|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
What is the difference between Licensing and Accreditation? Licensing The intent of licensing is to assure minimal standards of health and safety for children's protection set forward by Title 22 and headed by the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Learn More About Licensing Licensing Staff Responsibilities Accreditation The intent of accreditation is to raise and maintain quality of early care and education programs. Learn More About Accreditation National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Where can I find an Accredited child care center? Selecting Child Care Choosing a child care center is a daunting task for many parents. Issues of safety, happiness, and quality play a huge factor in choosing a child care center. The following links provide information on selecting a child care center that fits you and your child and also agencies that have referral services and subsidies. Irvine Child Care Coordination Child Care is an Important Community Infrastructure
In Orange County, licensed child care enables workers to earn approximately $828 million annually, with combined productivity effects amounting to a $6.7 billion contribution to industry output. On future workforce development & quality of life... High quality child care programs improve children's readiness to learn in school and succeed and in life. The Abecedarian Project concluded that children who participated in early intervention program had higher cognitive test scores from age 2 through 21 and were more likely to attend college. Research has found that for each dollar invested in a quality preschool program, $7.16 is saved in spending on criminal justice, education, welfare and other expenditures. But, the child care industry has not been able to expand to meet the needs of Orange County's growing population. Child care supply has expanded at just ½ of 1% per year during the past 3 years. Forty-three percent of parents in a 1998 survey indicated that lack of acceptable child care was a barrier to employment. Affordable child care is out of reach of many families. A family of three earning a monthly median-level income of $3,900, will pay more than $1,000 per month for care for two preschoolers, more than ¼ of the families income. Without policies and investments to strengthen and expand the child care infrastructure, Orange County's productivity and workforce development will be constrained. Child Care Training and Professional Development Programs The purpose of the Child/ Human Development program is to provide a foundation of understanding and skills for those interested in pursuing careers, which provide services to children and families such as infant/toddler programs; early-childhood programs; school-age programs; community agencies; health programs; and marketing children's books, toys, magazines, and educational software. The program is relevant for child development specialists, early childhood teachers, elementary school teachers, directors, recreation leaders, parents, and potential parents. Below are local universities/colleges that offer a degree/certification for child development. Irvine Valley College
Saddleback College
Orange Coast College
Fullerton College
California State University, Fullerton
Rancho Santiago Community College District
Santa Ana College
Children's Home Society
Orange County Department of Education, School Readiness Program
Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children (OCAEYC)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
