Christian Child Care has earned NAC accreditation

[February 15, 2011]  Christian Child Care of Lincoln was ready to close its doors three years ago because of delays in state checks and other financial problems. The outlook for the center was bleak, but the community of Lincoln was not ready to lose care for 50 children. With the help of Community Child Care Connection, the leadership of a new board of directors and a child care director with vision, Coleen Moore, the rebuilding of the reputation and quality of the center began full force.

Three goals were set: first, to pay off all outstanding taxes and debt, which was done in two years; then, improve the standards of quality and education in the center; and lastly, use the tools of accreditation and a quality rating system to prove that the center has met the goals of high quality.

Last year Christian Child Care completed the Quality Counts Quality Ratings System process, which looked at the center's teaching practices and business practices. Because many of the business practices need three years' worth of documentation, the center initially achieved a two-star rating.

Accreditation by the National Association of Child Care Professionals is a three-year process, and Christian Child Care is proud to announce that because of a very talented and educated staff, a hardworking administrative staff, and very supportive board of directors, the center was awarded accreditation.

Accreditation, like the Quality Counts Ratings System, looks at the level of excellence in the classrooms and in the administration of a child care center. In Illinois there are 5,620 day care centers and only 464, or 8.3 percent, are accredited. With this accreditation, the center will move to a three-star rating and is already beginning to build for the process of earning the highest achievement in excellence: four stars. Only two child care centers in Illinois have a four-star rating.

Christian Child Care is decorated in stars in every hallway and teachers are smiling from ear to ear. Several local businesses are helping to make this week very special for the staff that worked so hard. Some of the treats planned are lunches, flowers and T-shirts for the staff.

Christian Child Care now employs over 28 individuals, collaborates with the foster grandparent program in Lincoln, is a United Way agency, and participates in chamber activities and the Healthy Families board. The center is housed in an Oddfellows facility and has over 80 students. Christian Child Care serves children 6 weeks to 12 years old.

The center is getting ready to promote its "Summer Around the World" school-age program. The summer program includes a field trip each week and swimming almost every day. CCC is taking applications now for enrollment. There are only 30 spots for children 5-12 and only a few openings in the younger classrooms.

The future of Christian Child Care is always dependent on how the state government supports early learning programs. Forty percent of the families get subsidies to help pay for day care and another 40 percent of the families are funded by DCFS foster care. If these programs are cut by the state, CCC and thousands of other child care centers would not be able to survive. Please make sure to contact your local representatives to tell them that early learning is important and essential to giving a child a great start to their education.

Christian Child Care has so many people to thank in helping them to the accreditation achievement. They wish to thank you all for all the support during the years of helping keep their doors open. CCC is planning an open house for the Week of the Young Child in April. They hope to see everyone then.

[Text from file received]