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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-15-2008-4kORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: January 15, 2008 Action Agenda Item No. ~-_~ SUBJECT: Receipt of Additional Funds from Orange County Partnership for Young Children for Child Care Health Consultant Projects DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Project Description Summary Rosemary Summers, 245-2411 PURPOSE: To accept additional funds from Orange County Partnership for Young Children for Child Care Health Consultant Projects. BACKGROUND: The Orange County Partnership for Young Children has funded the Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) Project for over 10 years in Orange County. For the past two years, this project has been implemented by an Orange County Health Department Public Health Nurse II who has been trained as a NC Child Care Health Consultant. The Child_Care Health Consultant works closely with childcare programs to provide safe and healthy environments for children birth to five by offering trainings and on site consultation services to caregivers and families. Examples of services include performing health and safety assessments, developing improvement plans, supporting development of health and safety related policies, planning for inclusion of children with special health needs, screening for access to insurance and preventive health care, and referring to community health and safety resources. Recent statistics show that children in Orange County are overweight -21.7% of children ages 0-5 years old are greater than the 95th% for Body Mass Index for their age. The CCHC had prioritized basic nutrition as an area of focus this year; however, grant funding for the project only covered .85 FTE of personnel costs for the CCHC and did not allow for purchases necessary to support the current program or additional curriculum/supplies. In October, the Orange Partnership for Young Children was awarded atwo-year grant from the NC Partnership for Children to implement an evidenced-based nutrition curriculum, "Nutrition and Physical Activity Self Assessment for Child Care" (NAP SACC). By allocating this grant money to the existing CCHC Project, the Orange County Partnership was able to supplement the project with additional financial resources to purchase supplies needed to improve the quality of health and hygiene practices in Orange County childcare programs. The NAP SACC grant allocation for FY2007-2008 increases the CCHC budget by $27,120 allowing the Health Department to initiate the program, purchase additional resources, establish relationships and develop protocols as well as field test NAP SACC in four three-star childcare sites. In FY2008-2009, $28,328 will be available to the Health Department to contract with a registered dietician to continue implementation of the established program in an additional 6~ childcare sites. It is anticipated that at the end of two years, funding will return to the current level that covers .85 FTE of personnel costs. FINANCIAL. IMPACT: The funds provide an additional $27,120 to enable the project staff to purchase supplies and equipment for the Child Care Health Consultant programs with Child Care Centers in Orange County. There are no additional County funds being requested. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the receipt of the funds as a supplement to the current grant project. Orange County Partnership for Young Children (OCPYC) & Orange County Health Department (OCHD) NAPSACC Grant (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment in Child Care Centers) Statement of Need: Orange County has consistently had one of the highest rates of childhood obesity for young children ages 2-4 years, when comparing all 100 counties in North Carolina. (according to Department of Health NC-NPASS data). In 2005, OCPYC's Board of Directors launched their "Healthy Kids Campaign" out of concern for this serious health issue. Statistics show that children who are low-income and/or minority children are at greater risk for childhood obesity. In Orange County, 12% of the child population is considered poor and 32% are minority children. In order to reach these children and their families, this project will target child care programs where 2,200 (60%) of Orange County's children ages 0-5 are enrolled. Of this number, 300 children receive Smart Start child care scholarships so that their families may afford to send their children to a quality day care. These children receiving financial assistance for child care are 88% minority children and 40% Latino. It is vital that child care centers have appropriate information and training to address the diversity of family lifestyles, cultures, and health practices. There are no programs specifically aimed at preventing childhood obesity for young children & their families in Orange County, despite our reputation as being a high resourced county. In addition, there are no programs designed to bring this training & education to child care programs/centers. Target Population: A child care center must have at least 20 children ages 2-5 years to meet the NAPSACC criteria and participate in this project. The project will target 3- and 4-star child care centers (5-star centers are not being included at this time). The target goal is to reach 5 centers each year (a total of 10 centers over 2 years) and to reach at least 300 children ages 3-5 years old. Child Care centers that have been recruited for participation will be 3- and 4-star centers that serve a majority of low-income children and participate in the USDA Food Program. Program Implementation: The Partnership (OCPYC) will collaborate with Patty Rhodes, RN, who is currently the Child Care Health Consultant (CCHC) funded by Smart Start and employed by the Orange County Health Department. Patty has been the CCHC for the past two years and has established effective working relationships with nearly all of the child care programs in Orange County. She has provided workshops, on-site and telephone consultations, 4 and health related resources. The implementation of the NAPSACC Project in Orange County will be the responsibility of Patty Rhodes, RN. The CCHC will participate in NAPSACC training and extend nutrition and physical activity support to the participating child care centers.......... Child Care Services Association (CCSA), another partner in this project, has agreed to assist the Partnership in awarding incentive grants and monitoring the participating child care centers. Combining the expertise of the Health Department and the CCSA will ensure that child care centers receive comprehensive & integrated services that intend to improve health, nutrition, and physical activity opportunities for children in child care. The Partnership will use its match contribution of 15% to ensure that materials and incentives are culturally relevant and translated into Spanish. This contribution is in addition to the basic NAPSACC project. Also, the Partnership will identify nutritionists, parent educators, and physical education trainers to provide resources to families/children of the participating child care centers. Community Collaboration: The Partnership will work with CCSA and the Orange County Health Department to implement the NAPSACC project. In addition to these two primary agencies, relationships with community agencies to assist in NAPSACC implementation have been established. • Some examples: Cooperative Extension, Carrboro Farmer's Market, Chapel Hill & Carrboro Parks & Recreation Departments, YMCA, and Triangle Sportsplex. Through these resources and others, the Partnership has set up a number of resources that a child care center can access to improve their nutrition practices and physical activities. Activity Timeline: Child Care Health Consultant develops a plan of work and completes NAPSACC training by November 30, 2007. Recruitment of Child Care centers begins mid October through mid November 2007. All Child Care centers will have met with CCHC to review NAPSACC requirements and complete initial assessment by December 30, 2007. Child Care centers attend workshops, receive CCHC consultation, and implement nutrition and physical activity improvements from January -June 2008. Partnership, CCHC and CCSA meet quarterly to assess progress. Prepare required reports to NC Partnership for Children. First year of project ends September 30, 2008. Year 2 utilizes same process as above, and would be repeated with a second round of sites selected to begin October 1, 2008.