Initial validation of the Health Environment Rating Scale‐Early Childhood Consultation‐Classroom (HERS‐ECC‐C)

The present study validated a newly developed easy‐to‐use observational instrument, the Health Environment Rating Scale‐Early Childhood Consultation‐Classroom version (HERS‐ECC‐C), to measure the quality of the classroom environment within early care and education centers participating in a mental health consultation program in a diverse area of the southeastern United States. Using a confirmatory factor analysis, three factors emerged capturing critical aspects of a high‐quality classroom environment and demonstrated good reliability: (1) Supportive Practices, Positive Socioemotional Practices, and Classroom Management (α = .88), (2) Health and Family Communication (α = .79), and (3) Individualizing to Children's Needs (α = .80). Criterion‐related validity was established through concurrent associations between the three HERS‐ECC‐C subscales and the domains of the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) and predictive associations with the Childcare Worker Job Stress Inventory. The HERS‐ECC‐C Supportive Practices and Health and Family Communication subscales were associated with all three CLASS domains, and the Individualizing to Children's Needs subscale was associated with the CLASS Instructional support domain. Higher HERS‐ECC‐C subscale scores were associated with lower teacher‐reported job stress. Findings provide initial evidence to support the use and continued development of the HERS‐ECC‐C as a tool to evaluate programs and classrooms engaged in mental health consultation professional development interventions. Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Studie wurde ein neu entwickeltes, einfach zu handhabendes Beobachtungsinstrument, die „Health Environment Rating Scale‐Early Childhood Consultation‐Classroom“ (HERS‐ECC‐C), validiert. Mit der Skala wurde die Qualität des Kita‐Umfelds in Einrichtungen eines vielfältigen Gebiets im Südosten der Vereinigten Staaten gemessen, die an einem Beratungsprogramm zur psychischen Gesundheit teilnehmen. Mit Hilfe einer konfirmatorischen Faktorenanalyse wurden drei Faktoren ermittelt, die kritische Aspekte eines qualitativ hochwertigen Kita‐Umfelds erfassen und eine gute Reliabilität aufweisen: (1) Unterstützende Praxis, positive sozioemotionale Praxis und Gruppenmanagement (α = ,88), (2) Gesundheit und familiäre Kommunikation (α = ,79) und (3) Anpassung an die Bedürfnisse der Kinder (α = ,80). Die kriteriumsbezogene Validität wurde durch übereinstimmende Assoziationen zwischen den drei HERS‐ECC‐C‐Subskalen und de