ERIC ED453905: Policies and Practices in Canadian Family Child Care Agencies. You Bet I Care!

88 Pages·2001·1.2 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 453 905
PS 029 279
AUTHOR
Doherty, Gillian; Lero, Donna S.; Tougas, Jocelyne;
LaGrange, Annette; Goelman, Hillel
TITLE
Policies and Practices in Canadian Family Child Care
Agencies. You Bet I Care!
INSTITUTION
Guelph Univ. (Ontario). Centre for Families, Work and
Well-Being.
SPONS AGENCY
Human Resources Development Canada, Ottawa (Ontario).
ISBN
ISBN-0-88955-505-2
PUB DATE
2001-00-00
NOTE
87p.; For other reports in this series, see PS 029 277-278.
Research funded by the Child Care Visions Program, Social
Development Partnerships Division, Human Resources
Development Canada.
AVAILABLE FROM
Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being, University of
Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. Tel: [phone];
Fax: [phone]; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site:
http://www.uoguelph.ca/cfww.
PUB TYPE
Reports
Evaluative (142)
-- Tests/Questionnaires (160)
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC04 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Administrators; *Agency Role; *Child Caregivers;
Compensation (Remuneration); *Day Care; Early Childhood
Education; *Family Day Care; Foreign Countries; Government
Role; Home Visits; Labor Turnover; National Surveys;
*Professional Development; Program Descriptions; Surveys;
*Work Environment; Working Hours
IDENTIFIERS
Canada; *Day Care Quality
ABSTRACT
Four Canadian provinces license or contract with family
child care agencies, which in turn recruit and monitor child
care providers.
These family child care agencies have two primary roles: monitoring and
supervising providers, and supplying their affiliated family child
care
providers with professional development opportunities and other types of
support. This survey study examined how agencies fulfilled these primary
roles and the types of services they made available to families. The study
focused on providers' hours of work, time off, income levels, benefits,
opportunities for career mobility within the agency system, and turnover
rates. The study also examined directors' concerns related to the family
child care program. Participating in the study were 24 Canadian family child
care agency directors, 8 each in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. Findings
indicate that the following were issues of concern to directors:
(1) the
inadequacy of agency operating funds;
(2) the difficulty experienced with
provider recruitment;
(3) high provider turnover;
(4) the challenges of
making appropriate levels and types of support available to their affiliated
providers; and (5) the unresolved issue of the employment status of family
child care providers. Findings led to the development of recommendations
related to recruitment and turnover difficulties, the provision of support
to
providers, the unresolved issue of provider employment status, the role of
the agency, and the role of the government. (Four appendices provide:
an
overview of family child care requirements in jurisdictions using
an agency
model; the program and caregiver questionnaires; and recommendations for
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
supporting quality in regulated family child care. Contains 48 references.)
(KB)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
BEEN GRANTED BY
CENTER (ERIC)
This document has been reproduced as
calved from the person or organization
originating it.
0 Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Points of view or opinions stated in this
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
1
2
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Policies and Practices
in Canadian Family
Child Care Agencies
Principal Investigators:
Gillian Doherty
Child Care Consultant, Ontario and
Adjunct Professor, Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
University of Guelph
Donna S. Lero
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
University of Guelph
Jocelyne Tougas
Child Care Consultant, Quebec
Annette LaGrange
Faculty of Education
University of Calgary
Hillel Goelman
Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and
Special Education, University of British Columbia.
© 2001, Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being, University of Guelph, Ontario
Published by: Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being, University of Guelph,
Ontario
Copy editing: Denis Alarie and Judith Bell
Design /layout: Fairmont House Design
Printing: MOM Printing
To obtain additional copies of this report, please contact:
Centre for Families, Work and Well-Being
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1
Tel: [phone], ext. 3829
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.uoguelph.ca/cfww
Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data
Main entry under title:
Policies and practices in Canadian family child care agencies
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-88955-505-2
1. Family day care
Canada. 2. Child care services
Canada.
I. Doherty, Gillian.
II. University of Guelph. Centre for Families, Work and
Well-Being.
HQ778.7.C3P64 2000
362.71'2'0971
C00-932777-0
This research was funded by the Child Care Visions Program of the Social
Development Partnerships Division of Human Resources Development Canada.
The views expressed are solely those of the authors and do not represent the
official policy of the Department of Human Resources Development Canada.
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Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
vii
Executive Summary
ix
Summary of Recommendations
Chapter 1: Introduction
1
The Three Studies of the You Bet / Care/ Project
1.1
1
Regulation of Family Child Care in Canada
2
1.2
The Agency Sample
2
1.3
4
Data Collection
1.4
4
Issues in Presenting the Findings
1.5
Data Coding, Preparation and Analysis
5
1.6
The Organization of this Report
5
1.7
6
Notes
Chapter 2: Agency Relationships with Affiliated Providers
7
7
Introduction
2.1
7
Provider Reasons for Becoming Associated with an Agency
2.2
8
The Agency Role
2.3
13
The Home Visitor
2.4
16
Summary
2.5
16
Notes
Chapter 3: Provider Working Conditions and Turnover
17
Introduction
17
3.1
18
Ratio and Group Size
3.2
18
Hours of Work and Time Off
3.3
19
Remuneration
3,4
22
Benefits
3.5
22
Recognition
3.6
24
Career Mobility
3.7
24
Provider Turnover
3.8
26
Reasons for Turnover
3.9
27
3.10 Agency Decision to Cease Using a Home
27
Summary
3.11
28
Notes
29
Chapter 4: Agency Relationships with Families
29
Introduction
4.1
29
Finding an Appropriate Care Provider
4.2
30
Making the Decision to Use a Specific Home
4.3
31
Other Services for Parents
4.4
31
Giving Parents a Voice
4.5
32
Summary
4.6
III
C O N T E N T S
T A B L E
O F
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Chapter 5: Issues and Recommendations
33
Introduction
5.1
33
The Effects of Changes in Government Policies and Practices
5.2
33
Issues Identified by the Directors
5.3
35
5.4
The Unresolved Issue of the Employment Status of Family Child Care Providers
38
Recommendations
5.5
40
5.6
Closing Words: The Importance of Family Child Care
43
Notes
43
Appendix A: Overview of Family Child Care Requirements in Jurisdictions Using an Agency Model, 1999
45
Appendix B: Home Child Care Program Questionnaire
49
Appendix C: Agency Caregiver Questionnaire
57
Appendix D: Recommendations for Supporting Quality in Regulated Family Child Care
69
References
73
Glossary of Abbreviations
75
Tables
The Communities from Which Agencies Were Sought in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec
1.1
2
Characteristics of the Final Agency Sample, 1999
1.2
3
Reasons for Becoming Affiliated with an Agency, Provider Responses, 1999
2.1
8
Provision of Supports that Assist Providers to Obtain Specialized Training or Participate
2.2
in Professional Development, Agency Director Responses, 1999
10
Initial Assistance Provided by Agencies, Provider Responses, 1999
2.3
12
Agencies' Educational Requirements for Prospective Home Visitors, Agency Director Responses, 1999
2.4
13
Frequency of Home Visits to an Experienced Provider, Agency Director Responses, 1999
2.5
15
Types of Assistance from the Home Visitor Desired by Providers, Provider Responses, 1999
2.6
15
Average Ratio, Group Size and Number of Families Being Served, Provider Responses, 1999
3.1
18
Hours of Work and Time Off, Provider Responses, 1999
3.2
19
Annual Gross Income from Child Care Provision in 1998, Providers Working
3.3
48 Weeks or More Only, Provider Responses
20
3.4
Estimated Percentage of Gross Income Spent on Child Care-Related Expenses in 1998,
Provider Responses
20
Circumstances in Which a Provider Would Receive a Higher than Usual Fee for a Child,
3.5
Agency Director Responses, 1999
21
Benefits Available Through the Agency, Provider Responses, 1999
3.6
21
Ways in Which Agencies Acknowledge Providers, Agency Director Responses, 1999
3.7
22
Provider Opportunities to Share Expertise and/or Participate in Decision-Making,
3.8
Agency Director Responses, 1999
23
The Extent to Which Provider Turnover Was Identified as a Concern by Agency Directors, 1999
3.9
24
3.10
Average Estimated Proportion of Time that Providers Have Been with Their Current Home
Child Care Program, Agency Director Responses, 1999
25
Intention to Remain with or Leave the Agency, Provider Responses, 1999
3.11
25
Most Frequent Reasons Given by Providers for Leaving the Agency Voluntarily,
3.12
Agency Director Responses, 1999
26
Approaches to Finding an Appropriate Provider, Agency Director Responses, 1999
4.1
30
Approaches to Choosing the Specific Home, Agency Director Responses, 1999
4.2
31
Other Services for Parents, Agency Director Responses, 1999
4.3
32
Mechanisms for Parent Involvement, Agency Director Responses, 1999
4.4
32
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Acknowledgements
The researchers would like to express their sincere appreciation to the agency directors who gave
so generously of their time and knowledge to complete the agency questionnaires. We are also
indebted to the directors for their assistance in identifying affiliated providers who would be
willing to participate in the study.
We also wish to thank the Child Care Visions (CCV) Program of the Social Development
Partnerships Division of Human Resources Development Canada for its financial assistance,
and Penny Hammell of CCV for her unfailing support and encouragement. Without support from
programs such as CCV, large multi-jurisdictional studies such as the You Bet I Care! Project, that
are vital for policy development and practice, would not occur. We are also grateful to the
universities of Guelph, British Columbia and Calgary for their sponsorship.
Hats off to our site coordinators for a difficult job, well done. They were: Sandra Beckman
(the Yukon), Leona Howard (Ontario), Sandi Moussadji (British Columbia), Lois Okrainec
(Saskatchewan), Dixie van Raalte (New Brunswick), Jocelyne Richer (Quebec) and Sherry Woite
(Alberta).
Lee Dunster and Irene Kyle provided valuable assistance in determining the content of the agency
questionnaire and in helping us to determine the priority issues to explore.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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Executive
Summary
As part of a larger study, eight family child care agencies in each of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec
completed a questionnaire about: (1) their agency and the children it serves; (2) the services provided
to children's families; (3) provider monitoring, fees and turnover; (4) home visitors; and (5) the level
and type of supports available to its affiliated providers. A sixth section of the questionnaire gave an
opportunity for the director to identify the extent to which certain issues were of major concern for the
family child care program and to express opinions (see Appendix B).
Agencies have two primary roles: monitoring and supervising providers, and supplying their affiliated
providers with professional development opportunities and other types of support. This report gives
information about how agencies fulfill these primary roles and also about the types of service they make
available to families. Providers' hours of work, time off, income levels, benefits, opportunities for career
mobility within the agency system, and turnover rates are identified and discussed.
The 24 agency directors who participated in the study identified the following issues of concern: (1) the
inadequacy of agency operating funds; (2) the difficulty they experience with provider recruitment;
(3) high provider turnover; and (4) the challenges of making appropriate levels and types of support
available to their affiliated providers. A sixth concern, the unresolved issue of the employment status of
family child care providers, was identified obliquely through questionnaire responses. These concerns
are explored and lead into a series of recommendations.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
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Summary of
Recommendations
Recommendations Related to Recruitment and Turnover Difficulties
Starting immediately, all jurisdictions must implement an income enhancement grant for
1.
regulated providers. The grant amount must ensure that all providers working full-time and
caring for four or more children receive, after child-care related expenses and before taxes,
the equivalent of what would be earned, on average, by an entry-level staff person working
full-time at a centre in the same jurisdiction. Full-time for providers should be defined as at
least eight hours a day, five days a week, for 48 weeks or more a year.
Governments, family child care organizations, family child care agencies and other professional
2.
organizations must immediately undertake public education/awareness strategies that will
assist people to understand the link between the importance of children's experiences
during their early years and the value of people who work in child care.
Recommendations Related to the Provision of Support to Providers
Provincial governments expecting family child care agencies to provide training and other .
3.
supports for their affiliated providers must immediately grant agencies an appropriate level
of funds to enable them to undertake this responsibility on a sustained basis. Such funding
must include recognition of the fact that providers caring for children who have special
needs may require specific training related to the child's needs and/or special equipment as
well as ongoing consultation.
Starting immediately, agencies should explore various ways of providing supports to providers,
4.
including the use of experienced providers as trainers and/or mentors for their less experi-
enced colleagues and collaboration with other agencies and organizations around initiatives
such as joint training.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
IX
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