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Thank you, Exchange for the great article on family child care. I have been a family provider since 1993. I am also the president of a local area family child network. I have seen great improvements in my field. Family providers are professionals, you have to believe in your self in order for other to believe in you. Treat your self with respect and speak up for family child care providers. I have come along way since I started watching children. From a young mom with two small children that wanted to stay home with them and be there for them and my great spouse, who has supported me along the way,to going back to college, and winning two national awards. So,I say to family provider step out of your box and see how far you can go.

What a wonderful write up for the National Association of Family Child Care.
A former family Child Care Provider for over twenty years, and a past Board Member of NAFCC I know the struggle for family child care providers being accepted as Professionals in the early child care field. We have come along way but, we must show society through education, accreditation and providing quality care that we are here to stay.
I was first introduced to NAFCC under the watch of Barbara Taylor as President however, it was Barbara Sawyer who encouraged me to become an active part of NAFCC and Chris Cross who continued to encourage me.
I want to thank you Exchange Every Day for such a wonderful article and recogining family child care professional.

NAFCC has many wonderful contributions to its members and to the field of Early Childhood Education...
I have been working with young children and their families for over 11 years. I am currently the President of SMAEYC, a CA Early Childhood Mentor to aspiring early childhood professionals and an ECE graduate student.
I was formerly a NAFCC accredited program and have been going through much turmoil with NAFCC's re-accreditation process. It has not been as "seemless" as NAFCC states.
One of the main reasons preschool teachers and providers are viewed as babysitters is because they babysit. I understand the fact that many providers and preschool teachers have to "moonlight" to earn enough money to make ends meet, but this is extremely damaging when we struggle for professionalism.
Stating that family child care providers offer "flexible" hours is a huge problem. Providers already work longer hours than center based care givers.There is no lunch hour and breaks away from the children. Working "flexible" hours obviously benefits the working parents/guardians, but we all know that providers are not getting paid or treated any better for doing so.
I ask you, why are we perceived as babysitters and not "real" teachers? Another example... A NAFCC representative contacted me to schedule my re-accreditation observer visit on Independence Day. Maybe I am incorrect, but don't all teachers in the United States of America observe the 4th of July as a non-working holiday?
I am highly offended that the national accreditation organization I am a member of does not respect me as a professional. Am I not a professional who deserves holidays, vacations, and family leave?
I am a strong advocate for young children and their familes, but even more so for the ECE teachers. Providers may want to consider operating with "set" hours and a Monday through Friday schedule, observing national holidays, taking vacations and breaks... all while being paid to do so. Do we not all have contractual agreements with our clients? If we exude professionalism, our clients will appreciate it and our field will benefit from it.

As a licensed family child care provider for 31 plus years, family child care has truly come a long way. I have had the privilege of being an active NAFCC member for 20 years. NAFCC Accreditation Process launched in 1988 is truly a gift to our profession.
thank you Exchange for a wonderful article, recognizing the profession of family child care.

Although I'm not a founding member of NAFCC, I, too, have been involved for 20 years. NAFCC has had a deep impact on my life both personally and professionally. It's also helped to bring family child care to the forefront of the field and continues to build respect and recognition for the field. Without partnerships such as those with Exchange this wouldn't be possible. Thanks, not just for a wonderful article, but for valuing family child care as an important part of the early childhood field.

I want to thank Exchange Every Day for the article. Your daily articles are what I read first when I arrive at the office. It keeps me motivated. I should have said in my last comment that the Northwest Child Care Resource and Referral serves 9 counties and assists family child care providers/professionals but our state network covers all 95 counties and has the same goals. In another words, Tennessee has assistance for Child Care Providers in all its 95 counties. Our agency serves 9 of those 95.

I became a family child care provider in 1976. We have come so far and would not have been possible without NAFCC. I was only 19 years old when i started keeping children in my home. i felt very isolated and no one to turn to. i started getting the help i needed to provide quality care when NAFCC began. i traveled to a NAFCC in Minneapolis in the 1990's and it was an experience i will never forget. that is where i purchased the poster of the definition of a "child care provider". i still have it and use it in my present work at Northwest Tennessee Child Care Resource and Referral. After being a child care provider for 26 years, i retired. But i found CCRR and am now able to help Family Child Care providers in the 9 counties we serve in the state of Tennessee. Elaine Piper is my mentor. when i was child care family provider and alone and felt isolated, one of the highlights of my day was going to the mailbox with the children. many times there was the NAFCC newsletter and i would read it front to back and back to front. it was one of the things that got me through the days of what i was trying to provide to children way back then! Hats off to your 25th year. i am still a member of this wonderful organization.

Having been involved with NAFCC for 20 of those 25 years, I can only say that we have come a long, long way and yet, Suzanne is right - we still have challenges to face. We who cherish and value the profession will continue to work for the continued professionalizing of the field through support, training and accreditation. Thanks for a great ExchangeEveryDay article!