and evaluated on a quarterly basis by the regional CCR&R offices. Reports will be submitted to the Project Director.
ANNOTATION
KEYWORDS
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