While perusing the Zero to Three website, I came upon the Child Care tab. This lead me to several topics including an article, "Choosing Quality Childcare", that conveyed the hallmarks of a quality infant-toddler program. Among these qualities were caregivers that "are loving and responsive", respectful of the baby's individual identity, provide a stimulating and developmentally appropriate environment. Additionally, the article mentioned accreditation by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies as a desirable trait of a child care program (Zerotothree.org). I followed the link to the NACCRRA home page. On that home page, I clicked on a link to an article titled, "Parents and the High Cost of Childcare: 2011 Update".
In the article, "Parents and the High Cost of Childcare: 2011 Update", the author asserts that the price tag for high quality childcare programs that emphasize health, safety and school readiness is out of reach for many parents during this tough economic time. This results in parents removing their children from high quality center based or family childcare programs to informal, unlicensed programs where caregivers are less likely to have had training in health, safety or child development, usually have not been cleared via a background check, and less likely to engage in activities that promote school readiness. It is also noted in the article that higher academic achievement levels among children of all income levels is associated with the attendance of a high quality early childhood program up to ten years after the child has left the childcare setting. Some of the recommendations made by the article include a call for the Department of Health and Human Services to define and make public "minimum quality acceptable childcare for children from low income families". Additionally, the author requests that the National Academy of Sciences study the actual cost of childcare so that recommendations can be made to Congress for ways to make quality care affordable to all. The author also calls for the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant with new, more stringent staff training requirements, mandatory background checks and quarterly site inspections built within the program (www.naccrra.org).
I enjoyed searching through the policy briefs and recommendations in the Public Policy tab to see what is being done by Zero to Three representatives to improve the lives of those between birth and three years of age. I learned additional information about the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Title I and how they can help improve the quality and affordability of childcare.
www.naccrra.org
www.zerotothree.org
In the article, "Parents and the High Cost of Childcare: 2011 Update", the author asserts that the price tag for high quality childcare programs that emphasize health, safety and school readiness is out of reach for many parents during this tough economic time. This results in parents removing their children from high quality center based or family childcare programs to informal, unlicensed programs where caregivers are less likely to have had training in health, safety or child development, usually have not been cleared via a background check, and less likely to engage in activities that promote school readiness. It is also noted in the article that higher academic achievement levels among children of all income levels is associated with the attendance of a high quality early childhood program up to ten years after the child has left the childcare setting. Some of the recommendations made by the article include a call for the Department of Health and Human Services to define and make public "minimum quality acceptable childcare for children from low income families". Additionally, the author requests that the National Academy of Sciences study the actual cost of childcare so that recommendations can be made to Congress for ways to make quality care affordable to all. The author also calls for the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant with new, more stringent staff training requirements, mandatory background checks and quarterly site inspections built within the program (www.naccrra.org).
I enjoyed searching through the policy briefs and recommendations in the Public Policy tab to see what is being done by Zero to Three representatives to improve the lives of those between birth and three years of age. I learned additional information about the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Title I and how they can help improve the quality and affordability of childcare.
www.naccrra.org
www.zerotothree.org
Careyann,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately high child care costs force parents To remove their children from high quality programs to informal, to unlicensed programs where quality eduaction is not provided. The author is calling and requesting great things to improve the quality of education and make quality care affordable to many families. As professionals, it is our duty to also keep advocate for children to get quality education, thanks for sharing.
It is very unfortunate that parents must face such hard decisions such as moving their child out of high quality care because of the strain it causes financially. I would be very interested to see what kind of results the Academy of Science finds if they conduct such a study!!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Careyann,
ReplyDeleteVery informative post! It reminds me of my parents who are going through the crisis of finding an affordable and high quality child care for their children. It is very difficult to find an affordable and high quality child care today because of the budget cuts and child care entrance standards.
I think that it is sad for a parent to have to consider removing their child from a quality childcare facility to one that is of less quality based on affordability. Parents realize that they must work but the cost of daycare is way over their limits are being able to afford the best care for their child. Parents shouldn't have to make such decisions putting not only the child's education at risk but also the child's health and safety is at risk as well.
ReplyDelete