Provider Requirements & What to look for in a childcare provider?

Stacked Intent

• Brief Summary of objectives (3):
  • OBJECTIVE 1: Identifying the essentials for a provider.
  • OBJECTIVE 2: Discussing facility requirements.
  • OBJECTIVE 3: Understanding how to operate a program.

• Topic 1: Training, Accreditations and Affiliations

• Point 1 Training - DECAL requires 10 continuing education hours per year. Those trainings are in infant care, physical development, nutrition, class behavior and lesson plans just to name a few. The training focuses on child development in early childhood to after school age children. The provider chooses the best topic that’s specific to their program and specific needs. First Aid/CPR/AED training every 2 years depending on the provider. American Heart Association and Red Cross Require 2-year recertification. There is also a criminal background component that checks nationally and that is done through the licensing agency, DECAL (https://www.decal.ga.gov/ ). As a parent, be sure to ask about their training and ask to see them. If the provider is offended, that may not be the right childcare provider for you. Also, look on the state licensing website to see their latest licensing visit. Do your homework and ask other parents. It’s okay to ask for references too. A parent should ask about First Aid/CPR Training (Why would it be important for parents to ask if a childcare facility has a FA/CPR training?) and the parent needs CPR training too. Things happen at home as well as at daycare. (Would you say this helps a family be more prepared within their home for an emergency situation)

• Point 2 Georgia has rolled out some incentivized accreditations/certifications. Quality Rated is a credentialing tool used by DECAL to access the quality level of each childcare facility. There are grants available to assist childcare facilities in obtaining Quality Rated status. There are three different tiers in becoming Quality Rated. There are different perks available for each level. The best benefit to a provider being Quality Rated is knowing that the program has been evaluated and research-based learning standards are being used. Another benefit is the state childcare tuition assistance for families. Georgia has a Child and Parent Services Program in which it supplements childcare fees for parents that qualify. For a facility to be reimbursed by CAPS, the facility must have a Quality Rating Score. Depending on the tier, the facility will be reimbursed at a higher rate. This is a win for the provider and the parent. Parents can ask if the provider takes CAPS.

• As a parent why is it important that a childcare center is continuing certifications and staying on top of their accreditations?

• Point 3 Being affiliated with local and state childcare groups is helpful and important. I would strongly recommend joining a childcare resource and referral agency. This agency provides training and support mostly free or at a very discounted rate. The agency hosts conferences to help providers obtain their continuing education units, offer grants for supplies and much more. If you are located in Georgia, the local UGA Extension has resources for your training. ServSafe® certification for those larger childcare facilities is a certification you can seek to receive from a UGA Extension Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Agent. I would recommend joining NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children - https://www.naeyc.org/ ) and if you are in Georgia when you join you are automatically joining GAEYC, which is the Georgia affiliate. Bot

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