Selecting & Evaluating Quality Child Care

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Selecting Evaluating Quality Child Care

• Emory WorkLife Resource Center
• Presented By
• Audrey Adelson
• Dependent Care Program Specialist
• Mary Brown
• President, BrownRichards Associates

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Todays Presenters

• Audrey Adelson
• Dependent Care Program Specialist

• Mary Brown
• Brown Richards Associates

• Founder President of Brown Richards
  Associates (1971)
• Educated at St. Josephs College Boston College
  School of Social Work
• Professional background in mental health, child
  elder care.
• Worklife clients include Emory, Harvard, CHOA,
  Alston Bird, King Spalding
• Participation in almost all of the corporate
  sponsored child care centers in Atlanta including
  The Clifton Schools
• Recently - FIO 360
• Member of NAEYC
• Parent

• BS and MSW from Florida State University
• Worklife dependent care programming for Emory
  
• Professional background in mental health,
  management development, worklife employee
  assistance consulting and training
• Has worked in both clinical and corporate
  settings helping people improve worklife balance
  and productivity
• Clients have included Fortune 500 and
  Professional Athletic Associations
• Parent

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Objectives

• Discuss the different types of child care and
  assist you in deciding which options work best
  for you
• Educate you on the essentials of quality child
  care
• Offer suggestions on what to do when you cannot
  find availability
• Acquaint you with resources and programs
  available to help Emory employees with issues of
  child care

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Steps in Choosing Quality Childcare
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The Child Care Trilemma
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Educate YourselfTypes of Child Care

• In-Home Caregivers (Au Pair or Nanny)
• Family Day Care Providers
• Child Care Centers
• Family or Friend
• Pre-Kindergarten (Pre-K)
• Parents Morning Out (PMO)
• Before After-School Care
• Back-Up / Drop-In Care
• Babysitting

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Average Costs in Metro AtlantaDollars Per Week
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Finding In-Home Caregivers

• Using an Agency

• Doing it Yourself

• Allow Time
• State Licensed
• Fees Services
• Employee
• Screening
• Recruiting
• Guarantee
• Taxes

• Allow Time
• Advertise
• Phone/Email Screen
• Interview
• References
• Background Check
• Your Comp Plan
• Clear Expectations
• Performance Review
• Taxes

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Family Day Care Providers

• Registered by the state (often less stringent)
• Smaller groups of children (3-6) in caregiver
  home
• More flexible than center care
• Policies are set by caregiver
• Usually only one caregiver
• More 1 to 1 time
• Often mixed age groups
• Discuss back-up plan

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Child Care Centers

• Licensed by state (minimum)
• Larger number of children (19)
• Structured environment curriculum
• Supervision
• Many caregivers
• Variety of daily activities experiences
• Socialization
• Less 1 to 1 time
• Decreased flexibility

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Key Indicators of Quality Center Care

• Low Staff Child Ratios
• Small Group Size
• Ongoing Training of Staff

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Essentials Center Director

• Qualifications
• Strong working knowledge of employment
  compliance laws, child development, developing
  policies procedures, curriculum
• Well organized
• Good management skills
• Excellent leadership abilities communication
  skills
• Involves parents community
• Open, honest, flexible creative
• Warm and empathetic
• Loves children with patient and firm demeanor

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Essentials Staff

• GBI fingerprints background check
• Education levels and background vary
• Genuine love of children
• Good written verbal communication skills
• Turnover (national average is 40-60)
• Respect for children, parents and each other

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Child Care Center Teacher Child Ratios
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Essentials Center Safety

• Safety Policies Procedures
• Emergency Planning
• Medication Sick Policies
• Security
• Behavioral Issues
• Special Needs

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Essentials Center Staff Training
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Essentials Center Environment

• Play Areas
• Nap Time
• Eating Space
• Cleanliness
• Toys
• Classroom Organization

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Learning Experience
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Communication
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Parent Involvement
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Bright from the Start

• Administers Georgias Pre-K Program
• Licensing and monitoring center-based and
  home-based child care facilities
• Centers of Distinction Center of Recognition
• Homes of Quality Program
• Oversees federal child food program
• Implements Standards of Care and Family Homes of
  Quality
• Head Start Collaboration Office
• Funding and partnering with local level RR for
  child care

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Accreditation
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No Vacancies Now What?

• Waiting lists
• Go back to the child care referral directory
• Consider alternative providers
• Consider alternative work routes
• Networking options
• Temporary plan
• Creativity
• Consider alternative work arrangements

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Your Role as a Parent

• Evaluation should be ongoing
• Build a relationship with your provider
• Communicate positive and negative feedback
• Be respectful of all child care providers
• Suggest solutions to problems
• Take action immediately when safety is an issue

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Financial Resources to Help Pay for Child Care
Expenses
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Resources Referrals for Emory Employees and
Dependents

• Work-Life Resource Center
• Emory Benefit Department
• Dependent Care Resource Referral (Brown
  Richards)
• FSAP
• Bright from the Start
• NAEYC NAFCC
• Head Start
• Georgia Pre-K
• Operation Military Child Care (OMCC)
• Internal Revenue Service (Tax Credits)
• Easter Seals

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Weighing your Decision