OUTREACH
Smart Start
Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) are health professionals who know about child health, child development, and health and safety in child care settings. CCHCs and the child care staff work together to promote healthy and safe environments for young children.
Child Care Health Consultants have expert information, resources, and referrals to offer. Through onsite and telephone consultation, health education and technical assistance CCHCs work with individual child care facilities to help create environments that best support the healthy growth and development of young children. CCHCs partner with child care providers to:
Assess the health and safety needs and practices in the child care facility.
Develop strategies for inclusion of children with special care needs.
Establish and review health policies and procedures.
Manage and prevent injuries and infectious diseases.
Connect families with community health resources.
Provide health education for staff members, families and children.
Child Care Health Consultants interpret NC Child Care Rules and the National Health and Safety Performance Standards to provide guidance to child care programs. They are not responsible for regulating child care facilities.
For more information, please call 828-587-8275.
Child Safety Seat Program
The Jackson County Department of Public Health has Child Passenger Safety Technicians on staff. Car seat education classes and child safety seats are available at the health department to JCDPH Program clients. Car seat education classes are provided by appointment only, with a JCDPH Program referral to the Car Seat Program; the 3rd Thursday of each month. Spanish Classes are also available by appointment. Clients are encouraged to bring their car seat, if they have one, to the education class.
Child passenger safety seats available at the health department include:
Convertible seat: rear or forward facing for infants and children 5 lbs- 50 lbs
Combination seat: forward facing for children 30 lbs- 100 lbs
High-back booster seat: for children 40 lbs- 120 lbs
Note: we do not stock infant carrier car seats.
At this time, car seat checks can be provided at Balsam Fire Department at 828-586-3756 or Cashiers Fire Department at 828-743-9544. The goal is to have all local fire departments perform car seat checks by December 2023.
For questions or an unanticipated need, please contact Martha Thomasson at 828-587-8257.
Jackson County Department of Public Health participates in the Child Passenger Safety Diversion Program. It officially launched on January 1, 2014. The goal of the CPS Diversion Program is to increase enforcement which will lead to greater compliance and safer conditions for child passengers in our community. By participating in the Diversion Program, those persons cited for not complying with the law will receive education and procure the appropriate seat for their child. The participants in the program will be required to purchase their own child car safety seat and in turn the certified CPS Technicians they meet with during diversion will give them personal instruction on how to keep their child safe and utilize the child car safety seat correctly. In some cases child car safety seats will be available to be purchased at a reduced cost for those who qualify. Upon completion of the program, participants are to produce proof to the court provided to them at the time of diversion which will in turn allow the District Attorney to enter a dismissal. This Diversion Program is a partnership between the Office of the District Attorney, state and local law enforcement, OFSM (Office of the State Fire Marshall), Jackson County Department of Public Health, Jackson County Social Services, Jackson County Public Schools, Jackson County Emergency Management, and Safe Kids Jackson County.