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Child Care Providers Step up to Nutrition & Health
| Name | Marlyne R. Walker | | Situation | Adults entering the field of child care are now required by South Carolina regulation to obtain a basic level of knowledge of child development, health (includes nutrition and/or safety) and skills training. For many potential child care providers, this regulation can be expensive and difficult to obtain due to distance from educational programs. In South Carolina, nearly 60% of all childcare centers pay preschool teachers between $6 and $8 per hour. Child care in South Carolina ranks among the poorest in the nation, based on high staff turnover, poor quality environments, and lack of training and experience in child care staff. With high staff turnover, it is difficult to keep staff up-to-date on health, nutrition and safety issues. Research has shown child care provider education is directly related to higher quality caregiving and lower turnover. | | Response | The agent is partnering with Newberry County First Steps and Newberry County Adult Education, Newberry County School District and Newberry County Health Department to assist with organizing and presenting training for child care providers. Newberry County Adult Education advertised the two cycle training and accepted registration information.
Newberry County First Steps provided Two Cycles (15 hours each)at no cost to caregivers and directors in the areas of Health and Safety, Growth and Development, and Curriculum in order to fulfill South Carolina (DSS) training requirements. The agent/registered dietitian/certified child care trainer provided food safety and nutrition information. Also, a registered nurse from the health department provided information on communicable diseases and a registered nurse from the health department provided information on blood borne pathogens which is a new requirement of the state regulation. This training, Steps to Health, Safety & Nutrition, provided a total of five hours in Health and Safety for the child care providers. | | Impact | Five continuing education hours in nutrition, health and safety were provided to 47 child care providers at nine child care centers impacting over 400 children by a certified child care trainer/registered dietitian
and registered nurse.
-95% of child care providers report increased nutrition knowledge as measured by pre/post tests and/or documented on evaluation form.
-Distributed 41 food thermometers and provided food safety/nutrition education to child care providers of preschool children in Newberry County. Child care providers reported how this training will help my program:
"Helps us as caregivers and mothers to pass on healthy eating habits."
"To eat healthy and stay clean."
"Teach children how to wash their hands."
"Teach the kids how to eat healthier."
"Be more aware about contamination."
"Continue to feed healthy foods to our children."
"Make for a healthier center."
"Keeps us in touch with thinking on things that makes us mindful of doing better with cleaning,"
"Continue to feed healthy foods to our children."
"Teach the Correct Pyramid."
"Eliminate germs and illness."
"Use more physical activities with the kids."
"Better informed on what to do." |
Last update8/15/2007
This website is maintained by Bryan Smith.
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