Health Training

Importance of a quality health training
A quality health training program for providers is critical to ensure a healthy environment for children in child care. Providers recognize the importance of quality training. Finding a trainer who understands the needs of child care and what the components to include in a health training can be a challenge.

Components to look for in a health training
The class should cover, at a minimum, the following subjects:

1. How germs/illnesses are spread
2. Signs and symptoms of illness
3. How to conduct a health observation/check
4. When to exclude/include children due to illness
5. The importance of health policies and procedures
6. Reducing the transmission of disease (handwashing, diapering, cleaning/sanitizing/disinfecting of surfaces and toys)
7. Common childhood illnesses
8. Immunizations
9. Standard precautions

Health training as part of child care licensing requirements
The Minimum Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers for Virginia require health observation training for at least one care giver on duty at least every three years.  The Minimum Standards for Family Day Homes state that care givers shall obtain a minimum of six hours of training annually in areas such as health and safety in the family day home environment, nutrition, child abuse detection and prevention, or recognition and prevention of the spread of communicable diseases.  This is important because a comprehensive and continuing health training program for child care staff protects against:

• spread of infection,
• community disease outbreaks, and
• absenteeism from work for both parents and staff

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