The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) has collaborated with the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness to certify 30 Accreditation Quality Ambassador trainers in their community, reaffirming their commitment to quality.
Creating strategic partnerships in family child care is critical to ensure a unified approach amongst resources and referral and family child care agencies to increase access to quality programs in their communities.
NAFCC is also spotlighting the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness and Child Care Resource and Referral “Thrive Network.” This program addresses the unique needs of Family Child Care Homes (FCCH) in Oklahoma, which cares for over 13,000 young children annually. It fosters collaboration among home-based educators, allowing them to share ideas, challenges, and successes.
Additionally, the Thrive Network offers dedicated support to FCCH providers, including monthly high-quality training sessions and conferences. Furthermore, members of the Thrive Network are granted free memberships to NAFCC and receive complimentary self-study kits to assist them on their journey toward accreditation.
One notable outcome of the Thrive Network is the Child Care Resource and Referral staff at the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness has gathered valuable insights from its members regarding workforce needs. The pandemic has highlighted a significant challenge faced by FCCH educators, including accessing medical care due to the unique nature of their work environment. To better address this issue, the Thrive Network is soon launching a new pilot program to provide Thrive Network members with on-demand telehealth and teletherapy sessions through Oklahoma’s Child Care Resource and Referral Shared Services programs.
“We applaud the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness for their visionary investment in Family Child Care. By empowering Family Child Educators, we are building a solid foundation for quality early care, where children can not only grow but truly thrive,” said ZaKenya Perry Neely, Director of Accreditation, Quality Standards and Recognition at NAFCC.
“We’re excited to be a part of these initiatives and look forward to continued collaboration with the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness. Together, we can make a positive impact on the lives of FCC educators and the children they serve.”
For more information about partnerships with NAFCC, contact ZaKenya Perry Neely at Zneely@nafcc.org.
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