LOCAL CHILD CARE EXPERTS RECEIVE NATIONAL CREDENTIALS

Nine area child care providers are among the first in the region to obtain the Child Development Associate national credential through a new state-backed program.

The Council for Professional Recognition, a Washington, D.C.-based organization which represents early childhood professions, awarded the CDA to: Janet Cattron, owner, The Bus Stop Child Care in Fruitland, Mo.; Nicole Siebert, teacher, Montessori School; Cathy Clark, co-owner, A Small World Preschool; Herice McClinton, owner, Precious Times Daycare; Marilyn McFerren, owner, Ms. Marilyn's Daycare; Lori Errzfeld, teacher, A Small World Preschool; Renee Johnson, teacher, Head Start; Kim Dohogne, owner, Kim and Company in Delta, Mo.; and Martha Dumars, owner, Ms. Martha's Daycare.

Credential recipients said the CDA will help them to recognize potential problems in the development of the children in their care. They said the training also gave them information and improved access to educational equipment, activities and materials they will use with children.

Added comfort

Parents searching for quality child care also have added comfort when they see the credential, they said.

"Especially in the smaller programs, some children may come in very disadvantaged and haven't been worked with in different areas," said McClinton. "If we see that here, we would be able to work with them to help them reach proper development."

Cattron obtained the certification so she could receive an upgraded state license to keep more children. Although the state currently does not require CDA certification, some say it's not far away.

"They are wanting to see more people qualified that have a background with credentials taking care of children in Missouri," said Kristen Schlegel, training coordinator at the Child Care Resource and Referral Center.

Both the Child Care Resource and Referral Center, operated at Southeast Missouri State University and Educare, a school-readiness program that helps parents and child care providers teach children ages birth to 5 years old, provide CDA training locally.

College credit offered

Both programs require participants to complete national CDA standards, but the university program allows providers to earn college credit toward an associate's degree.

Although the credential was created 20 years ago to increase the skills of providers working with younger children, the Missouri Department of Social Services only began encouraging child care providers to earn CDAs about three years ago.

To earn a CDA, providers must successfully complete 120 clock hours of training in various areas related to child care. Trained specialists also conduct observations of the providers working with young children.

In addition, providers must pass a written examination, compile a professional portfolio and complete an oral interview.

Dr. Shelba Branscum, administrative director at Educare, said the state will likely seek to mandate the CDA credential within the next five years. Preliminary guidelines already are being developed regarding desired training for child care providers.

"Research clearly shows that the more qualified, the more educated and the more experienced the provider is, the better the quality of care for the child becomes," Branscum said. "When the public becomes more aware of what quality child care is, then the general public is going to want this."