Accreditation

Why is it important for my child's child care center to be accredited?

Accredited homes and centers voluntarily measure up to national standards of quality that have been established by national child care organizations.
Programs that are accredited have gone beyond minimum licensing standards and have made a commitment to provide the kind of care, attention, and stimulating activities that you and your children require.

Caregivers in many accredited programs take part in on-going child development training. Trained caregivers are more likely to understand children’s needs at different ages, plan appropriate activities, and interact with children in warm and stimulating ways. They are also more likely to provide positive guidance for children, rather than harsh discipline.

Parents who use accredited programs are very happy with them! These programs undergo in-depth self-assessments, independent observation and approval by professional experts.

This passage was exerpted from Child Care Aware. Visit their Web site to find your local child care resource and referral office. (click here)

What are the different bodies of accreditation?

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NAEYC is the nation's largest and most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through third grade. It has over 100,000 members and accredites thousands of homes and centers each year and they frequently updates the requirements of their accredited programs. Visit their Web site to seach for NAEYC accredited centers and homes. (click here)

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
NAFCC accredits family child care homes that offer high-quality child care services. Visit their Web site to search for accredited providers. (click here)

National Early Childhood Program Accreditation Commission (NECPA)
NECPA is a non-profit organization that uses an Automated Accreditation Indicator System (AAIS) to ensure that its centers and homes are safe, healthy, and nurturing environments for children. Visit the NECPA Web site to learn more about their 90 accreditated programs across the country. (click here)