Child Health And Early Intervention Programs
Child Care Health Consultant
OCPYC has added a child care health consultant to our team!
Child care health consultants are state-qualified health professionals with expertise in children’s health and development as well as health and safety in child care settings. Child care health consultants work with the directors of family child care homes and child care centers—as well as with staff and families—to ensure safe and healthy child care environments.
These consultants provide guidance and technical assistance to child care providers by interpreting North Carolina Child Care Rules and the National Health and Safety Performance Standards for early childhood education. Child care health consultants partner with child care providers to:
- Offer consultation in family child care homes or center classrooms
- Review health records of children and staff
- Teach and monitor medication administration practices
- Develop care plans for inclusion of children with special care needs
- Establish and review health policies and procedures
- Develop and implement oral health policies and procedures
- Support the benefits of outdoor learning environments
- Provide technical assistance regarding the management of infectious diseases and injuries
- Interpret standards, regulations, and accreditation requirements related to health and safety
- Offer free trainings on health and safety topics including:
- hand washing
- diapering
- emergency preparedness
- medication administration
- Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG)-required content areas
We’re here to assist with your child care facility’s health and safety needs.
Contact: Tamara Dempsey-Tanner
984-677-2233
tdempseytanner@orangesmartstart.org
Growing Up Healthy
Growing Up Healthy (GUH) provides training, coaching, consultation, technical assistance (TA) and resource materials to child care facilities in Orange County to improve health outcomes for children in care. The program prioritizes services for two demonstration sites and up to ten centers enrolled in the GUH Program. Directors complete the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (GO NAPSACC) to determine areas that need improvement as related to physical activity, child nutrition, breastfeeding, outdoor learning, Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE), screen time and oral health.
GUH centers receive one-on-one TA and assistance to develop an action plan to improve chosen areas of the GO NAPSACC. Assistance can include designing outdoor learning environments and gardens, staff development, policy writing and more. GUH helps access volunteers, materials and donated services to improve and naturalize play areas. The GUH Program also works with local farms and other outlets to enhance Farm to ECE for centers to include seasonal and fresh produce in their menus. Non-cash grants, when funds are available, may be offered to address issues identified in the action plan.
Community workshops are also provided for GUH center staff and other interested Orange County child care facilities on topics including: the Be Active Kids (BAK) physical activity program; nutrition; science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) education; outdoor learning; and Farm to ECE.
Contact: Maria Hitt
984-677-2217
Mhitt@orangesmartstart.org
Assuring Better Child Health and Development (ABCD)
ABCD provides training and technical assistance to Orange County primary care medical practices to facilitate the identification of children ages birth to five who may benefit from early intervention services. Technical assistance is provided to physicians and their staff to support the use of standardized, validated developmental screening tools and referral of children found to be at-risk for developmental delay or disability, including autism.
Contact: Sara Garrison
919-225-9756
Sgarrison@kidscope.chtop.org
KidSCope Hispanic Outreach Project
The KidSCope Hispanic Outreach program provides culturally appropriate evidence-based mental health therapy to Spanish speaking children ages birth to five and their families in Orange County. This project is staffed by a Licensed Mental Health Provider who is familiar with tools and strategies appropriately suited to support the social/emotional health of Hispanic children and families. The program uses a combination of multiple strategies from a variety of evidence-based models such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Incredible Years and Circle of Security. Services may be conducted in the homes of families or the KidSCope office. A therapist provides assessments, case management, and appropriate referrals to community resources to address individual needs.
Contact: Lara Kehle
919-644-6590
Lkehle@kidscope.chtop.org