http://www.naccrra.org
The NACCRRA is dedicated to referring families to quality child care. Currently, according to their website, 99% of the populated zip codes have access to their services and to high quality child care.
I have subscribed to there news letter but have not received one yet. However, there website has a section of news that is updated regularly.
What caught my attention was the link with the fall advocacy campaigns. Currently, the NACCRRA, is advocating for the following three things:
- Backgrounds checks for all child care workers- According to there webite" Currently, there is no national safeguard to ensure that the more than 11 million children in child care are cared for by providers without a criminal record. As parents, we want our children to be safe in child care. A comprehensive background check is the only way to ensure our children are in the care of safe people." (NACCRRA,2011)
- Not cutting federal funding for Child Care- "This fall, there are a number of budget bills pending in Congress that could affect child care funding. Since parents need child care in order to work, child care is critical to the economy. Let your Members of Congress know that child care funding is critical in your community." (NACCRRA,2011)
- Reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant Campaign- "It's time for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, the federal law that allocates funds to states for child care, to be reauthorized, re-examined and strengthened. It's been 20 years since the law was first enacted. What we have learned is that without stronger protections for children in the federal law, state laws vary greatly. And, unfortunately, those laws fail to protect children in too many cases. Let your Member of Congress know that CCDBG should be reauthorized in this Congress!" (NACCRRA,2011)
I completely agree with all of these causes and plan to use the links provided to help use my voice to advocate as well. If you would like to do so as well go to this link:
Hailey-Thomas,
ReplyDeleteI found the first advocacy focus of interest. Background checks have been a standard practice for anyone working with children in my area. Background checks need to be updated annually. Volunteers and students need to have a background check before they are permitted to work with children in an early learning and care program. I agree, I think all three advocacy efforts to be worthwhile.
Tamara
Sounds like an interesting site. I was always dumbfounded by the fact that I never had to do a drug test as a teacher, yet I had to in order to be a cashier for summer employment. Background checks are such a good thing. Safety is so important!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat information, Hailey! It boggles my mind that funding child care is even an issue since there is so much research that shows the positive effects of high quality care for young children. In a way, the information that you presented goes along with my interest in seeing Pre-Kindergartens supported by the government. You wonder how politicans can think that public schools can meet the No Child Left Behind requirements without a solid foundation of quality child care and preschool.
ReplyDeleteHailey that is quite disturbing to know that so many children are being cared for with people who may hold a criminal background. Please believe me when I say that people who have been incarcerated deserve to work. It's people that have been incarcerated for child abuse and other related issues pertaning to child negligence. NACCRRA has always been an informative website for the betterment of children and families. Thank you for sharing..
ReplyDeleteHaily: I enkoy reading your poat on the issues of NACCRRA. Florida currently is a state that requires a national background check prior to anyone being able to work in a child care or health care agency. Many people have lost their jobs some unfairly because of these checks but it is very impportant that checks are made to insure the safety of all children. Great post.
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