FAMILY

Two or more people who consider themselves family and who assume obligations, functions, and responsibilities generally essential to healthy family life. Child care and child socialization, income support, long-term care, and other caregiving are among the functions of family life. The definition of "family" will rest with an individual's indication of who plays a family member role, including current or former foster family, adoptive family, extended family members, fictive kin, or significant others. Organizations that believe family is the central constellation in a child's life, and that family attachments are of primary importance for human development, will strive to work with professional staff to develop a common understanding of "family."		  
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Early Childhood Education
  
Private Org Public Agency  

PA-ECE 12: Oversight of Family Child Care Homes

 
The agency provides oversight and support to family child care homes to ensure care is being provided in a safe environment that promotes healthy child development.
NA The agency does not utilize family child care homes to expand its capacity to provide care.

PA-ECE 12.01

 

Family child care coordinators are qualified by:

  1. a CDA, CCP, or equivalent credential;
  2. an associate’s degree in early childhood education or child development; or
  3. a bachelor’s degree in a related field with two years of post-graduate experience in early childhood education.
Interpretation: Related fields include early childhood education, child development, elementary education, early childhood special education, psychology, family consumer sciences, home economics, social work, and social services.

PA-ECE 12.02

 

Family child care coordinators:

  1. recruit and assess family child care homes prior to their use;
  2. provide support and supervision through a monthly home visit;
  3. offer training and professional development opportunities; and
  4. monitor the quality of care being provided.

PA-ECE 12.03

 

The agency utilizes family child care homes staffed by individuals with:

  1. a GED or high school diploma;
  2. at least 45 hours of family child care-related training within the last three years; and
  3. access to ongoing training and education.
related PA-TS 1,  PA-TS 2
Interpretation: The agency may choose to provide ongoing training or assistance in obtaining continuing education.

PA-ECE 12.04

 
Prior to use, all family child care homes are screened to ensure they are fully licensed or approved, according to applicable regulatory requirements.

PA-ECE 12.05

 
The needs of the child and family are matched with a care provider to ensure suitable, family-based care.

PA-ECE 12.06

 

The agency is aware of available spaces at each child care home and only refers families when it is determined that the resulting teacher-child ratios and group sizes:

  1. allow teachers to provide supervision that ensures child health and safety;
  2. allow teachers to establish and maintain relationships with each child in the group;
  3. allow teachers to offer a variety of activities and lessons that promote social, emotional, cognitive, language, and physical development;
  4. take into consideration the size and configuration of the space;
  5. take into consideration the qualifications and competencies of the caregiver; and
  6. take into consideration the needs of the children in the group.
Interpretation: Generally, teacher-child ratios should not exceed COA’s Recommended Teacher-Child Ratios and Group Sizes.

Interpretation: When more than six unrelated children are cared for in a child care home, the child care provider is assisted by additional staff.

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PURPOSE: Early Childhood Education facilitates appropriate child development and ensures the health and safety of children in care.
 
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