Keeping It in the Family

I'm taking advantage of Max's nap-a-thon to write about another issue that's quickly becoming kind of a passion of mine. . . family child care advocacy!  Let me throw some stats at you first, Gentle Reader (courtesy of a 2009 survey from NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agency).  These are averages from the state of California:

• Number of children (age 0-6) needing care due to one or both working parents: 1,700,796 (over 50% of all the children in the state)
• Average yearly fees for infant care in a full-time child care center: $11,580 (!)
• Average yearly fees for infant care in a full-time family child care: $7,937 (!!)
• Average annual tuition for a 4-year state college: $5,346 (!!!)
• Number of family child care homes in CA: 38,132
• Percentage of family child care homes that are nationally-accredited: a measly 0.82% (the rate of accredited child care centers is higher at 6.5%)
• 65% of total available slots are in child care centers; 35% are in family child cares

     These statistics pertain to children and families who pay for care by a non-relative outside of their home and doesn't count nannies, babysitters, or children receiving exclusive care from a close family member like a grandparent.  A "family child care" is a licensed facility run out of someone's home (like mine), whereas a "child care center" is conducted in a place used solely for that purpose (they are usually not affiliated with a church or accredited school).  Both are subject to certain requirements that are enforced by the Department of Social Services.
   
     In short: lots of young kids have working parents and thus need care outside the home.  It's really expensive.  Over a third of these kids spend time in a family child care (FCC) setting, yet the caregivers in this demographic are relatively invisible.  Family child cares often have less-than-steller reputations, and every few months there are chilling and horrible tales in the news about children being abused etc.  Admittedly some of these biases are true: while licensed FCCs are subject to requirements laid down by the Department of Social Services, these rules are vague and the analysts enforcing them through unannounced home visits are spread thin.  California is one of the states that requires family child cares to be licensed (though plenty are run under the radar and are unlicensed) but, for example, you don't even have to be able to speak English to get a license.  Furthermore, NO background in early childhood education is required!  That's the most shocking part for me.   So basically there's this huge disconnect where uneducated, low-paid people (minority women are a big demographic) are spending the majority of a young child's waking hours with him or her during one of the most formative periods in that child's life!  I'm not denying that the average FCC provider is often a caring, loving person who is great with kids, but I think that education and support are needed also to provide truly excellent care.

     Why is this happening, and how can we change it?  One thing I've noticed is that there's a real lack of communication between family child care providers.  So we gotta start networking.  Next, we have to stay educated.  I'm taking a class at Los Angeles Community College (excellent professor and cohort, cheap, I was pleasantly surprised and would recommend it to anyone).  Also, Pathways LA is my local resources and referral agency, and they offer a ton of free workshops and information to both parents and providers.  Parents are more and more educated and it's up to us child care providers to keep up with that- they will pay for that premium which is why the best infant centers and preschools always have those crazy waiting lists.  Preschool-age children and education are already established in the theoretical and legislative canon (see all the work and money in Headstart programs, etc) and the interest in infant "curriculum" and care is starting to catch up.  There are groups like the National Association for Family Child Care (California has a chapter) that are doing great work in strengthening the profession and changing people's perception of this particular career.  One thing I like about them is that they have developed a quantifiable and excellent accreditation process, but it's expensive (about $900) and thus not really accessible to small family child care providers like myself.  But, baby steps. . .

I decided to quit my previous job and start a family child care because I wanted to spend time with my own child and I knew that I had it in me to really commit myself to working with young children- primarily infants.  I think that a home setting with a low infant-adult ratio is a great way to promote a strong connection between a caregiver and a child.  Lest we forget, emotional bonds are literally the foundation for neurological development in children!  And I know that many other women out there are doing the same work, so it's my dream to help us connect with each other in pursuit of our common goal.  Definitely to be continued. . . !


Next: tips on finding a good family child care.