Minnesota Accreditation Task Force

The idea for a system of delivering support to child care providers interested in national accreditation, the Accreditation Facilitation Project, is a direct outcome of the Minnesota Accreditation Task Force.   This joint work supports a broad range of providers from family child care providers to center based providers to out of school programs (birth to 14).

In 2004, the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC) took part in the review and feedback process for the National Association for the Education of Young children (NAEYC) newly revised NAEYC accreditation tool. 

In early 2005 and in alignment with the new work of the Umbrella Strategic Alliance, MnAEYC invited the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association (MLFCCA), the Minnesota School-Age Care Alliance (MnSACA), and many others to a joint task force to see what assistance could be provided to care providers seeking national accreditation. 

In 2006, a grant proposal was submitted by the Umbrella Strategic Alliance (MnAEYC, MLFCCA, MnSACA and AECP) to the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation (MELF) asking for funding for the Accreditation Facilitation Project.  The grant was approved with funding from MELF and the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). 

The grant time period is January 1, 2007 to December 30, 2008.  All staff was hired by April 2007, and the work of the Accreditation Facilitation Project began to move forward.

Project Summary  Appendix A

Information regarding the Accreditation Task Force can be accessed at

www.mnaeyc.org

The Accreditation Facilitation Project – 2007

The collaboration between the Umbrella Strategic Alliance partners proved successful with the awarding of the grant from MELF and DHS.  Work of the Accreditation Facilitation Project began in earnest in April 2007 with the hiring of staff.  The Accreditation Facilitation Project is housed at the Umbrella Strategic Alliance offices in Saint Paul, with  MnAEYC as the grant’s fiscal agent.  Current staff positions include a Project Coordinator, and family child care, center based care, and school age care Accreditation Specialists.

The focus of the Minnesota Accreditation Facilitation Project is to support those individuals or organizations pursuing program improvement and national accreditation.  Accreditation raises the quality level of the child care provided but can be a daunting task for childcare providers.

Much research and thought has been put into the impact of investing in young children and “the return on such an investment (NAEYC, http://www.naeyc.org/ece/research.asp; Early Childhood Interventions, L. Karoly, M. Kilburn, and J. Cannon, Rand Report, 2005).”  Art Rolnick and Rob Grunewald at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis focused business community attention on child care through research demonstrating that investing in early childhood education represents sound economic development policy with a high public return (http://minneapolisfed.org/research/studies/earlychild/#ecd).   It is important to maintain and increase the number of accredited programs, especially those that provide access for low-income children and families.   

In this collaboration, we also hope to work closely and collaboratively with the Quality Rating System. that project will recognize accreditation as one of the key elements of a quality system.  Our intent is to complement this system while providing technical assistance for programs pursing quality improvement. 

The Accreditation Facilitation Project will provide technical assistance to providers in child care centers, family child care homes, and out of school care sites.  Technical assistance will be offered via hotlines, websites, teleconferencing, training, and site visits.  Linkage and information to resources supporting program improvement will be provided including self-study materials (upon acceptance to the program), liaison with state and national programs when difficulties or conflicts arise, and linkage to Minnesota DHS reimbursement programs, and other state/national resources available. 

Staff Biographies

Maggie Olson, Center and Family Child Care Specialist

Maggie has 30 years experience in the field of Child and Family Studies. Presently she's Accreditation Specialist for the Umbrella Strategic Alliance;  OUNCE Research Project Trainer and Coach; Contracted Educational Trainer, Coach, and Consultant; and a Family Law Mediator and Parent Educator.

Her past experiences include Trainer and Coach for the Minnesota Early Literacy SEEDS Training MELT II Project; Early Childhood Family Education Parent Educator; Learning readiness Program Coordinator; Child Care Assistant Program Social Service Advisor; School-age Program Mentor; School-age Program Coordinator ; and Early Childhood Teacher.

Her education includes a Major in Elementary Education, Minor in Child Family Studies, Parent Educator Certification, and Family Mediation Certification.

Lisa Walker, Accreditation Facilitation Project School Age Specialist.
Lisa has worked in the field of school age care for the past 20 years.  Starting with the NAA Accredited Hopkins School District Kids & Company school age program and then moving to the Minnesota School Age Care Alliance as the coordinator of Program Improvement and Accreditation Project. Part
of those responsibilities is to act as the Regional Point Affiliate representing the north central region for the National Afterschool Association accreditation process. The Accreditation Facilitation Project
SA Specialist is a perfect fit to extend and enhance the work of program improvement in the state of MN.

Umbrella Strategic Alliance

The Umbrella Strategic Alliance is a collaborative partnership between the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children (MnAEYC), the Minnesota Licensed Family Child Care Association (MLFCCA), the Alliance for Early Childhood Professionals (AECP), and the Minnesota School Age Care Alliance (MnSACA).  These four membership organizations share a similar mission revolving around the care and education of children and youth, and ensuring that professional development opportunities exist for their care givers.  These organizations support all types and places where child care occurs.

Center based care provides care for children ages 0-8 in a center environment, with a school-age option that could care for children up to the age of 13.  The size of the center, the number of children cared for, and the ages of children varies greatly from center to center.  Centers can be non-for-profit, profit, or corporation owned. Centers are required to be licensed by the Department of Human Services.  Centers are accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  

Family child care occurs in the provider’s home, either in shared or dedicated space.  FCC providers may provide care for children 0-13.  FCC providers are usually the only ‘staff’ or adult present. FCC providers are required to be licensed by the Department of Human Services. FCC homes are accredited through National Association for Family Child Care.

School age programs care for children ages 5-13, usually in a school, church or community setting.  They typically provide care before and after school, non-school days, and school breaks.  Many programs are exempt from licensing due to their location (school based).  School age programs are accredited through National Afterschool Association. 

To learn more about the Umbrella Strategic Alliance, go to

www.mnaeyc.org