Home Child Care Support Services
A Caregiver's Perspective on the Accreditation Initiative
I'm Glad You Asked!
It has now been less than eight months since my first introduction to the Home Child Care Accreditation Initiative. I had listened to Anne Bird, Director - The Elora Partnership, describe the various components of the demonstration project in the focus group I had attended. The night had taken on a whole new meaning of 'Raising the Bar' for home child care practitioners. As a group, we were given many opportunities to add our input as well as voice our concerns regarding training, self-study programs and home observations around the pilot project. I personally came away from the focus group with much enthusiasm but also had many questions still left to be answered. I finally made my decision to participate in the pilot project in March 2003.
The Accreditation Initiative came at a time in my career when I had decided to step back and re-examine how I was operating my home child care business. I wanted to raise my own standards in every aspect of how I would deliver the best care possible to the children and their families in my care. The pilot project has given me the proper tools to accomplish my professional goals. I have also been provided with a home visiting partner, Alice Chan, who is with me every step of the way and has been able to answer the many questions I had at the beginning. As I strive towards the completion of the project, I feel proud of the time and hard work I have contributed thus far. I have learned many important lessons from updated standards pertaining to fire inspections, professional forms and documents needed for a parent package, new safety features on safety locks and latches to proper diapering practices, just to name a few. This pilot project has reinforced the importance of setting and maintaining the highest quality of child care that I can possibly achieve. I hope to receive my certificate of Accreditation within this year but most importantly, I wish for many more home child care practitioners to participate in this very important project!
Submitted by Sheila, Independent Home Child Care Practitioner, Hamilton
Accreditation can mean different things to different providers. For me, it was a meaningful affirmation and transformation of my daycare and my own philosophies. It enabled me to look at all areas of my daycare business.
Because of the accreditation process, I feel more professional, better organized, better able to express the reasons for my policies and mostly, more confident and proud of what I do.
We need to show the public how professional we are. We have a much harder job than many give us credit. We are the teachers, directors, maintenance staff, dietary staff, bookkeepers, etc. We need to know it all.
I decided to participate in the process when it was offered to me in an attempt to fight the general burn-out I find can creep up on us, leaving us questioning the value of what we do.
As I worked through the process, I realized just how much I am already doing. I had very little I actually had to change; the biggest change was in me. I came to the realization of how much I enjoy what I do and just how well I do it. Reviewing my daycare and re-energizing it motivated me to make changes in my life. The accreditation process encouraged me to adopt a healthier outlook, and to take better care of the wonderful, caring professional provider I discovered.
Submitted by Rae-Lynne, Home Child Care Practitioner with Today's Family, Hamilton
Contact Joyce Minten, Home Child Care Support Services at 905-574-6876 ext. 226 to obtain information on upcoming professional development/training and networking opportunities as well as other supports and services offered to home child care practitioners in the City of Hamilton, Ontario.
If you live in the City of Hamilton and would like to receive the "Quiet Times" Newsletter, Start-up Kit and/or have any questions or comments regarding Home Child Care Support Services please e-mail minten@ascy.ca">minten@ascy.ca