About CCHCs
Who are CCHCs?
Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) are trained health professionals with experience in child and community health and early care and education (ECE). CCHCs work with ECE programs to create the safest and healthiest environments where children and early educators can thrive.
Active CCHCs in North Carolina have successfully completed the NC Child Care Health Consultant Course and are listed on the Find a CCHC page. CCHCs listed as primary may be contacted to provide services to child care facilities in the county/ies they serve. CCHCs listed as regional work for the NC Resource Center and serve multiple counties.
What do CCHCs do?
CCHCs help ECE programs and early educators by:
- Answering health and safety questions.
- Connecting ECE programs to resources.
- Encouraging and supporting best practices and compliance with state and federal laws and rules.
- Working on quality improvement cycles, including classroom observations to identify program strengths and areas for growth. After the observation, the CCHC works with early educators to discover and implement strategies to improve quality.
- Providing training and technical assistance on the topics listed on the Training and Technical Assistance page.
Child Care Health Consultants follow national Child Care Health Consultant Competencies while working with early care and education programs.
Why are CCHCs important?
Studies show that CCHCs:
- Increase staff knowledge of health issues in early care and education settings.
- Improve the quality of health and safety policies and practices, like handwashing, sanitation, and safe sleep.
- Strengthen environmental health practices.
- Promote the inclusion of children with special health care needs.
Read more from the National Center on Early Childhood Health and Wellness: Child Care Health Consultants Make Early Care and Education Programs Healthier and Safer