Are You NAFCC Accredited? Why Or Why Not?

[DaisyMamma]

I'm not sure what the benefit is of the accreditation?

[nannyde]

No

I don't see any monetary value in this accreditation. If I could increase rates based on obtaining the accreditation I would gladly do it. The market I serve would not pay for this nor would they decide to access my services based upon it.

[Blackcat31]

In my state, you are paid a higher rate for families on state paid assistance if you are accredited.

Some states that use a star rating system give more stars if you are accredited.

For some being accredited means they have had to pass a strict set of rules and guidelines that says they are a more quality care program than others but IMHO, it is not always a guarantee that a program is any better than one that is not accredited. I don't know for sure how each state works though.

You will have to check your states rules to see if it is beneficial to be accredited.

[nannyde]

In my state, you are paid a higher rate for families on state paid assistance if you are accredited.

Some states that use a star rating system give more stars if you are accredited.

For some being accredited means they have had to pass a strict set of rules and guidelines that says they are a more quality care program than others but IMHO, it is not always a guarantee that a program is any better than one that is not accredited. I don't know for sure how each state works though.

You will have to check your states rules to see if it is beneficial to be accredited.

My state doesn't increase the rates for any kind of education or accreditation. You can be a new 18 year old with no experience, a GED and get the same as a licensed teacher with a four year degree, 20 years experience, five star quality rating, and NAFCC accreditation. All the same to them.

[DaisyMamma]

Nanny, I believe it's the same here. But hopefully parents are a little smarter than that. I'm thinking the accreditation is about $ for the accredator and also requires a lot of time. I might, however, do the CDA. Does anyone have this? I have a BA (in Graphic Arts) and 15 years experience but my license is only 3 months old, so I feel like a CDA would be good for me.

I'm wondering, can you do a membership to nafcc just to get their newsletters and such? Is there worthwhile info?

[mismatchedsocks]

Here we get a 10% rate increase for being accredited. In January goes to 25%. I did it for myself, but this is an added bonus. With the 10% increase I have already gotten back what I paid to become accredited. I am the only accredited and 5 star family provider in my city, and have a long waiting list.

[Blackcat31]

My state doesn't increase the rates for any kind of education or accreditation. You can be a new 18 year old with no experience, a GED and get the same as a licensed teacher with a four year degree, 20 years experience, five star quality rating, and NAFCC accreditation. All the same to them.

Nanny, I believe it's the same here. But hopefully parents are a little smarter than that. I'm thinking the accreditation is about $ for the accredator and also requires a lot of time. I might, however, do the CDA. Does anyone have this? I have a BA (in Graphic Arts) and 15 years experience but my license is only 3 months old, so I feel like a CDA would be good for me.

I'm wondering, can you do a membership to nafcc just to get their newsletters and such? Is there worthwhile info?

This exactly!!

I earned my CDA about 5 years into this and wished I'd had done it before opening. It was very worthwhile in my opinion. Not at all for the money but for the knowledge.

Here we get a 10% rate increase for being accredited. In January goes to 25%. I did it for myself, but this is an added bonus. With the 10% increase I have already gotten back what I paid to become accredited. I am the only accredited and 5 star family provider in my city, and have a long waiting list.

We get 15% more here and it is going down to 12.5% in November. I stopped taking state aid clients when the government shut down happened. Too much red tape and not worth the trouble.

[Unregistered]

Yes, been for one year now. Nothing has change, I do explain to new parents what it means but I think they see that in the quality I show them on the interviews.

[laundrymom]

I can only speak personally. I'm waiting on NAFCC notification of accreditation.
I feel that the process has made me a better provider. I haven't raised my rates. I don't have any state pay clients or any knowledge of higher rates where I am for those cases. I only know that my experience, 24 years, combined with the extra steps I've taken with my level program, my CDA, and going for accreditation, has increased the quality of care I provide. I do not make more money per kid but that's not what I'm going for. I'm in this for the kids. They are the important part of the whole thing for me. The level of care I provide since beginning the process sometimes surprises me. I know that the kids are getting more from me, I'm enjoying the job more and that in itself is worth the steps I've taken to get to this level.

[melskids]

I can only speak personally. I'm waiting on NAFCC notification of accreditation.
I feel that the process has made me a better provider. I haven't raised my rates. I don't have any state pay clients or any knowledge of higher rates where I am for those cases. I only know that my experience, 24 years, combined with the extra steps I've taken with my level program, my CDA, and going for accreditation, has increased the quality of care I provide. I do not make more money per kid but that's not what I'm going for. I'm in this for the kids. They are the important part of the whole thing for me. The level of care I provide since beginning the process sometimes surprises me. I know that the kids are getting more from me, I'm enjoying the job more and that in itself is worth the steps I've taken to get to this level.

I feel the exact same way. I'm in they beginning stages of accreditation and obtaiing my CDA.

I'm not doing it for more money, or to impress the parents, or even for the state (they are going to implement a star rating soon, but it is still voluntary for us to participate at this point)

I'm doing it for me. I love to learn, especially about ECE. No different then someone taking a knitting class, cooking lessons, or a computer class.

And I'm also doing it for the kids. I feel the more I learn about ECE, the better for them in the long run and my program as a whole.