What does Child Care Health Program do?
Snohomish Health District's Child Care Health Program offers a wide variety of health and safety services to
child care providers throughout Snohomish County.
Our staff is available to answer questions over the phone, send information by mail, or meet in person with providers.
We offer health and safety assessments, consultations, and STARS approved training to all child care providers in Snohomish
County. We encourage licensed child care providers as well as others caring for young children to take advantage of
our services.
Purpose
The Snohomish Health District created the Child Care Health Program in 1994 following the large E.coli 0157:H7
outbreak that occurred in the Pacific Northwest. Since then, Child Care Health Program has established itself as a leader
in child care health and safety consultation in Washington State. The primary purpose of Child Care Health Program is to
promote health and prevent illness and injury in child care environments.
Because children are not "little adults", they are more susceptible to illness and injury. They depend on adults to keep
them safe and healthy. Placing infants and children together in groups presents various public health risks, such as
increased exposure to communicable disease. Children in child care settings generally become exposed to many different
communicable diseases at an early age.
To safeguard the children in their care, child care providers must have accurate and timely information on health and safety
issues. The Child Care Health Program has developed a comprehensive plan which includes assessments, consultation, training,
communicable disease investigation, and referral to community resources. Our innovative approach of pairing environmental
health specialists with public health nurses has been a model for other health agencies.
Child Care Health Program is currently staffed by an interdisciplinary team of public health nurses, environmental health
specialists, a nutritionist, health educators, administrative support, and a program manager. We were able to demonstrate
that 94% of child care centers that took advantage of our services improved the quality of care that children receive,
particularly in the area of health and safety.
Child Care Health Program (CCHP) General Information
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What does Child Care Health Program do?