Bringing Health Care & Child Care Together
Early Childhood Health Project (ECHP) is a collaboration of individuals and agencies working
together to improve the health and safety of young children while in
out-of-home care in West Virginia. The program has three areas of
focus: Promoting the use of national
health & safety standards (such as Stepping Stones) at home and in child
care. Increasing access to medical
care through "medical home" advocacy and Medicaid & WV
CHIP enrollment promotion. Linking the medical/public
health community to child care centers to serve as health care
consultants. ECHP Partners
WV DHHR: Office of Maternal, Child & Family Health
The Office of Maternal, Child & Family Health is the
organizational home of the Early Childhood Health Project.
Because many young children spend a significant
portion of their day in an out-of-home setting, it is important for all
early care & education programs to have access to information and
resources for implementing and promoting appropriate health and safety
standards.
WV DHHR: Bureau for Children and Families
The Office of Social Services; Office of Head Start State Collaboration; and Division of Early Care and Education all act as liaisons to early care & education programs and serves on working committees with the Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health.
WV Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
The WV Chapter of the AAP provides professional technical assistance and a link to national project coordination efforts through the national AAP office. It also convenes a child care committee that focuses on issues related to the pediatrician's role in child care. Several of its members serve as child care health consultants.
Partners Implementing an Early Care & Education System for West Virginia (PIECES)
PIECES coordinates early child care and education programs though out the state. It is their goal to establish access for all West Virginian children to high quality health and education programs. This will in return provide a foundation for academic success with maintained support for working parents.
ECHP is funded by:
