Evaluating the Quality of Care
There are many factors that go into evaluating the quality of a particular
program. Below we have highlighted some of the elements it takes to provide
quality care.
Quality Indicators: Adult/Child Ratios
In the State of Colorado, the ratio for family child care homes is based
on the number of children present in the home and their ages. The chart
indicates the provider/child ratios for different age groups in Colorado.
Questions to Consider:
 | How does the ratio vary according to the ages of the children present in
a home? |
| What is the largest total number of children present in the provider's
home on any given day? |
| Are there other adult members of the household or a hired assistant
provider that may factor into the ratio? |
| Who are those assistants and when are they present during child care
hours? |
| Does the provider have children of her own that factor into the ratio? |
| What hours are those children present during child care hours? |
Provider Qualifications
The state of Colorado requires a certain amount of training in the early
childhood field in order to license a family child care provider. Quality of
care is usually higher when the provider has some education in child development
and related fields and/or participates in ongoing training.
Experience and training can be gained through:
| Coursework in early childhood education and related fields |
| Parenting experience |
| Community workshops and other training |
Questions to Consider:
How long has the Family Child Care provider been in business?
How much child care experience and training has she received?
Has she raised children of her own?
Does she take part in ongoing professional development through workshops
and seminars? Does she have additional training hours beyond the state's
minimum requirements?
Program Philosophy
Every family child care provider establishes her own philosophy for her
Family Child Care Home. Some may emphasize certain aspects of a curriculum more
than others, due to her own interests, experience or space limitations, but all
quality providers will provide:
| A safe child-oriented program |
| Nurturing care |
| Age-appropriate activities |
| Positive guidance for behavioral issues (i.e., discipline) |
| Ongoing communication with parents |
Stability of Care
Children thrive best with a loving provider with whom they can build an
ongoing, trusting relationship.
Questions to Consider:
| Has the provider been in business for a year or more? |
| Does the provider plan to be in business for at least one more year? |
| Has there been a lot of turnover in families using the provider during
the past year? |
| 
Denver Association of Family Child Care
