The Stepfamily Enrichment Program is a multi-couple group intervention intended to help stepfamilies successfully negotiate the early stages of family formation. Theory, research, and clinical findings were integrated in this intervention designed specifically for remarried couples. Emphasis is placed on strengthening and improving family…

In July of 1997, Bank Street College of Education's Center for Family Support initiated a collaborative project to provide support to family, friends, and neighbors who care for other people's children. Five agencies participated in the project: the Center, Child Care, Inc., Women's Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCO), Aquinas…

A key component of a quality early care and education system for young children is the early childhood workforce--teachers and others who work directly with children, as well as directors and administrators. This paper explores a number of issues central to early childhood teacher education in New York State. The paper first describes the…

Describes training paths for child caregivers, and the incorporation of staff training requirements for facility accreditation by national professional organizations and the development of individual credentials. Describes strategies for improving quality of care, including organizing for higher wages, subsidizing care, and extending free public…

Suggests strategies for rethinking the early childhood program environment. Recommends reflecting program values throughout the environment, understanding how different elements influence behavior, and considering the role of schedules, routines, and rituals. Strategies include reinventing assessment tools, identifying the feelings elicited by…

The purpose of this book is to provide information and guidance about providing for children's social and behavioural learning. The book can be used in a variety of ways depending on the situation and previous experience of the reader. It is arranged in six chapters with a related training session at the end of each chapter. The intended audience…

Describes the Home-Based Child Care Program, an initiative to improve child care quality by providing training to kith-and-kin caregivers and to family child care providers in three New York City low-income immigrant communities and by expanding local employment opportunities. Notes that the program achieved its primary goals, providing…

This publication is intended to help ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. It was prepared by 18 organizations, many of whom have been working individually and together for a number of years to…

The results of a 1992 nationwide survey of state regulatory agencies that are presented in this report serve to update information on the licensing of family day care homes that was gathered in 1991. Terms relevant to family day care are defined; commonly asked questions about family day care are answered; and regulatory requirements for family…

Outlines an innovative approach taken by a TAFE (technical and further education) institute in Tasmania to overcome problems associated with effective implementation of on-the-job training in field placements of early childhood students. The program involves a college-based child care training center, where students in an Associate's degree…

Describes Project CREATE (Caregiver Recruitment, Education, and Training Enhancement), designed to improve the quality of community-based child care programs in Delaware, and provided in three 1-credit modules at no cost to participants. Identifies barriers to providing education to infant and toddler caregivers. Presents preliminary evaluation…

This paper presents a needs analysis conducted to obtain information concerning online dementia care training of healthcare workers in long-term care (LTC) facilities. The resulting information was used to guide the development of an online dementia care training program designed to facilitate the acquisition of skills and knowledge necessary for…

Family, friend and neighbor (FFN) child caregivers represent a significant proportion of caregivers for young children. Yet, these caregivers receive little support for their services. In 2003, the First 5 California Children and Families Commission (First 5 California) began a study to determine the work-related needs of FFN caregivers in…

This qualitative research study evaluated the impact of the Family Child Care Connection, a model designed to improve the quality of family child care for infants and toddlers. This 5-year project was administered by the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago and implemented in four satellite networks of family child care providers located in low income…

These fact sheets were developed as part of the Child Care Partnership Project, a multi-year technical assistance effort. The Partnership Project provides a series of technical assistance resources and materials to support the development and strengthening of public-private partnerships to improve the quality and supply of child care. The fact…