Committee advances bill to codify childcare health consultants and HealthySteps into state statute

Senators Cutter and Judah asked the Senate Health and Human Services Committee to advance Senate Bill 17, legislation to codify and strengthen two evidence‑based early childhood health programs — childcare health consultants (CCHCs) and the HealthySteps pediatric primary care program — within state statute and the Colorado Department of Early Childhood.

Sponsors and a large group of health and early childhood witnesses described the programs as existing, evidence‑based services that support children from birth through age 5, help with developmental screening, and assist providers and families in managing medical and behavioral conditions in childcare and primary care settings. “Healthy Steps is an evidence based pediatric primary care program that provides support to parents of children ages 0 to 3 … There are currently 32 Healthy Steps sites across Colorado serving over 38,000 children,” said Senator Judah while introducing the bill.

Multiple witnesses detailed how CCHCs and HealthySteps operate. Kendra Dunn, deputy director for program delivery at…