Child Care Providers
Quality child care can make all the difference in the life of a child. The staff at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department is committed to helping child care providers offer the best possible care to our community's children through a variety of programs and services.
Additional Resources
- Missouri Child Care Resource and Referral Network
- Council of Churches of the Ozarks, Child Care Resource and Referral
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Family Care Safety Registry
- Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Inc.
- Safety Council of the Ozarks
- Regulated Child Care Providers
- Family Care Safety Registry
Training and Clock Hours
We appreciate child care providers. We offer free monthly educational opportunities for child care providers and parents. Our classes provide a wide variety of information on health and safety topics. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Section on Child Care Regulation requires child care personnel to receive a minimum of 12 clock hours of training each year. Last year, we provided 169 clock hours of training to child care providers.
Registration is necessary due to limited seating. We invite child care providers in Greene and surrounding counties to call 417-864-1686 to register or to find out more information about our programs. Visit the health department calendar for class topics, dates, and times. You may also download the child care provider calendar to place in your facility.
Children's Health Promotion Programs
To make sure children's smiles are healthy, we provide free toothbrushes and supplies to child care facilities in Greene County through our "We Brush, Too!" program. We teach children about the importance of brushing their teeth in a fun and kid-friendly way, using puppets, giant toothbrushes, and story books.
We can also help you establish a toothbrushing program in your facility.
We present other child-friendly programs, such as "Organ Wise Guys" and "Spike's Poison Prevention Adventure" on-site at child care facilities to teach children to be safe and healthy.
Contact us at 417-864-1686 to set up your program today!
Child Care Health and Safety Consultation
We are committed to children in our community being safe and healthy while in child care. Consultation can be provided by our nursing staff, public health investigators, and/or epidemiology specialists on-site or in our office for child care providers and parents with health and safety questions or concerns.
Please contact Louise Bigley at 417-864-1688 with health and safety questions or concerns.
Child Care Provider Staff
- Nancy Hoeman, MSN, RN, Nurse Coordinator
Nhoeman@springfieldmo.gov | 417-864-1676
Nancy has more than 30 years of experience in nursing. She is a graduate of Burge School of Nursing and Southwest Missouri State University, and holds a master of science degree in nursing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Nancy joined the Springfield-Greene County Health Department in 2006, having spent much of her career in nursing staff development and academic nursing education. She has been a faculty member in diploma, associate degree, and baccalaureate nursing programs, including 12 years teaching community/public health nursing. Public health nursing is Nancy's favorite area of practice because of its focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and protection of the health of the community. - Tammy Phillips, BSN, RN, Public Health Nurse
tvestal@springfieldmo.gov | 417-864-1430
Tammy graduated from St. John's School of Nursing in 1995 and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2000 from the University of Missouri, St. Louis. She has worked in public health since 1997 and began working at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department in 2000. Tammy enjoys working with the community and clients that are served. - Louise Bigley, BSN, RN, Public Health Nurse
Lbigley@springfieldmo.gov | 417-864-1688
Louise is a 2001 graduate from Cox College of Nursing and Health Services with an ASN degree. She continued her education to complete her BSN from Missouri State University in 2007. Before joining the Springfield Greene County Health Department she worked eight years at the Webster County Health Unit. Louise has a passion for public health and health promotion. She greatly enjoys working in the community encouraging and empowering individuals to make positive health decisions for themselves and their families. - Ruth Brown, BSN, RN, Community Health Nurse
rbrown@springfieldmo.gov | 417-874-1217
Ruth received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Truman State University in 2003. Prior to her work at the health department, Ruth worked as a staff nurse on a Maternal Newborn Care unit in a local hospital. She enjoys her position at the Springfield-Greene County Health Department providing health education to the public.
