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Family Child Care at Its Best
Improving quality of care
Most working parents in California turn to family child care providers for a safe, nurturing environment. As information about child development expands, many providers seek opportunities to improve their knowledge, skills and quality of care. Until now they had few opportunities for university-based continuing education in their field.
"Family Child Care at Its Best" fills this gap. This series of workshops emphasizes the needs of children from birth to age three. The series aims to
- Enhance the quality and safety of licensed family child care homes,
- Increase retention of existing family child care homes,
- Provide state and local agencies data about training and technical assistance to meet the needs of licensed family child care homes, and
- Expand links between family child care providers, resource and referral agencies, county welfare departments, and child care associations.
Offered statewide, free and for credit
"Family Child Care at Its Best" workshops are taking place at locations throughout California. Training sessions are scheduled mainly during evenings and weekends. Funded by the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services, the training is free of charge to participants.
Participants earn continuing education units from UC Davis for each workshop they attend. Participants receive a certificate of completion documenting the hours attended.
Involving key partners
"Family Child Care at Its Best" has received extensive cooperation and support from
- California Department of Social Services
- California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
- County Welfare Directors Association of California
- California Department of Education
- Center for Child and Family Studies at UC Davis
Taught by top trainers
The Center for Human Services conducted a statewide recruitment for "Family Child Care at Its Best" trainers. Each trainer has extensive experience in working with children and training adults. Currently, classes are offered in English and Spanish, with simultaneous translation available in other languages.
Putting research into practice
Each workshop in the "Family Child Care at Its Best" series makes practical use of the most recent research in human development and adult-child relationships. Instructors give specific ideas for handling a variety of infant and toddler behaviors as well as techniques and activities for enriching the care environment.
Developed by the Center For Human Services in cooperation with UC Davis Center for Child and Family Studies and child care experts from around the state, the curriculum cover these areas.
1. Making the Connection with Infants and Toddlers
This workshop focuses on developing healthy relationships with children. Participants expand their understanding of how they influence the emotional and social development of children.
2. Building Blocks of Learning
Family child care providers play a critical role in helping children become confident learners. This workshop addresses how infants and toddlers think and practical activities for supporting learning.
3. Giving Children a Healthy Start
This workshop covers the most up-to-date health and safety information available. Also discussed is how to help young children with daily activities of eating, toileting, and sleeping.
4. Setting Limits with Love
This workshop offers practical suggestions for encouraging pro-social behavior in young children. In addition to sharing techniques for reducing conflict in family child care, risk factors that indicate the need for professional help are reviewed.
5. Managing Difficult Behavior
This workshop addresses behavioral problems that commonly occur in family child care, and ways to work effectively with both children and parents.
6. Keys to Serving Children with Special Needs
All children deserve the opportunity to participate in family child care. Yet providers are faced with special considerations and challenges, depending upon the needs of each child. This course provides an introduction to working effectively with children with special needs and their families.
7. Partnering with Parents
Working effectively with parents is at the heart of quality care. A variety of issues -- from feeding to finances -- have the potential for conflict between provider and parent. This workshop highlights ways to work in partnership with parents and "stay on the same side."
8. Tools and Tips for Improving Your Business
Sound business practices are key to successful family child care programs. This workshop highlights the necessary ingredients for effectively operating a child care business in the home.
About the Child Care Training Project
At its core, welfare reform is about helping recipients of public assistance find and keep jobs. One of the key challenges aid recipients face is locating affordable, quality child care for very young children. Throughout California, county welfare departments are working with child care resource and referral agencies and other local partners to meet this need.
The Child Care Training Project of The Center for Human Services at UC Davis supports these efforts by providing training and quality improvement services to child care providers throughout the state.
In addition to the "Family Child Care at Its Best" series, the project offers
- ongoing regional and statewide training,
- a multimedia library on quality child care, and
- research and consultation for providers and agencies
For more information, please contact:
Diane Harkins, Program Director, or Janna McKay, Program Representative at (530) 757-8643.