Early Childhood Center
Health, Safety, and Nutrition

Category: Regulatory Agencies, Rules, Regulations, and Codes

ECCHSN 1.1

A. Identifies all regulatory agencies that affect the administration of early childhood programs (i.e., Division of Early Learning Licensing and Administration (DELLA) - Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and local health departments, Child Welfare - Colorado Department of Human Services, local fire department, and local building planning and zoning agencies, etc.), their functions, and supporting resources. 

B. Locates rules, regulations, and codes that apply to early childhood programs related to physical facility requirements, maintenance planning, health, safety, and nutrition noting special requirements for infants and toddlers. 

C. Names and describes strategies to ensure staff is knowledgeable about and implements all regulatory rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and practices as related to health, safety, supervision, and nutrition.

ECCHSN 2.1

A. Describe need for and components of security and emergency evacuation plan and procedures, and a disaster preparedness plan in compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and codes. Explains the importance of having an alternative care delivery plan due to unforeseen circumstances such as a pandemic, natural disaster, etc. Sample Template  See training requirements for Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for Child Care Providers.

B. Identifies key stakeholders and resources to support the creation and implementation of security, emergency, evacuation, and disaster preparedness plans. 

ECCHSN 3.1

A. Identifies required training and describes procedures for responding to suspected child abuse and neglect in compliance with Colorado Rules and Regulations and as a state mandated reporter.

ECCHSN 4.1

A. Identifies rules, regulations, and codes related to the review of indoor and outdoor equipment, materials, and environments to ensure health, hygiene, and safety of children and staff.

B. Explains the importance of a Certified Playground Safety Inspection and identifies resources that provide inspection.

C. Identifies sources of funding to replace or enhance safety of equipment, materials, and environments. 

D. Identifies outdoor environment measurement tools to assess the quality of outdoor environments.

Category: Health and Sanitation Equipment

ECCHSN 5.1

A. Identifies necessary health and sanitation equipment and supplies in compliance with all regulatory rules, regulations, and codes noting special considerations for infants and toddlers.

Category: Safe and Inclusive Environments

ECCHSN 6.1

A. Identifies and describes adaptations to program environments to ensure safety and inclusion of all children including those with special needs. Includes describing the benefits for all children and why programs should strive to provide these practices. 

Category: Consultants

ECCHSN 7.1

A. Describes role of program child care health consultant and required qualifications of position.

B. Identifies child care health consultant duties, required documentation of visits, director/staff medication administration tasks, and required training for staff members. 

C. Locates statewide hub for Child Care Health Consultation and identifies available services.

ECCHSN 8.1

A. Describes role of infant and early childhood mental health consultants, benefits of engaging their services, and how to begin services through use of the Colorado Early Childhood Mental Health Support Line. 

Category: Regulatory Agencies, Rules, Regulations, and Codes

ECCHSN 1.2

A. Develops program health, safety, and nutrition policies, procedures, and practices in compliance with current regulatory agency rules, regulations, and codes.

B. Develops a plan to ensure staff is knowledgeable about and implements all regulatory rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and practices as related to health, safety, and nutrition.

C. Maintains awareness of any regulatory changes and revises program policies, procedures, and practices as necessary.

ECCHSN 2.2

A. Develops and implements security and emergency procedures and a disaster preparedness plan in collaboration with staff and community professionals. Plan addresses staff ongoing training and ensures staff and children regularly practice emergency and disaster drills in compliance with all applicable rules, regulations, and codes. 

ECCHSN 3.2

A. Develops procedures to ensure all staff understand their reporting responsibility and are trained as outlined in Colorado Rules and Regulations in responding to suspected child abuse and neglect.

ECCSHN 4.2

A. Creates a system of review, repair, and updates of equipment, materials, and environments to ensure health, hygiene, and safety of children and staff and to meet or exceed standards outlined in rules, regulations, and codes. 

Category: Health and Sanitation Equipment

ECCHSN 5.2

A. Identifies necessary health and sanitation equipment and supplies in compliance with all regulatory rules, regulations, and codes noting special considerations for infants and toddlers.

Category: Safe and  Inclusive Environments

ECCHSN 6.2

A. Evaluates and adapts environments to ensure the safety and inclusion of all children including those with special needs. Initiates feedback from families with children with special needs and adjusts environments as necessary. 

Category: Consultants

ECCHSN 7.2

A. Develops a schedule of regular visits by the child care health consultant in compliance with Colorado Rules and Regulations and complies with required documentation of visits. 

B. Creates and monitors policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that all medical, nutritional, and physical care plans for enrolled children are fully implemented in partnership with families, child care health consultant, specialists, and staff.

ECCHSN 8.2

A. Collaborates with infant and early childhood mental health consultants to create a plan of mental health support and training to benefit children, their families, and staff.

Category: Regulatory Agencies, Rules, Regulations, and Codes

ECCHSN 1.3

A. Influences proposed updates to regulatory rules, regulations, and codes by participating in local, state, and/or national working groups and committees.

ECCHSN 2.3

A. After completing practice emergency and disaster drills, analyzes appropriateness and effectiveness of security, emergency, and disaster preparedness plans and adjusts as necessary working with emergency preparedness officials and using resources as needed.

ECCHSN 3.3

A. Works with staff to analyze effectiveness of procedures ensuring all staff understand their reporting responsibility and are trained as outlined in Colorado Rules and Regulations in responding to suspected child abuse and neglect. Adjusts as necessary. 

ECCSHN 4.3

A. Applies for sources of funding to replace or enhance safety of equipment, materials, and environments

Category: Health and Sanitation Equipment

ECCHSN 5.3

A. Regularly analyzes the plan and adjusts as necessary  in compliance with all regulatory rules, regulations, and codes.

Category: Safe and  Inclusive Environments

ECCHSN 6.3

A. Works with specialists to identify further program adaptations to create a safe, welcoming, and fully engaging environment for all children. 

Category: Consultants

ECCHSN 7.3

A. Reviews, in collaboration with the child care health consultant and staff, policies, procedures, and practices surrounding medical, nutritional, and physical care plans to determine effectiveness, adjusting as necessary.

ECCHSN 8.3

A. Reviews, in collaboration with infant and early childhood mental health consultants and staff, plan on an annual or more frequent basis adjusting as necessary.