Every day 13 million of our nation's youngest children are dropped off at early care and education centers or family child care homes. Research has established that the majority of child care settings are of poor to mediocre quality and actually compromise children's long-term development.

Assuring the quality of care is a complex issue because of vast differences in regulatory requirements and enforcement practices across the country. Child care is regulated at the state and local levels and often by more than one agency.

The health and safety of children in out-of-home settings depends on the prompt dissemination of new information; training of child care professionals to promote implementation of health and safety standards; and advocacy efforts that strengthen existing state and local health and safety regulations.

Background Documents 

Evidence-Based Programs

• Healthy Child Care Colorado Evaluation Report    

Recommended Strategies

• Telling the Healthy Child Care America Story
  Making a Positive Difference in the Health of Children in Child Care," is an 8-page publication that highlights some of the many accomplishments of the program, including improving state child care regulations, establishing networks of child care health consultants, and linking families to medical homes. Read about the positive difference the Healthy Child Care America Program is making in the health and safety of children in child care programs across the nation.

Related Colorado Programs

• Healthy Child Care Colorado
• Early Childhood Colorado - Information Clearinghouse

Resources

• Healthy Child Care America