Improving Child and Family Health through Child Care Health Consultation
Enrollment of children in child care settings continue to increase at unprecedented rates. Over two decades of studies indicate that participation in child care poses risks and benefits to children's health and development. Recognizing the importance of decreasing risk and promoting health in child care settings, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has sponsored a number of efforts to support healthy and safe child care, including initiatives to prepare child care health consultants in every state. The State of Connecticut requires basic standards for child care health consultation; however, there is no universally accepted definition of the role of child care health consultant. The purpose of Dr. Crowley's project is to implement and evaluate a best practice child care health consultation model using an Advanced Practice Nurse that will improve health outcomes for children enrolled in child care programs and their families.
