In this Issue
- Spotlight On: CCTAPES
- Forum Corner
- Welcome New Forum Members
- Children's Movement of Florida Update
- Early Learning Coalition Briefs
- 17th Annual Children's Week
- T.E.A.C.H. Updates
- Afterschool Initiatives
- In the News
- Calendar of Events
Spotlight On: Child Care Training and Accreditation Provider Evaluation Services (CCTAPES)
The Children's Forum operates the Child Care Training and Accreditation Provider Evaluation Services (CCTAPES) department under the direction of Felicia Bonner with the assistance of Program Specialist Tamara Williams.
- Evaluating applications from prospective Florida Child Care Professional Credential (FCCPC) training institutions to determine their eligibility to offer the FCCPC. In FY 2010-2011, nine new FCCPC training programs were reviewed and three were approved.
- Evaluating applications from prospective and renewing accrediting associations to determine their eligibility for designation as Gold Seal Quality Care Accrediting Associations. Currently, there are 13 nationally-recognized associations participating in the Gold Seal program.
- Assisting owners/operators of child care programs in Florida with questions about becoming a Gold Seal program, as well as assisting current Gold Seal programs with inquiries about their status.
- Maintaining the state database of more than 2,700 child care programs that have attained Gold Seal status.
Currently there are 37 educational institutions offering the FCCPC in the state. These institutions consist of state and community colleges, community agencies, and other organizations providing training and education to the early childhood workforce. Obtaining an FCCPC is one way that child care practitioners can meet Florida's training requirements needed to work in programs for young children.
The Gold Seal program provides a number of benefits for eligible child care programs including sales tax exemption, increased reimbursement rate for children participating in school readiness programs, eligibility for participation in Florida's Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) program, and a positive marketing tool for parents. Research (Winterbottom & Jones, in press) suggests that accredited programs with Gold Seal designation that strive to meet higher standards have a reduced incidence of licensing violations than programs that are not accredited.
For more information about CCTAPES, please contact Felicia Bonner, Director of Child Care Evaluation Services, at (850) 681-7002 or fbonner@thechildrensforum.com.