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State health analyst outlines childcare health consultant network, immunization registry access and free lead testing
Summary
Jennifer Helseth of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families described the state's childcare health consultation program expansion, new direct access for childcare providers to the state immunization registry and a federal-funded pilot offering free lead-in-drinking-water testing and remediation funds for childcare sites.
Jennifer Helseth, health systems analyst with the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), told the Early Learning Advisory Council that the state has expanded its childcare health consultation workforce, built new tools for providers and is running pilots to reduce environmental health risks at childcare sites.
Helseth said she now tracks about "300 nurses across the state working in childcare health consultation," up from roughly 40 when she began supporting the program in 2017. She said DCYF is creating a searchable registry so providers can find a local consultant without relying on a single staff member to make a match.
The program offers registered nurses who consult with childcare centers on infection control, environmental safety, policy development and staff training. Helseth said the consultants provide sample contracts, monitoring forms and a free online training titled "childcare health…
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