Child care association celebrates 40 years

By Margie Fuller

----

Congratulations are in order for the non-profit Cedar Rapids Family Home Child Care Association. For 40 years they have been serving the Cedar Rapids area by offering training and support to family child care home providers and free child care referrals to families.

Back in November 1972, when family child care providers were commonly referred to as “baby sitters,” what was then the Department of Social Services (now the Department of Human Services) invited licensed child care home providers and licensed child care centers to meet together to help develop higher standards for child care. Member June Loney was part of this initial group.

Soon the care centers went their own way. The child care home providers continued to meet monthly for support and training, staying current with changes over the years in rules, regulations and practices.

Currently, we have a referral system set up through our website (www.crhomechildcare.org). Parents can complete the form found on the website detailing their child care needs. This is then sent out to all of our members. Interested members then can contact the parents and arrange an interview.

All of our members are registered through the state.

This means they have passed a criminal-background check and that they are trained in First Aid, CPR, Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting, as well as having 12 hours of DHs-approved training. This all goes to helping to assure parents of a measure of quality control in child care.

Because of the annual training requirement, the FHCCA supports providers by offering 10 trainings a year that are approved by DHS. Membership is limited to registered child care home providers. However, the trainings, while free to members, are open to center personnel (who also need training hours) for a small fee. Our trainings are held at 7 p.m. at Ryan's Steakhouse on Collins Road. Preregistration is required and can be done online on the DHS Training Registry. Membership information is available on our website.

In 1982, the FHCCA was involved in the founding of the Iowa Family Child Care Association. The FHCCA continues to be involved with the state association and helps to plan the annual IFCCA State Child Care Convention, which is held in March every year. IFCCA is also an affiliate of the National Association for Family Child Care.

As a long time member, I want to congratulate the Family Home Child Care Association for 40 years of community service, friendship, trainings and referrals.

l Margie Fuller, president of Cedar Rapids Family Home Child Care Association, has 38 years of experience in home child care and is treasurer of the Iowa Family Child Care Association. Comments: margie.fuller@gmail.com