Title

High Quality Family Child Care Programs: From a Federal Crusade to a Fifty State Reality

Author

Marie E. Grayson-George, Concordia University, St. Paul

Date of Award

2003

Document Type

Non Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Education

Department

Education

Program

Early Childhood Education

Capstone Instructor

Carmen Cook

Second Reader

Nedra Robinson

Keywords

family child care providers, quality of care, standards, regulations

Abstract

The demand for child care in the United States is increasing each year. The National Association for Family Child Care estimates there are 1 million family child care providers caring for 4 million children all across America. Currently, there are no federally mandated regulations for licensing and regulating family child care. In most states, regulations and licensing procedures for family child care are minimal. Regulatory agencies are under staffed, under funded and rarely provide any training for their licensing staff. One research study after another concludes there is a definite link between quality care and positive developmental outcomes for young children. With societal changes, increasing divorce rate, a mobile workforce and a global economy the demand for child care will continue to rise. The time has come for the federal government to address the issue of family child care quality.

The literature review contains information addressing quality in early childhood programs and the current state of family child care programs in general. The final project includes standardized definitions and recommendations for establishing certification standards to improve the quality of family child care and a system to ensure these standards are met. The project also includes recommendations for training programs for staff and home monitors; training programs for family child care providers, Child Development Associate (CDA) mentoring and promoting accreditation. These provisions are designed for use by the federal government to improve the quality of family child care in each of the 50 states.

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