At Healthy Child Care Colorado, we believe every child deserves safe, supportive, and healthy environments to learn and grow. For decades, Child Care Health Consultants (CCHCs) have played a pivotal role in advancing this mission. In this post, we highlight the impact of this critical role by elevating the voices of Susan Jager, a passionate CCHC, and Amy Anneberg Klein, a parent whose personal journey underscores the value of expert health guidance in child care settings.
A Lifetime of Service: Susan’s Journey
Susan Jager has spent 19 years as a Child Care Health Consultant at Bal Swan Children’s Center in Broomfield, Colorado. Her work is built on a deep passion for community health, and her career began in settings like migrant education schools and Head Start centers. Susan explained, “My focus has always been on ensuring every child is in a safe and healthy environment.”
In her role at Bal Swan Children’s Center, Susan collaborates closely with staff and families to develop comprehensive healthcare plans, especially for children with special needs. As she puts it, “We’re there to be the eyes and ears, collaborating with staff to spot issues they might not see and helping everyone work together to keep children safe.” By offering expert guidance, she collaborates with staff to create an environment where every child’s health concerns are met with proactive and informed care.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Susan’s role evolved to meet unprecedented challenges. With in-person meetings limited, she quickly adapted by offering virtual consultations and training sessions. She noted, “We learned a lot about making virtual work while keeping our focus on health and safety.” Her ability to connect digitally ensured that both the child care center and the broader community could navigate these uncertain times without losing the personal touch of expert care. Susan also highlighted the importance of strong partnerships with local public health departments, which helped address concerns and develop effective policies and procedures in response to the ongoing pandemic.
Susan’s Message to Policy Makers
Susan believes that policymakers and community leaders must recognize that the work of Child Care Health Consultants goes far beyond routine tasks. “Our role is about forming critical partnerships with child care centers to enhance health and safety across the board,” she shared. “We provide the perspective and expertise necessary to identify potential issues before they become problems, and our collaborative efforts ensure that every child, family, and staff member is protected.” She emphasizes that supporting organizations like Healthy Child Care Colorado is essential for the well-being of children and for strengthening our entire community. “I want decision-makers to recognize the value of having a centralized agency that offers continuous support and training to our health consultants,” she explained. “This elevates our programs and ultimately creates a safer environment for our children.”
A Parent’s Perspective: Amy’s Story
Amy Anneberg Klein, a parent whose son Collin previously attended Bal Swan Children’s Center, shared how her family’s experience with severe food allergies transformed their approach to child care. Her journey began when her oldest son had his first anaphylactic reaction at just 11 months old. “We discovered his allergy to peanuts first, and soon after, sesame, hazelnuts, and even banana,” Amy recalled. One reaction to pineapple was so serious that it required an epinephrine shot and a trip to the emergency room.
Faced with these challenges, Amy’s family had to learn quickly how to manage food allergies. “We cleaned out our entire kitchen and called every food manufacturer we could, trying to understand what was safe,” she explained. When it was time to send her son to preschool during the midst of COVID-19, the uncertainty of a new environment added to her worries. Susan began meeting with Amy long before her son started attending Bal Swan. They worked together on plans to ensure that his teachers were prepared and comfortable managing his allergies. “It was really reassuring to have someone (Susan) who was more cautious and proactive than we might have been on our own,” Amy said.
Amy emphasized that having a knowledgeable CCHC involved in early education makes all the difference. She believes that a strong partnership between parents, educators, and health professionals is key to creating an environment where every child can thrive. “If we don’t start early and create an environment where all children can be healthy and succeed, we won’t ever close the gap,” she shared.
Working Together for a Healthier Future
Both Susan and Amy’s experiences highlight a simple but important truth: CCHCs make it possible for all children and families, including those with special healthcare and developmental needs, to have access to and thrive in child care settings. CCHCs can form strong relationships with families and provide expertise, and support that meet families and educator where they are. Susan’s decades of experience as a CCHC and her ability to adapt to challenges like COVID-19 and the unique needs of young children demonstrate that community support is essential to ensure that every child has access to a safe and healthy environment where they can learn and grow.
At Healthy Child Care Colorado, we support the network of CCHCs by promoting best practices, offering professional development opportunities, providing technical assistance, and advocating for supports that lead to inclusion. We strengthen connections among CCHCs, provide essential resources, shape policies, and promote practices that support CCHC and ultimately enable children, families, and programs to thrive.
“Child Care Health Consultants guide programs and families through health and safety challenges with practical solutions and compassionate support. At Healthy Child Care Colorado, we are proud to champion their invaluable work, providing training and resources that empower CCHCs to strengthen communities and create environments where every child can thrive.” – Theresa Rapstine, MS, RN – Child Care Health Consultation Coordinator
Together, we can build a healthier future for every child. Behind every successful early childhood program there are dedicated professionals and caring families working side by side for healthy kids.
To learn more about our advocacy work and how we’re shaping policies to support early childhood health, visit our blog post on SB25‑017: Measures to Support Early Childhood Health