NACCRRA’s New Report Scores and Ranks States Based on Current Family Child Care Standards and Oversight Policies

Oklahoma Ranks Best in the Nation with a 75% Score
 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma – The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) released today its newest report, ranking states on their current family child care standards and oversight policies.  The report, entitled Leaving Children to Chance:  NACCRRA’s Ranking of State Standards and Oversight of Small Family Child Care Homes, ranked Oklahoma number one in the nation with a score of 105 out of 140 possible points.  The study cautions that Oklahoma and other high ranking states still have room for improvement

Oklahoma fully meets four out of the 14 standards NACCRRA reviewed, and partially meets the remainder.  High on the list of strengths cited in the study is the Oklahoma requirement that child care providers caring for even one unrelated child for pay must have a license.  Oklahoma received full marks for conducting unannounced routine inspections and for unannounced visits in response to a complaint.  The study also rated Oklahoma highly for addressing critical health and safety areas in its regulations as well as for requiring appropriate toys, materials and learning activities.

The report ranks every state, the District of Columbia, and the Department of Defense (DoD) Child Care System, on 14 different standards focused on ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of children in home-based child care programs.  States were ranked based on a 140-point system, earning 10 points for each standard examined.  Standards included: frequency and type of monitoring visits; requirement of background checks, provider education, provider training, parent-provider communication/education, quality of learning environment; availability of learning activities and literacy opportunities; group size limitations; and health and safety requirements. 

“Nationwide, the average score was 59, and 15 states scored a zero on our score card,” said Linda K. Smith, Executive Director of NACCRRA.   “These family child care homes are really small businesses.  With the security of nearly 2 million children at risk, it is crucial that states revisit and improve their regulations, to guarantee children are safe and learning and that their parents can enjoy peace of mind.”
 
The fifteen states that received zero either do not regulate small family child care homes, do not conduct an inspection prior to issuing a license, or allow more than six children in care before applying any state regulations.  In 41 states, a child care provider can care for an unrelated child for pay in her home without any licensing.  Only 24 states and the DoD conduct a criminal background check of child care providers using federal fingerprinting—which means convicted felons could be working with small children.

Oklahoma got a preview of some of the recommendations in the report when Smith testified before the Oklahoma House Human Services Committee on August 21, 2007.   Representative Ron Peters and his committee have focused recently on improvements in child care quality as well as reviewing state licensing requirements and oversight. 

Out of a total of 14 recommendations to improve family child care across the country, only two were cited as weaknesses in Oklahoma. Topping the list of weaknesses is the lack of a national background check using fingerprints.  Currently, Oklahoma requires only a state level background check without fingerprints.  The other weakness noted in the study was a staff-child ratio which allows a sole provider to care for as many as five children younger than 24 months.

The education and training of family child care providers was an area where the study revealed Oklahoma can also do better.  The educational requirements, which were strengthened on October 1, 2007, now require Oklahoma providers to obtain a high school diploma or (GED).  The NACCRRA report recommends additional education such as a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, college courses in early childhood education, or an Associate’s degree within 3 years of starting to provide child care.  In addition, the national group recommends at least 40 hours of training before providers begin caring for children.

“Education and training are important,” said Marti Nicholson, State Manager for the Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral Association, ”because the more someone knows about how young children grow and learn, the more likely the caregiver is to do a good job caring for your child.” 

Nicholson says, “Oklahoma’s child care leaders focus constantly on improving the health, safety and school readiness of children in care. While Oklahoma has better standards and oversight of family child care than any other state in the nation, the well-
being of the more than 21,000 Oklahoma children in family child care is paramount - and we can do better for them.  ”

Care offered in a family child care home is one of the largest segments of the child care industry. With children of working mothers spending an average of 36 hours per week in some type of child care setting, including family child care homes, it is imperative to have regulations and policies in place to protect their safety and encourage their development and growth.

Download a copy of the full report.

OCCRRA, the Oklahoma Child Care Resource & Referral Association, Inc., is a private, non-profit organization established in 1999 to promote child care quality, affordability and availability for all Oklahoma families. Its services are provided throughout the state by eight regional resource and referral agencies which help families find and choose child care.

NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, is our nation’s leading voice for child care.  NACCRRA works with more than 800 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to ensure that families in every local community have access to high quality, affordable child care.  To achieve this mission, NACCRRA leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families.  To learn more about NACCRRA and how you can join us in ensuring access to high-quality child care for all families, visit www.naccrra.org.