Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
q <br />Collaboration: The project nurse will collaborate with numerous community agencies on many <br />levels.. Within the Health Department, the project nurse will collaborate with staff in Child Service <br />Coordination, Nutrition, hnmunization Tracking, Health Promotion and Education, Communicable <br />Disease, School Nursing, and Environmental Health services by sharing of resources, expertise, and <br />information. This nurse will serve on the Technical Assistance Advisory Council and the Orange <br />County Preschool Interagency council to coordinate activities and share resources. The nurse will <br />collaborate with Child Care Services Association staff to jointly provide technical assistance, training <br />and planning services related to health and safety issues/topics, particularly focusing on centers/homes <br />scoring low on environmental rating scales. The nurse will honor existing contract and agreements <br />between OCHD and the Child Developmental Services Agency and will work with the local school <br />systems to ensure that children with delays and special needs access appropriate early intervention <br />services. OCHD currently partners with Early Head Start (EHS) regarding home visiting and health <br />issues. This partnership will continue to be carried out through matching components of this project <br />and working closely with the EHS Health/Nutrition Coordinator at the child care sites they are <br />currently partnered with to compliment/enhance work with the child care staff and family members of <br />these programs. Orange County Cooperative Extension Services has verbalized a desire to work <br />closely with this project, sharing information, resources, and materials (likely focusing on Child Care <br />homes). As the project develops, further collaborative relationships are anticipated with community <br />agencies such as Piedmont Health Services, private pediatricians, OPC Mental Health, and other <br />agencies/individuals with vested interests in the wellbeing of your children in child care settings. <br />Partnership Outcome(s) and Performance Standards: <br />Outcome: Improve early care and education services. <br />Outcome: Preschool children with physical or mental health needs are identified prior to entering <br />kindergarten. <br />? 60% of Smart Start screening participants referred for care will receive treatment. <br />Outcome: Preschool children have access to consistent health care and have a primary care provider or <br />"medical home". <br />? The participation ratio for Health Check project counties will be 70%. <br />? 60% of participating preschool children will access consistent health care. <br />Program Impact: Child Care Health Consultant programs that have been implemented in other <br />communities have demonstrated lowered incidence of illness and communicable diseases; increased <br />access to health care for children in child care centers, improved health and safety status and <br />compliance with health regulations and standards in the child care programs served! Children with <br />special needs such as "medically fragile children" and children with developmental delays will benefit <br />from having staff caring for them who are aware and trained appropriately to deal with their specific <br />needs as well as being connected to all the necessary services that are available to them. Fewer needy <br />and disadvantaged children will fall between the cracks and have a greater chance of getting the <br />services they need in order to be able to arrive at kindergarten ready to learn and achieve by having a <br />consultant available to review medical histories, case conference with child care providers, train staff <br />and family members on age appropriate health, developmental and behavioral expectations, and <br />provide follow up on positive findings through screenings. Child care staff and families will have a <br />link to connect them to resources when they have concerns about children. Furthermore, the nurse will <br />be providing services within the scope of services described above that are identified as priority by the <br />child care sites that have chosen to work with the project. Since providers will be accessing the <br />services they deem necessary for their staff, programs will be more likely to follow through with the <br />recommendations made, thus improving the quality of child care available to young children. <br />Program Outcomes: By June 30, 2005, the Child Care Health Consultant will contact 75% of all <br />Orange County licensed child care center and child care home directors in person to orient them to the