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The quality of care a young child receives has been shown to dramatically impact his or her social, emotional, physical and intellectual development, and ultimately success in school and life. While research studies show that top predictors of quality child care are educated providers, low staff turnover, low child/staff ratios and above minimum licensure or accreditation of the child care program, many programs in Durham, Orange and Wake counties do not meet these criteria. Other programs meet some of the criteria, but struggle to meet the rest. |
Child care providers, and those who think they may want to open a child care program, may call or visit any of our offices for information about state regulations, improving quality or CCSA services. CCSA offers a wide variety of services to current and potential child care programs interested in providing high quality child care. Some of these services are:
On-site Assessments and Technical Assistance
Child Care Services Association offers on-site assessments and technical assistance. These projects, funded by Smart Start, strive to improve the quality of child care provided to young children in Durham and Orange counties and their families. Services, which are customized for each child care program, may include:
- identification of areas of strength and areas needing improvement following an on-site assessment with a trained facilitator
- assistance in redesigning classroom environments
- the development of Individualized Professional Development Plans for child care staff
- referrals to other supportive services such as Community Mentors, resource teachers, the T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project and/or the Child Care WAGE$® Project
- help in becoming nationally accredited through NAEYC or NAFCC
- technical assistance and support for teachers of four-year-old children in developing effective school readiness classrooms.
Substitute Services
Substitutes are available in Durham and Wake counties to support the professional development needs of child care providers, and model developmentally-appropriate practices. T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Corps Members (an AmeriCorps program) are available in Durham, Orange and Wake counties to help improve child care quality by:
- providing release time for child care providers to participate in professional- development activities or to work toward a degree in early childhood education
- enhancing staff-to-child ratios, particularly in classrooms with infants and toddlers
- developing Reading Together Projects to enhance early literacy.
On-site and Telephone Consultations with Child Care Programs
Child care providers, and those who think they may want to open a child care program, may call or visit either of our offices for information about state regulations, improving quality or CCSA services. Information and materials will be offered upon request through one-on-one technical assistance consultations, the use of our resource libraries, mailings such as the agency's provider newsletter, and professional development opportunities such as our annual conference, start-up sessions, pre-licensing workshops, directors' workshops, and new staff orientation sessions.
Professional Development Opportunities
Local child care programs may also access our statewide programs such as the T.E.A.C.H.® Early Childhood Project and the Child Care WAGE$® Project.
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