Best Starts invested in new approaches to Child Care Health Consultation (CCHC) in 2018 to leverage communities’ strengths, while reaching formal and informal care providers who have been consistently underserved. Culturally-relevant child care, and child care supports, build up communities that are connected and vibrant. CCHC offers community-oriented and engaged support to child care providers in our community. We are pleased to release our report that captures the impacts of CCHC.
This innovative work was selected to participate in a deeper evaluation led by Cardea Services to describe: 1) the services that Child Care Health Consultants provide, 2) how CCHC services and unique approaches contribute to child care provider outcomes, and 3) how CCHC services have been developed, implemented, and revised over time. Cardea used a participatory approach for this evaluation, including significant input and feedback from seven CCHC partners and a CCHC Evaluation Committee.
The newest report for this evaluation describes the ways in which partners transform the consultation relationship to support providers in King County across diverse geographic, cultural, and provider communities. CCHC services remained stable throughout 2019, 2020, and 2021 even with challenges of the pandemic, highlighting consultants’ abilities to pivot to meet providers’, children’s, and families’ needs.
Key outcomes for Child Care Providers who received consultation include:
- Providers learned to communicate with children at a developmentally appropriate level and had developmentally appropriate expectations of children.
- Providers increased their ability to support challenging child behaviors.
- Providers were able to enroll more children with special needs and see success with children who have special needs.
To learn more, read the full report or executive summary.
We’d like to acknowledge the 2018–2021 Best Starts CCHC partners and the providers they serve and thank them for their roles in this evaluation: Chinese Information Service Center, Encompass Northwest, Kindering Center, Living Well Kent, Northwest Center for Kids, Sisters in Common, and Somali Health Board.
In addition, Cardea invites you to join an upcoming webinar to learn about the service delivery and impact of Child Care Health Consultation. Opportunities to respond will be available throughout the session as well as time for questions at the end.
Cardea is hosting the lunch and learn opportunity on Thursday, July 7th, from 12pm to 1pm Pacific Time on Zoom. Register here!
Questions? Contact bsk.data@kingcounty.gov.
Our CCHC Service Delivery RFP is open! Applications are due by July 27. Learn more about this RFP, eligibility, and how to apply here!