Building Success Among Childcare Providers That Impact Our Children

Summary

In order to ensure that children in child care are safe and healthy, Georgia licensing regulations requires that all child care providers complete at least ten hours of training per year. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, childcare providers have been unable to receive training. The FACS Agent created trainings through a virtual platform that enable center staff to receive the required training to maintain the high-level of care for children of Georgia.

Situation

Many young children spend the majority of their day in childcare centers, family child care homes, or other forms of non-parental care. For most children, they are in the care of a center for up to 10 hours a day. Although research indicates that quality of childcare is the most important determining factor in young children’s readiness for school, a recent study indicates that the quality of most child care in the United States is mediocre or poor, and many parents do not recognize the difference between high-quality and lower-quality care. Programs with well-trained and well-educated teachers are more likely to provide high-quality care for children. The education and training we give to our centers is so important to the lives of our children. In order to ensure that children in child care are safe and healthy, Georgia licensing regulations requires that all child care providers complete at least ten hours of training per year. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, childcare providers have been unable to receive training.

Response

Family and Consumer Sciences Agent has teamed up with Bright from the Start and Child Care Centers in Tattnall County to educate all child care centers, family child care homes, and other forms of non-parental care. The Agent collaborated with Directors, Teachers, and other Educators to bring a higher-quality of care to the children of the community. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the FACS Agent created trainings through a virtual platform. Trainings that are normally taught in a face to face format were revised to offer an engaging environment in a virtual training. The trainers utilized video demonstrations, online visuals, polls, and discussion boards to enhance learning in a virtual world. The FACS Agent has offered six (2-Hour) trainings for the Child Care Centers in the state. Tattnall County Extension has offered educational programs for more than 150 child care centers across the state of Georgia. These trainings included Basic Care, Managing Food Allergies, Food Nutrition, Eat Healthy Be Active, Emergency Preparedness, and Injury Prevention and Control. Each Child Care Center received a flyer and information about the classes.

Impact

In each session, participants completing retrospective post-then-pre-evaluations have reported significantly improved knowledge of issues such as playground inspecting, choking hazards, proper handwashing, the spread of infectious diseases, and nutritional needs of children. Ninety-Five percent of participants learned new skills and activities to use in their centers. Caregivers indicated 95% knowledge gained on how to be prepared in the event of an emergency while caring for young children. 100% of caregivers indicated after attending the class, they would start incorporating food related activities in different learning centers such as dramatic play, art, and music to encourage a healthier lifestyle for the children. After attending the session, 93% indicated they felt very knowledgeable or extremely knowledgeable compared to 71% that felt some knowledge at the beginning of the program. With intent to use the information from the sessions, 91.67% of participant indicated they “would definitely use the information” with 7% indicating they will “probably use the information.” After the sessions, 63% of participants felt less stress and 63% felt more in control of success in their work environment. In the session on playground safety, 95% of participants indicated a better understanding of play around structure and the importance of spacing around equipment. Participants demonstrated a greater understanding of how to set up a playground for safety. 100% of participants referred to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission Handbook in their demonstrations of playground design. In the session on injury prevention, 75% of participants indicated a better understanding of classroom set up to prevent run away aisles, and 65% would use bleach water to disinfect surfaces. The 141 childcare providers reported they had, on average, saved or gained $89.29 per participant as a result of the online extension program. The childcare providers perceived the economic value of the extension classes to be $12,590 on average saved or gained monthly. Comments from the participants included, “Believe it or not, the information on NOT RINSING raw poultry, meat or seafood (doing so only spreads germs) WOW! I was always taught to rinse my meat before cooking. This is definitely NEWS to USE and SHARE. THANK YOU SO MUCH” “I like that the presenters gave different scenarios for the students. If definitely opened my eyes to what could happen at the childcare center.” “I believe the most beneficial part of the program was pretty much all of it, because I am getting into babysitting and getting ready to have my own baby. I feel like this program gave me more knowledge on how to take care of my kids and help out others that have kids.” “The most beneficial part of the program for me was learning obesity prevention strategies, learning of approaches that does not work and importance of eating healthy while incorporating hands-on; play-based activities including all curriculum areas in my center.”

State Issue

Youth & Family Development

Details

• Year: 2020
• Geographic Scope: State
• County: Tattnall
• Location: College Station, Athens
• Program Areas:
  • Family and Consumer Sciences