Re: Family Child Care Accreditation

From: Barb
Email: BSawyer316@comcast.net
Date: March 07, 2006

Comments

Hi Michelle -

Sorry that you got confusing answers when you asked questions. Because there are "many right ways" the NAFCC accreditation staff generally tries not to give a specific right or wrong answer. Just as an FYI - the blue book I think you're talking about is a reference manual that is intended to give hints for ways to meet some of the health and safety standards.

The new standards - especially the ones related to the number of hours that can be applied from workshops - are continually being clarified. The NAFCC conference doesn't have to be included in that 28 hours. Because research demonstrates that changes happen with more comprehensive training, many experts in the field - includng family child care providers - asked NAFCC to strengthen the training requirements to encourage providers to be intentional in planning the kinds of training in which they participate.

Probably the biggest incentive I can give you for attending the NAFCC conference is that it's just that - a national conference with high quality workshops and speakers. The experience is one that's difficult to describe until you've been there. As you already know there is nothing like a family child care conference for connections, excitement, and friendships. It's definitely something I'd recommend for anyone looking for training.