State health analyst outlines childcare health consultant network, immunization registry access and free lead testing

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 consultation 101" for both nurses and providers. She said centers with integrated, trained consultants have "healthier centers" with fewer illnesses and better infection control.

Helseth also described a policy change that gives childcare operators a new path to immunization information. "As of a year ago November, we were able to get the law changed so that childcare providers have the ability to access the immunization registry without a medical provider," she said, describing a limited-share agreement and a childcare module that allows providers to maintain rosters and check immunization status. She said the change followed a pilot that used health consultants and public health nurses as intermediaries and that DCYF has been working with the Attorney General's Office and the Department of Health to implement the limited exchange.

On environmental testing, Helseth described a Department of Health pilot, funded by an EPA grant, that pays for free testing of drinking water in childcare facilities and, in some cases, money to support remediation. She said recent tests showed that when sites have elevated lead readings the source is often a fixture (a faucet or fountain) rather than the public water system. In the pilot, most positive findings were resolved by flushing or by replacing or taking a fixture out of service; Helseth said about 75 locations had tested positive and only about five required fixture replacement with follow-up remediation support.

Helseth and other presenters emphasized supports for non-English speakers: written materials for the lead testing pilot are available in English, Spanish and Somali, and the sign-up form includes an option to request an interpreter.

Department of Health representative Astrid Newell asked about developmental screening and mental-health supports; Helseth said many childcare health consultants are trained to do screening but that the consultants'primary role is to serve the site as the client, not to diagnose or treat individual children unless separately contracted for those services.

Helseth posted links and guidance in the meeting chat and said she would assist providers who need help signing up for the registry or immunization module. She also offered to help providers access the lead-testing pilot and the post-test remediation process.

What this means: the state has invested in a broader, compensated childcare nurse-consultant network, given providers direct access to immunization data through a limited-share registry module, and is offering a time-limited pilot to identify and remediate lead at childcare sites.

Helseth placed resource links in the meeting chat and offered follow-up assistance to providers who need help with registration or with reporting immunization status.