Governor Proclaims Child Health Care Consultant Week 2021

WHEREAS, child care health consultants (CCHC) are trained health professionals with education and experience in both child and community health and early care and education; and

WHEREAS, CCHCs assess, plan, implement, and evaluate strategies to achieve high quality, safe, and healthy child care environments; and

WHEREAS, qualified CCHCs in North Carolina have successfully completed the North Carolina Child Care Health Consultant course provided by the North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center, a program within the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health; and

WHEREAS, this year marks the 25^th anniversary of the child care health consultation profession; the first professional CCHC was trained and certified in 1996, and since then, over 500 professionals have been trained nationwide; and

WHEREAS, according to a recent report by the Gillings School of Global Public Health, there are approximately 42 local child care health consultants working across 32 counties in North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, these professionals support child care programs to comply with regulations and encourage programs to develop policies that promote best practices, reflecting the most current science-informed and evidence-based practices; and

WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina commends the vital professional work that child care health consultants have contributed to children, youth, and families across our state;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April 18 – 24, 2021, as “CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTANT WEEK” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.