Strengthening Professionalism in Family Child Care
By Joan Matsalia

Many issues and challenges face family child care providers today: burnout, isolation, and taking your place "at the table" with other child care providers, just to name a few. Where does professionalism fit into all this? As we enter a new millennium, we are becoming more aware of our valuable contribution to the field of early care and education, and professionalism is becoming a hot topic for us. It's time we share our contribution with other providers, parents, and our lawmakers.


The idea of family child care providers being "babysitters" has long influenced the thoughts and attitudes of parents, others in the field, and family child care providers themselves. During the last few years, this way of thinking has begun to shift, and family child care providers are now emerging as leaders in early care and education. A focus on professionalism seems to be the key to this shift. How can you become more of a leader in the field and find the right path in your journey toward increased professionalism? Here are some ideas to get you started:


Join a Peer Support Group


To begin with, as family child care providers we must assert our need and right to be "at the table" with other early care and education leaders. This is especially important when issues affecting the field are being discussed and decided. How do you find your way to the early child care table? You can strengthen your professional voice by joining other providers in a local support group.

These support groups can serve a number of functions, including:

• Developing a network of peer support

• Providing an informal referral network

• Increasing awareness of the need for advocacy in our field

• Meeting for workshops and professional development training hours


No matter what support group model you choose, you'll find it's one of the first steps on the road to growth as a professional. Check with your local child care resource and referral agency (CCR&R) to learn about groups in your area. If your local area doesn't have a support group, you may consider forming one yourself. Your local CCR&R can help you get started with this as well.


Become a Member of an Organization.


Professional organizations offer another avenue for growth. Providers can become members of the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) for $25 per year. Members receive a quarterly newsletter where you can follow what's happening, not only in your state, but nationwide as well. NAFCC sponsors annual conferences for family child care providers. The Association also elects representatives for each area of the U.S. In addition, NAFCC began offering the new national accreditation tool in 1999, which is one more way for providers to demonstrate to themselves, and to parents and the public at large, their commitment to working with children. In some states, funding is available for providers who choose to take this step. Also, some states offer a higher reimbursement rate for accredited providers.

You can also join the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). An annual membership fee allows you to:

• Attend NAEYC conferences at a reduced rate

• Participate at local affiliate meetings

• Run for the local affiliate's board of directors

• Receive the bimonthly publication Young Children, a magazine devoted to the profession of early care and education


Investing time in your professional development can sound daunting, even overwhelming, to those of us who are already working well over fifty hours a week. But in so many cases, it serves as the key to renewal. It allows us to discover the importance of collaboration within the early care and education community. Taking care of our professional needs also helps us to move forward in the field and meet our goals in providing the highest-quality care for all children and families, which is what we are all about.

*Submitted by Patrisha

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