Charles R Feild MD, MPH, FAAP
Little Rock, Arkansas

A pediatrician involved in child care can communicate to staff, parents, and the community that a program should be more than just custodial day care; that children are individuals who have unique developmental, behavioral, emotional, and health needs, and that child care is a key part of the continuum of the delivery of those services. Also, by offering their professional support for either the concept, or a specific program, a pediatrician can emphasize the importance of child care to the entire community, and be a challenge to the community to provide other resources.

Dr Feild has been able, with investigators from the University and the Children's Hospital, to coordinate a model of case management in a Head Start program that improved case findings and outcomes in children with asthma called "Child and Family First."

Valerie Sussman MD, FAAP
Ventura, California

Dr Sussman's involvement has been rewarding in several ways-- knowing that her input can make a difference in several childrens' health and welfare, being able to educate others (i.e. childcare providers) who have direct contact with children, and having the opportunity to be exposed to other professionals (dieticians, child care educators, nurses, child psychologists, etc) and being on the advisory committee.

Dr Sussman's involvement in this committee has reinforced for her the need for pediatric input in child care, as there are many questions that come up on an ongoing basis that require some expertise and experience, such as infectious disease questions, screening recommendations, need for referrals, etc. She feels that one's level of involvement in child care issues can be very rewarding and yet doesn't require a huge time commitment. One can devote as much (or as little time) as desired. In addition, there are wonderful references available, particularly "Caring for Our Children" and of course, the Red Book!

She feels that because of ongoing questions and concerns that are constantly arising in the child care environment, pediatric input is extremely valuable.

Laura Jana MD, FAAP
Omaha, Nebraska

Dr Jana is actively involved in many areas of early education and child care and early literacy. She is a member of the AAP's Early Education and Child Care Steering Committee, the Center for Child Health Research Consortium, and a media spokesperson for the AAP. She has a longstanding interest and involvement in early childhood efforts pertaining to early literacy, injury prevention, behavior and development, parental counseling and health communication. She is also the owner/operator of the Primrose School of Legacy - an educational child care center located in West Omaha and a member of the Lluminari Expert Network. Her book, Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality has recently been published at the AAP. And....she still manages to practice general pediatrics part-time.

David W. Willis MD, FAAP
Portland, Oregon

As a result of a Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) grant of 2000, during which Dr Willis explored the possible connections between child care and pediatricians, he has continued to expand new ways for child care-pediatric collaborations and is currently working with two large neighborhood child care centers that include large networks of family-based childcare providers for multi-cultural, poor families. He and his staff have built trusting relationships with the center-based and child care network staff and will be bringing "anticipatory guidance" messaging quarterly to ongoing child care provider/parent gatherings. They plan to pair health and safety and infectious disease information with developmental/social-emotional prevention messages. Thereafter, they will provide consultation during child care provider staff meetings regarding challenging children, families, and child care. It is planned that this model will be expanded through the AAP Oregon Chapter to other pediatricians and child care programs with initial support from our Oregon Commission for Children, Families and Communities. For further information, contact Dr Willis at dwwillis@nweci.org or 503-672-7857.

Seth Scholer MD, FAAP
Nashville, Tennessee

Hurtful childhood behavior is consistently reported as a concern of child care workers, preschool teachers, and parents. From a public health perspective, it has become increasingly clear that one of the strongest risk factors for violence later in life is persistent early childhood aggression. Dr Scholer and his colleagues have worked with local preschool teachers in Nashville, Tennessee to develop a multimedia intervention, Play Nicely (see www.playnicely.org) that increases comfort level and knowledge of how to manage hurtful behavior/aggression in young children. Dr Scholer would be very pleased to collaborate with others in pediatrics or early education and child care to further test the efficacy of the program. You can contact Dr Scholer at seth.scholer@vanderbilt.edu. Research articles that have resulted from collaborative work include:

Scholer SJ, Goad S. Feedback on a multimedia violence prevention program. Clinical Pediatrics. 2003 Nov-Dec;42(9):789-96.

Scholer SJ, Reich SM, Boshers RB, Bickman L. A Multimedia Violence Prevention Program Increases Pediatric Residents and Childcare Providers' Knowledge About Responding to Childhood Aggression.
Clinical Pediatrics. June 2005; 44(5); 413-418.