CRAwl (Child Care Ready for All) launched July 1, 2021 as a nurse-led program to promote inclusivity for children with significant healthcare needs. It provides free training for childcare program workers when caring for children with significant healthcare needs. This new program is also a resource for parents and guardians to identify child care centers ready and able to care for children with significant healthcare needs. Launched in partnership with the University of South Carolina College of Nursing and the South Carolina Child Care Inclusion Collaborative, CRAwl’s mission is to make child care centers more inclusive for children with special healthcare needs and to connect parents with these resources.
CRAwl offers readiness training and support to parents and child care providers for:
- Cardiac conditions (congenital heart defects)
- Respiratory conditions (Cystic Fibrosis and Asthma)
- Respiratory inhalers & nebulizers
- Allergic reactions & Epinephrine pen use
- G-tubes
- Colostomies
- Urinary catheters
- Seizure disorders
- Sickle cell anemia
- Hemophilia
- Neuromuscular conditions (Cerebral Palsy, Dystrophies, Hydrocephaly, VP shunts)
- Diabetes
Enrolling in CRAwl, Childcare Ready for All, ensures a child with a significant healthcare need receives appropriate care in a childcare setting. Here is how you can get started:
- Contact crawlscchildcare@gmail.com to get started.
- The team will reach out to assess the needs of the child in a child care setting.
- Child care providers working with the child will receive access to online training modules for the specific healthcare need.
- An in-person visit with the child care provider will be arranged to practice hands-on skills.
- A follow-up virtual visit to help with troubleshooting & questions will be arranged.
CRAwl module development and pilot project is funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Preschool Development Grant Birth-5. The modules were created in partnership with the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, Child Care inclusion Collaborative, Department of Social Services to help caregivers for children with special needs.