Choosing Child Care in North Carolina
By Renee Gannon
- Introduction
- Care Choices in North Carolina
- State Requirements
- Star Rating System
- A parent’s job is to investigate
- Resources
Finding a house, buying a car,
choosing child care. Parents must spend more time on the last item when
choosing the best options for the care of their child. Placing your child
in the care of others is a difficult, personal decision many parents in
North Carolina and across the nation must make for a variety of reasons,
including economics. After all, you are entrusting the care of your most
prized possession to someone else.
Quality and parental satisfaction are keys to successful child care. Like
a book, you can’t judge child care by its looks or name alone. Ask
questions, visit often and unannounced, and get to know the "feel"
of the place before you make a decision.
For working parents in North Carolina, the news is good concerning child care options. In the last decade, the state has made tremendous strides in improving and regulating the quality of child care.
Alice Thomas, program coordinator for the Harnett County Child Resource and Referral Agency, has seen a vast improvement. "A lot of the improvement in quality and resources should be credited to the state for its star-rating license system, and especially to former Governor Jim Hunt for his Smart Start initiatives," says Thomas.
The cost of care varies between urban and rural areas, and by type of care. But parents in both urban and rural settings have quality care options.
The state of North Carolina requires child care providers to obtain a license when: three or more unrelated children under 13 years of age are receiving care from a non-relative; the care is on a regular basis, or at least once a week; and the care is for more than four hours per day, but less than 24 hours.
When all these conditions exist, regulation is required. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for regulating child care, which is done through the Division of Child Development. Since 1995, the state requires criminal background checks and fingerprint checks for all persons working in regulated child care programs. These state requirements are intended to protect the well-being of children while they are away from their parents.
Care Choices in North Carolina
Many care choices are available in North Carolina. The main options include family child care homes, child care centers and church-based care. These options usually offer both full-time and part-time care.
- Family Child Care Home: This refers to child care at a provider’s home. A family child care home must be licensed to care for more than two preschool-age children, but no more than five. It includes the provider’s own preschoolers.
- Child Care Center: A licensed program that cares for more than five preschool-age children for more than four hours a day. Most centers also provide a structured preschool program.
- Church-based Care: Religious-sponsored programs are exempt from some of the state’s regulations concerning staff education, but must meet state regulations pertaining to sanitation, fire, health, and some of the child development rules and regulations. Churches can voluntarily apply for the star-rated license program, but must meet all the state’s requirements to do so. Otherwise, the church must obtain a GS-110 license, a license to operate a child care business that is given strictly to churches.
Other options that may or may not be state regulated include in-home child care and mother’s morning out programs.
To be licensed in North Carolina, child care providers
must meet a minimum set of requirements. They are also urged to go a few
steps further to obtain a higher "star rating" from the state
that further shows their efforts in providing quality care.
"Child care home" providers must have training in child development
and CPR each year, as well as first aid training every three years. All
homes must meet basic health and safety standards, maintain verification
of children’s immunization and health status, provide age-appropriate
toys and activities, as well as nutritious meals and snacks for the children
in care.
The minimum requirements for "centers" include those necessary for home care. Lead teachers must hold at least a North Carolina Early Childhood Credential or its equivalent. The program’s administrator must have least a North Carolina Early Childhood Administration Credential or its equivalent. And all staff must have training in child development each year. Centers must also follow state-required ratios of staff per number of children, as well as proper space, equipment, health and safety requirements.
Officials from the Division of Child Services visit
"centers" and "homes" on a regular basis to verify
they are following the law.
In both types of care, corporal punishment (spanking, slapping or other
physical discipline) is prohibited. Each provider must have a written
policy on discipline, must discuss it with parents and give parents a
copy when a child is enrolled. Policy changes must also be shared with
parents in writing before becoming effective.
Parents also have rights to enter a care provider’s "home" or "center" at any time while their child is present, to know how their child will be disciplined, and to see the provider’s license.
To help parents understand the requirements child care providers must meet, North Carolina implemented a star rating system to explain what a provider offers.
Family child care "homes" and child care "centers" must receive at least one star, which means the provider meets the state’s minimum requirements. Church-based programs are exempt from the star rating, but can voluntarily apply, which many are doing.
But parents should also know that if a provider has one star, it doesn’t mean the provider offers less of a quality care than those with more stars. The providers then must voluntarily apply for extra stars. Many one-star providers haven’t applied, even though they may meet extra star requirements.
A parent’s obligation in choosing quality care doesn’t stop with finding out the number of stars a provider has. They must also research and investigate their options, and follow their gut feeling before placing their child with a provider.
A parent’s job is to investigate
When a parent calls resource and referral services
such as the one in Harnett County, the agency must find out a few things
from the parent first, before offering a list of options.
Alice Thomas at the Harnett County agency says, "We need information
so we will know where they are coming from and what they are looking for,
such as part-time or full-time care, the child’s age, shift work,
and where they live and work."
Child care subsidies, such as those available from Smart Start and other
financial aid programs, are also discussed. Parents are urged to visit
providers as many times as possible at different times of the day to observe
the care children are given and to ask the provider questions.
Parents should also note if the place offers safe,
clean, attractive and spacious indoor and outdoor environments.
The state and local child resource and referral agencies offer a checklist
for parent to follow when choosing a provider, and other suggestions on
recognizing quality care.
Information on quality child care can be found on both the state and local levels. The N.C. Division of Child Development has an informative Web site at www.ncchildcare.net, offering tips for parents, a search engine for child care services and information on providers, glossary of terms, provider requirements, and information on the star rating system. The division also has a toll-free number (in-state only) at 1-800-859-0829.
While not all 100 N.C. counties have child resource and referral agencies, many counties share services. These agencies not only help parents find quality child care, they also offer parenting tips and advice for all. The agencies can also provide information on Smart Start services available.