Iowa State University Extension

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:
One hundred seventy-eight providers attended sequential training facilitated by ISUE family life specialist to improve their program quality using the Quality Rating Scales. The series consisted of eight hours of training on the use of the scale for self-evaluation and the development of a plan of action.

Four series of the Family Child Care Rating Scale Training were held in Iowa Falls (8 attended), Marshalltown (8 attended), Ames (7 attended), and Humboldt (10 attended).Three series of the Infant Toddler Rating Scale Training were held in Ft. Dodge (19 attended), Ankeny (19 attended) and Iowa Falls (11 attended). Four series of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale Trainings were held in Iowa Falls (11 attended), Webster City (20 attended), Fort Dodge (14 attended), and Ames (8 attended). Three series of the School-age Environmental Rating Scale Trainings were held in Des Moines (19 attended), Johnston (10 attended), and Urbandale (19 attended).

Impact:
In end-of-series evaluations, over 80% stated they could use the rating scales accurately to evaluate their programs most of the time. 83% of the attendees rated their need to make changes in their programs as high. As reported in follow-up evaluations, twenty-eight centers/home child care settings made the following changes in their programs based upon the self-evaluation:

• Provide more activities for children (28)
• Increased softness in environment (13)
• Improved sanitation/hand washing practices (12)
• Changed display for children (11)
• Improved playground/active play safety (9)
• Rearranged the environment (7)
• Increased opportunity for staff development (4)

Contact:
Cheryl Clark
Hardin County Extension
524 Lawler Street
Iowa Falls, IA 50126
641-648-4850
cclark@iastate.edu