Improving Child Care Quality

Problem:
Iowa State University Extension specialists have been actively involved in assessing child care quality in Iowa, using nationally recognized, standardized testing instruments.  Results of these assessments provide information about areas where child care providers have strengths, as well as where they need to make changes and improvements.
 
In addition, the child care quality assessments provide baseline data for the current level of child care quality so changes can be monitored, as resources are put into child care businesses.
 
Extension Response:
In collaboration with Child Care Resource and Referral (CCRR) in southeast Iowa, ISU Extension received empowerment grant funding to conduct 6 Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS) assessments in Lee and Van Buren Counties.  Funding also paid for assessments of 3 family providers, using the Family Day Care Rating Scale (FDCRS).
 
The CCRR staff and ISU Extension Family Life Specialist conducted the assessments.  The Family Life Specialist then prepared a report, summarizing the child care center or family day care home's major strengths and areas for improvement.  The CCRR staff shared the report with the child care providers and discussed how to use the information for quality improvement.  Empowerment funding was allocated for each site being assessed and was used to purchase equipment and supplies to improve areas that had received a low score.
 
Impact
 
One important outcome of this project is that child care providers are receiving feedback about the quality of the care they give to children.  They can use the assessment instrument to continue to make changes to improve their quality of care.  The consultation and purchase of supplies and equipment give tangible help for making needed changes in child care settings.
 
Also, the child care assessments are yielding important data about the baseline level of care in Lee and Van Buren Counties.  Although the sample is too small to generalize to all child care providers in the counties, it does provide some statistics about child care quality that is specific to this geographic area.  It localizes information compared to results of statewide research projects.

For the 6 child care centers rooms assessed in Lee and Van Buren Counties, the average score on the ECERS was 3.56 on a 7 point scale with 1 being inadequate and 7 being excellent.  For the 3 family day care homes, the average score was 3.19 on the same 7 point scale.  Data is also available for the subscales in the rating instruments and shows areas where training and quality improvement are particularly needed.
 
As further assessments are done, a richer collection of data will be available to help improve the quality of child care and also to help make better use of the limited resources available.

Contact:
Mary Crooks, Family Life Field Specialist
Iowa State University Extension - Louisa County Office
317 Van Buren Street, Wapello, IA   52653
Phone (319) 523-2371; Fax (319) 523-2375
E-mail mcrooks@iastate.edu