The Healthy Child Care America (HCCA) program is coordinated by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Early Education and Child Care Initiatives (the Section on Early Education and Child Care) , and is partly funded by the Child Care Bureau (CCB), Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, HRSA, US Department of Health & Human Services.The HCCA program is a collaborative effort of health professionals and child care providers working to improve the early education and health and safety of children in out-of-home child care. This includes increasing access to preventive health services, safe physical environments, and a medical home for all children. The program also strives to increase pediatrician participation and effectiveness in providing high-quality care and promoting early education and children’s health and well-being.

HCCA Goals is To promote the healthy development and school readiness of children in early education and child care by strengthening partnerships between health and child care professionals.To provide information and support necessary to strengthen childrens access to health services.To promote the cognitive, social and physical development of children in early education and child care.To provide technical assistance regarding health and safety for health professionals and the early childhood community.To enhance the quality of early education and child care with health and safety resources.To support the needs of health professionals interested in promoting healthy and safe early education and child care programs.The AAP Early Education and Child Care Initiatives occasionally receives additional funding to carry out special projects.

For more information, please visit http://www.healthychildcare.org