Training, rating system offered to private child care operators

MATTAWA - Private child care operators, whether in a center or home setting, who want to upgrade their programs and be recognized for it may want to consider Child Care Aware, a Catholic Charities program.

Although Child Care Aware is offered through Catholic Charities, the child care providers don't have to be Catholic to receive services. Child Care Aware has contracted to carry out work the Washington State Department of Early Learning wants completed in an eight-county region.

"We have bilingual staff that can teach people about the program," Diocese of Yakima Early Learning director Jan Thoemke said.

Child Care Aware representatives for Royal City and Mattawa are Lupita Delgado and Jennifer Tapia. They can be contacted through the toll-free number 877-965-7109.

Their work is to help operators prepare to seek a Quality Level of Excellence rating. On home family child care center in Mattawa and one in Royal City have attained the rating.

A University of Washington early education group does the rating by observation of the child care center. The group considers interaction between children and between children and adults. It considers activities, space and furnishings and also looks at health, safety and nutrition.

To get to Quality Level of Excellence, a child care operator is given 18 hours of free instruction which will more than meet the 10 hours of training required by the state to maintain a license. Six of the hours are taken online, 12 are in person.

According to Thoemke, there is a $2,000 award for the child care centers who achieve the rating. It comes from the Washington State Department of Early Learning and can be used in a variety of ways to improve the center.

This award, or a lager one, can be repeated as the center climbs to levels 4 and 5 in Quality Level of Excellence. In addition to the financial reward, there is the recognition of excellence that can help parents select your center for their children.

"It really is great," Thoemke said.

According to Tapia, there will be an orientation meeting for child care providers in the South County area the first Friday in May. It will include a Power Point presentation in English and Spanish.

Several South County child care centers have signed on, Tapia said.