Consultation Skills
Child Care Health Consultant Competency 1: Consultation Skills
(Source: Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, Child Care Health Consultant Competencies)
- Describes the best practices of the CCHC role consistent with state, local, territory, and/or tribal laws and regulations
- Demonstrates an understanding of health, safety, and wellness in the context of ECE settings
- Follows all applicable professional and ethical standards for CCHCs and those relevant to the CCHC’s professional licensure
- Seeks ongoing professional development to enhance knowledge and skills related to the role of the CCHC
- Participates as a member of an interdisciplinary team of consultants, including education, mental health, and nutrition
The CCHC works collaboratively with programs as equal partners to build their capacity to identify and resolve health and safety concerns and promote wellness. A CCHC also:
- Establishes a collaborative approach to consultation that recognizes the autonomy, strengths, and expertise of programs
- Works with programs to assess the current status of health, safety, and wellness practices and to establish goals for the consultation
- Promotes an approach to addressing health and safety concerns that reflects the strengths and needs of the program, staff, children, and families served
The CCHC uses culturally responsive and strength-based communication approaches that build the skills and expertise of others. A CCHC also:
- Seeks to understand the perspectives of others
- Communicates effectively with diverse audiences by using appropriate oral and written communication
- Gathers sufficient information about the participants’ specific needs and expertise to support the
- consultation relationship
- Uses evidence-based communication strategies as appropriate, such as active listening and open-ended questions
The CCHC helps programs respond to the needs of staff, children, and families in a culturally and linguistically competent manner. A CCHC also:
- Demonstrates an understanding of how one’s own values, beliefs, assumptions, and experiences affect interactions with staff, children, and families
- Helps programs identify and adapt materials, curricula, and policies and procedures to reflect cultural variations in child-rearing and health and wellness practices
- Recognizes how power relationships and implicit bias affect the consultation process
- Connects programs to community health resources (multilingual healthcare providers, medical interpreters, and translated materials) that can address families’ health needs in their preferred language
- Works with programs to understand how health disparities affect health outcomes and identify opportunities to promote health equity
Find a CCHC in your community.
Featured Initiatives and Resources
The NC Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) Course is provided by the NC Resource Center and the NC Division of Public Health. The course teaches health professionals skills of child care health consultation and coaching.
The Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center Health Services Management website is designed to assist CCHCs as they work with local programs to plan, implement, and evaluate health services.