Associations For Home-Based Child Care

[LoriB]

Hi, I'm doing some research for a company that serves day care providers and I have a question about home based child care businesses. Do most belong to National Association For Family Child Care (NAFCC)? Is it the leading organization supporting home-based child care, or are there others more popular?

Thanks for your input!
~Lori

[WImom]

We have an inhome daycare association within my city that I belong to. I don't belong to a national one.

[MarinaVanessa]

The NAFCC is probably the most known nationally, many FCC (family chilcare homes) are members however many either join a childcare association in or near their city. Some like me do both.

[grandmom]

NAFCC yup.

[Unregistered]

NAFCC represents family child care providers on the national level, advocating for their needs, providing a national accreditation system, and various other member benefits. Most states also have a state association, NAFCC works as the umbrella for these more local groups and will have information about them as well on it's website. With state's implementing a QRIS, NAFCC Accreditation is becoming accepted as the top tier in most state systems as it represents the highest quality standards for family child care. We hold an amazing conference each year as well, this year is in Atlanta and you don't want to miss it! Hope to see you there.
Patricia Dischler
NAFCC President Elect

[nannyde]

Hi, I'm doing some research for a company that serves day care providers and I have a question about home based child care businesses. Do most belong to National Association For Family Child Care (NAFCC)? Is it the leading organization supporting home-based child care, or are there others more popular?

Thanks for your input!
~Lori

If I am reading their site correctly.. in my State of Iowa there are thirteen providers who are accredited. Two of them are in my city.

If you go here: http://nafcc.org/index.php?option=co...390&Itemid=422 You can count the total in the United States

For pricing see here: http://nafcc.org/index.php?option=co...=75&Itemid=326

I would first look at whether or not there is a market in your area for this accreditation. It's a pretty expensive process. If you want to do it for yourself then of course, it would be worth it. If you want your client base to fund it, even over time, you might want to reconsider. It's a pretty big investment of time and money that may not net increased fees, drawing clients, or retaining.

My State doesn't honor these providers with increased fees for state funded kids. They pay the same whether you have no education at all and no experience or you have a ECE with Naeyc or this accreditation. They don't recognize the accreditation money wise. All you have to have is CPR, First Aid, and mandatory reporter and you get the same fee someone with a GED, HS diploma, college degree, experience and accreditation have. Same difference to them. :confused:

I do see some providers advertising they are MEMBERS of it. I don't see anyone advertising they are accredited. That's just 35 bucks. Most clients wouldn't know the difference between membership and actual accreditation. Their chances of running into an accredited provider is pretty slim.

[LoriB]

NAFCC or other Org for Home-based Day Care

Thanks for the responses - I appreciate that you took the time. My goal was to determine the best organization to reach home-based day care owners. It sounds as though people are more likely to belong to a local (city or state) day care association than the national group, although a few people belong to both.

Thanks for sharing your insight.

[nannyde]

Thanks for the responses - I appreciate that you took the time. My goal was to determine the best organization to reach home-based day care owners. It sounds as though people are more likely to belong to a local (city or state) day care association than the national group, although a few people belong to both.

Thanks for sharing your insight.

I think the association participation is really really small overall.. whether local or national.

[Cat Herder]

I am REQUIRED to pay the fees to join at least 2. One local, one national.

It is a "check box" requirement.

I still am not sure what they "do for" me... I just keep getting more requirements hurled at me without representation or funding....:confused:

I am trying to educate myself more, maybe that is just how it looks from where I stand....

[DCMom]

I belong to three associations at the national, state and county level. I also belong to network group of providers in my area.

I just want to make sure I get any and all information pertaining to child care legislation, rules/regs, etc at all levels. I don't necessarily think that that they 'do' anything for me other than keep me aware of pending items or changes.

[lil angels]

I belong to a county association here. That is where I get most of my training.

[MarinaVanessa]

I belong to three associations at the national, state and county level. I also belong to network group of providers in my area.

I just want to make sure I get any and all information pertaining to child care legislation, rules/regs, etc at all levels. I don't necessarily think that that they 'do' anything for me other than keep me aware of pending items or changes.

I'm a member of NAFCC for the same reasons that DCMom explains. I like getting a lot of the latest news and updates and for the reasons that Nan said, I'm not much interested in anything else including accreditation. It's much too costly to get accredited and it really doesn't matter much anyhow to my clientel.

They don't even know what NAFCC is and they're happy with reviewing my certificates that I get from the local training that I do through my county childcare association and resource and refferal agency. Those are free, on and off (when I have time) I take courses through our community college. My local childcare association gets me refferals, free training, networking opportunities and support when I need it along with licensing and state regulation updates. I may not review my membership to NAFCC next month because a lot of the onfo that I get from NAFCC I get from my local childcare association (they might be members also and put the info and updates in our newsletters).

[My3cents]

If I am reading their site correctly.. in my State of Iowa there are thirteen providers who are accredited. Two of them are in my city.

If you go here: http://nafcc.org/index.php?option=co...390&Itemid=422 You can count the total in the United States

For pricing see here: http://nafcc.org/index.php?option=co...=75&Itemid=326

I would first look at whether or not there is a market in your area for this accreditation. It's a pretty expensive process. If you want to do it for yourself then of course, it would be worth it. If you want your client base to fund it, even over time, you might want to reconsider. It's a pretty big investment of time and money that may not net increased fees, drawing clients, or retaining.

My State doesn't honor these providers with increased fees for state funded kids. They pay the same whether you have no education at all and no experience or you have a ECE with Naeyc or this accreditation. They don't recognize the accreditation money wise. All you have to have is CPR, First Aid, and mandatory reporter and you get the same fee someone with a GED, HS diploma, college degree, experience and accreditation have. Same difference to them. :confused:

I do see some providers advertising they are MEMBERS of it. I don't see anyone advertising they are accredited. That's just 35 bucks. Most clients wouldn't know the difference between membership and actual accreditation. Their chances of running into an accredited provider is pretty slim.

I didn't know you could be a member. What does being a member actually do? Is it for prestige? I thought you had to go through a lot of expense to get accredited. I also thought you had to go through a lot to get it and not a lot of truly helpful to the craft bull. Seems like it is a push for one way of doing childcare and not necessarily the best way for all providers and children. Most clients don't know about it. Many providers actually know very little about it, except that it is costly and doesn't do much as you mentioned.

[My3cents]

I am REQUIRED to pay the fees to join at least 2. One local, one national.

It is a "check box" requirement.

I still am not sure what they "do for" me... I just keep getting more requirements hurled at me without representation or funding....:confused:

I am trying to educate myself more, maybe that is just how it looks from where I stand....

Are you a center or home provider?

Is it a check box if you have it, or is it a you must have it check box?

[Cat Herder]

I didn't know you could be a member. What does being a member actually do? Is it for prestige? .

For me it is to be ABLE to stay in business. I am a home provider (6 kids). We are going QRIS.

We are being FORCED to become accredited or we are not called "Quality Childcare".

They then tell parents to only choose "Quality Childcare" making it impossible to stay in business. It is a buzzword, not a true judgment of services.

It still feels very crooked to me... I am very hurt by it since I registered and did EVERYTHING by the book for 18 years only to be treated this way, now.

A new provider who has not even opened her doors can get a higher rating than a seasoned provider of 20 years with a solid reputation. QRIS.

I am getting my CDA and working towards accreditation (I have a degree in another field, NONE of it counts unless it is ECE), but 100% at my own cost. My clients cannot afford any more than I am charging....the market won't support it.

I just have to make it 5 more years.... Fingers crossed.



I am sorry, Lori. Yes, I joined NAFCC. I do enjoy their articles and training opportunities. I would LOVE them if I was not being FORCED to join. Please don't make any judgement on what the association offers based on my feelings towards the politics that are happening in my State. That would be unfair.