Extension to Families page Hyperlink to ISU Extension to Families Hyperlink to Families Extension Staff Hyperlink to Success Stories Hyperlink to Who Should I Contact? Hyperlink to Find It Hyperlink to For Staff

Improving Quality of Child Care Programs

Problem:
Child care providers are struggling to understand what quality child care is and how to provide it. Many providers want to improve the quality of the programs they offer but need guidance in evaluating programs and developing plans for improvement.

Response:
Seventy-six providers attended sequential training facilitated by ISUE family life specialist to improve their program quality using the Quality Rating Scales. The series consisted of six hours of training on the use of the scale for self-evaluation and the development of a plan of action. Two series of the Family Day Care Rating Scale Training were held in Marshalltown (40 attended) and Iowa Falls (7 attended). Three series of the Infant Toddler Rating Scale Training were held in Ft. Dodge (8 attended), Ankeny (13 attended) and Iowa Falls (8 attended).

Impact:
In end-of-series evaluations, 85% stated they have a better understanding of how to provide quality care. Over half of the attendees rated their need to make changes in their programs as high. Twenty participants planned to develop a plan of action based upon the self-evaluation. Specific plans for changes included: change health and safety practices (43), rearrange the environment (31), provide more activities for children (24), improve communication with parents (15), and attend more training (8). Follow-up evaluations obtained to this point (12) indicate that the following changes have been completed as a result of the Quality Rating Scale training series: clean and sanitize more (8), read more with children (4), improved greeting practices (4), added more multi-cultural materials (3), added child-sized table and chairs (2), added daily record sheets for infants (1), installed paper towels in bathroom (1), installed escape window in basement (1).

Contact:
Cheryl Clark, ISUE Family Life Specialist
Hardin County Extension
524 Lawler Street
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
Phone 641-648-4850; Fax 641-648-4862
Email cclark@iastate.edu

..........more stories....................!

Hyperlink to ISU Extension Calendar Hyperlink to ISU Extension Publications Hyperlink to ISU Extension Hyperlink to College of Human Sciences Hyperlink to Iowa State University Hyperlink to ISU Extension Calendar Hyperlink to ISU Extension Publications Hyperlink to ISU Extension Hyperlink to College of Human Sciences Hyperlink to Iowa State University Hyperlink to ISU Extension Calendar Hyperlink to ISU Extension Publications Hyperlink to ISU Extension Hyperlink to College of Human Sciences Hyperlink to Iowa State University Hyperlink to ISU Extension Calendar Hyperlink to ISU Extension Publications Hyperlink to ISU Extension Hyperlink to College of Human Sciences Hyperlink to Iowa State University Hyperlink to ISU Extension Calendar Hyperlink to ISU Extension Publications Hyperlink to ISU Extension Hyperlink to College of Human Sciences Hyperlink to Iowa State University

Last update: June 21, 2006  
Non-Discrimination Statement and Information Disclosures

Hyperlink to Iowa State University Hyperlink to College of Family and Consumer Sciences Hyperlink to ISU Extension Hyperlink to ISU Extension Publications Hyperlink to ISU Extension Calendar