guide to choosing quality child carequality child...
TRANSCRIPT
FamilyConnectionsMT.org
Guide to Choosing Guide to Choosing
Quality Child CareQuality Child Care
Did you know?Did you know? 80% of the brain develops by age 3 80% of the brain develops by age 3
Quality child care matters!Quality child care matters!
Choosing a child care provider for your child is one of the most important decisions
families make. The first five years are a critical time of growth and development and
families are children’s first and most important teachers. High quality early
childhood care and education gives children the experiences they need to enter school ready to succeed while providing parents
the opportunity to work and support their families. This guide provides information, resources, and guidance to help you make
the best decision when choosing high quality child care and education programs
that meet the needs of your family.
IntroductionIntroduction
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About About
Family ConnectionsFamily Connections
Family Connections is the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency serving Regions 5 and 6 in North Central and North Eastern Montana.
Region 5 Counties: Glacier, Toole, Liberty, Pondera, Teton, Chouteau, Cascade, Judith Basin, Fergus, Petroleum Region 6 Counties: Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Daniels, Sheridan, Roosevelt, Garfield, McCone, Richland, Dawson, Prairie, Wibaux
Family Connections Services: FREE Referrals to help find child care Financial Assistance to help pay for child care Professional Development to train, mentor
and coach child care providers
Family Connections offices: Region 5: 202 2nd Ave S Suite 201
Great Falls, MT 59405 406.761.6010, 800.696.4503 Fax:406.453.8976
Region 6: 2229 5th Ave, Havre, MT 59501 406.265.6743, 800.640.6743 Fax:406.265.1312
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Steps to Choosing Steps to Choosing
Quality Child CareQuality Child Care
Start Early! Finding the best child care for your family takes time. There are many types of child care programs to meet the diverse needs of families such as Center, Family, Group, After School, Preschool, Drop-in, and Family/Friend/Neighbor Care.
When considering your child care options, look for child care programs with the following qualifications on Pages 4-5:
Best Beginnings STARS to Quality Program: A voluntary quality rating improvement system that aligns quality indicators with support and incentives for early childhood programs and professionals. This quality improvement program promotes strong early childhood
education in Montana.
Accreditation Check if the child care provider has been accredited by a national organization such as The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC).
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Licensing and Registration Requirements
Centers, Group, Family and Family/Friend/Neighbor Care are required to be licensed, registered or certified. See more information at:
dphhs.mt.gov
Provider to Child Ratios
Center: 13 or more children with ratios based on the ages of the children. Group: Two adults care for 7-12 children with a limit of 6 under 2 years. Family: Up to 6 children with no more than 3 children under 2 years . Family/Friend/Neighbor: All the children of one family or up to 2 unrelated children.
dphhs.mt.gov
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Steps to Choosing Steps to Choosing
Quality Child CareQuality Child Care
5 Steps to Finding Help with Child Care
1. Contact Family Connections about financial assistance to help pay for child care.
* Best Beginnings Child Care Scholarship dphhs.mt.gov/hcsd/ChildCare
2. Contact Family Connections for profiles of child care providers who meet your needs.
familyconnectionsmt.org
3. Check online for complaints and licensing violations for potential child care providers. http://dphhs.mt.gov/qad/Licensure/LBCCL.aspx
4. Contact potential child care providers toschedule visits to observe the programs, askquestions and check references.
5. Stay actively involved with regular visits,frequent communication and by participatingin your child’s care program.
Finding Help with Finding Help with
Child CareChild Care
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Child Care Child Care
ChecklistChecklist
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Caregivers & TeachersCaregivers & Teachers
☐☐ Develop positive relationships with childrenDevelop positive relationships with children
☐☐ Get down on child’s level when speakingGet down on child’s level when speaking
☐☐ Greet children when they arriveGreet children when they arrive
☐☐ Quickly meet child’s needs even when busyQuickly meet child’s needs even when busy
☐☐ Involved in continuing education programsInvolved in continuing education programs
☐☐ Always ready to answer questionsAlways ready to answer questions
☐☐ Update parents on child’s daily activitiesUpdate parents on child’s daily activities
☐☐ Welcome parent’s ideas and involvementWelcome parent’s ideas and involvement
☐☐ Staff and children enjoy being togetherStaff and children enjoy being together
☐☐ Meet childMeet child--toto--staff ratios for each age groupstaff ratios for each age group
ActivitiesActivities ☐ Activities are age appropriate☐ Activities are age appropriate
☐ Daily balance of play, story, and nap times☐ Daily balance of play, story, and nap times
☐ Healthy food, snacks and physical exercise☐ Healthy food, snacks and physical exercise
☐ Variety of toys & learning materials for children☐ Variety of toys & learning materials for children
SettingSetting ☐☐ Bright, clean and pleasant environmentBright, clean and pleasant environment
☐☐ Adequate space for each activityAdequate space for each activity
☐☐ Securely fenced outdoor play areaSecurely fenced outdoor play area
☐☐ Variety of safe play equipmentVariety of safe play equipment
☐☐ Play areas easily viewed by staff at all timesPlay areas easily viewed by staff at all times
☐☐ Separate areas for resting, quiet play, andSeparate areas for resting, quiet play, and
active playactive play
In GeneralIn General ☐☐ You agree with the discipline practicesYou agree with the discipline practices
☐☐ You hear the sounds of happy childrenYou hear the sounds of happy children
☐☐ Children are comforted as neededChildren are comforted as needed
☐☐ The provider is licensed and regulatedThe provider is licensed and regulated
☐☐ Surprise visits by parents are encouragedSurprise visits by parents are encouraged
Child Care Child Care
ChecklistChecklist
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This project is funded in whole or in part under a Contract with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The statements herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Department. This project was funded with 100% federal funds at a cost of $1.00 per copy.
Ask the Director and StaffAsk the Director and Staff
☐☐What is the program’s mission and philosophy?What is the program’s mission and philosophy?
☐☐ Is the program licensed and accredited?Is the program licensed and accredited?
☐☐ May I have a copy of your policies?May I have a copy of your policies?
☐☐ Do the policies include schedules and fees?Do the policies include schedules and fees?
☐☐ What is your sick child policy?What is your sick child policy?
☐☐ Do you offer any financial assistance?Do you offer any financial assistance?
☐☐ May I have a list of family references?May I have a list of family references?
☐☐ Do you have an orientation for new families?Do you have an orientation for new families?
☐☐ What are your procedures for emergencies?What are your procedures for emergencies?
☐☐ Do you practice fire drills and evacuations?Do you practice fire drills and evacuations?
☐☐ Are all staff trained in CPR and First Aid?Are all staff trained in CPR and First Aid?
☐☐ Do you Background Check ALL staff?Do you Background Check ALL staff?
☐☐ What is your system for knowing whereWhat is your system for knowing where
my child is at all times?my child is at all times?
☐☐ Do you participate in the USDA sponsoredDo you participate in the USDA sponsored
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)?Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)?
☐☐ How does the program support children’sHow does the program support children’s
Education and learning?Education and learning?
☐☐ Are children able to choose what activitiesAre children able to choose what activities
they want to do and who to play with?they want to do and who to play with?
☐☐ Do the children help plan activities?Do the children help plan activities?
☐☐ How do you accommodate children withHow do you accommodate children with
special needs?special needs?
Warning SignsWarning Signs ☐☐ All parent visits must be planned in advanceAll parent visits must be planned in advance
☐☐ There are few planned activities or guidanceThere are few planned activities or guidance
☐☐ The child care is not licensed or registeredThe child care is not licensed or registered
☐☐ There are too many children for adequateThere are too many children for adequate
care and supervisioncare and supervision
☐☐ Caregivers are physically rough, abusive orCaregivers are physically rough, abusive or
yell at the childrenyell at the children
☐☐ There are licensing deficiencies for Health andThere are licensing deficiencies for Health and
Safety requirements.Safety requirements.