Chautauqua County Department of Health, in cooperation with the Chautauqua Child Care Council, has begun to implement the Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) Program. The program, in cooperation with the New York State Department of Health, will be available in Chautauqua County to all licensed day care facilities and all licensed/registered family and group family day care providers.

A Child Care Health Consultant is a health professional, often a Public Health Nurse (PHN), who can help with child health and safety concerns. Consultants will not monitor or inspect child care programs. They are available to provide support and education.

There are a number of services a CCHC can provide including:

In 1999 the New York State Department of Health (DOH) distributed a needs assessment and learned that local health units (LUH’s) cited positive outcomes from working with child care providers including stronger policies and procedures; safer settings; improved handling of emergencies; increased immunization rates; and increased referrals to the Early Intervention Program.

With over 65% of New York State’s children under age 5 and not yet in school being cared for in some type of non-parental care situation, this initiative will help to promote safer, quality care to children throughout our county and state.

Francine Emley and Chris Wigren from the Chautauqua Child Care Council along with Amy Johnson, PHN, and Teri Medige, PHN, from the Chautauqua County Health Department attended a series of three two-day “Healthy Child Care New York” trainings presented in Batavia, New York. The trainings helped to define the role and responsibilities of CCHC’s as well as foster working relationships between CCR&R’s (Child Care Resource and Referral agencies) and CCHC’s.

For more information contact Amy Johnson, PHN, Chautauqua County Health Department (716) 661-8111 or Teri Medige, PHN, Chautauqua County Health Department at (716) 363-3660 or the Chautauqua Child Care Council at 1-800-424-4532.

PROVIDER RECOGNITION DAY

May 9, 2003 has been designated as Provider Recognition Day and is a special day to recognize and honor the tireless efforts of child care providers, teachers, and educators of young children. National Provider Appreciation Day is a day of recognition celebrated annually since 1999 on the Friday before Mother’s Day. Provider Appreciation Day is celebrated all over the United States as well as Canada, Europe, and Asia.

In an effort to recognize local child care providers, the Child Care Council hosted a Provider Recognition Dinner on Thursday May 8^th at the Cassadaga Legion Hall. This dinner was a special event aimed at recognizing the contributions of licensed/registered child care providers in Chautauqua County and the many years of service that have been offered to children & families.

Certificates of appreciation were awarded to all providers in attendance. Special tokens of appreciation were awarded to those providers with 5, 10 and 15 plus years of service in the field of child care and early childhood education.

Local & state legislators/politicians, Council Advisory Board Members and community partners were also invited to join in the celebration.

Child Care providers keep Chautauqua County working and they care for our greatest resource, our children. The Chautauqua Child Care Council encourages all parents and guardians to recognize their child care provider or child’s teacher with a special word or note of thanks.

For more information about the Provider Recognition Dinner or the Child Care Council, please call the Council at 1-800-424-4532.