The Challenges of Family Child Care

09/26/2006

The Challenges of Family Child Care

If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be enthusiasm.
Bruce Barton

In a study of family child care providers, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (www.iwpr.org) has found that family child care providers face isolation, low earnings, and lack of training. Their report, “In Our Backyards: Local and State Strategies to Improve the Quality of Family Child Care,” observes that the care provided by family child care providers for 1.4 million children is inconsistent in quality. Among the recommendations of the researchers are developing community mentoring programs, conducting needs assessments to determine gaps in service, creating a single entry point from which providers can access services and resources, and linking compensation to professional development, and developing higher standards.

The concerns addressed in the study, as well as many of the recommendations are actively being addressed by Exchange Strategic Partner, the National Family Child Care Association. To learn more about this association and other Exchange Strategic Partners, go to www.childcareexchange.com/ece_orgs/ex_partners.php#41

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