The majority of parents believe that licensed child care providers undergo training before caring for children. The truth is many providers begin work with little or no training.
In Virginia, cosmetologists and barbers are required to have 1,500 hours of training. Nail technicians are required to have 150 hours of training. But, Virginia only requires 24 hours of training to be a child care provider.
Research shows that training makes a difference in the quality of care provided. Because 90 percent of a child's brain develops by age 5, the quality of care a child receives during this time can have a lifelong effect.
To ensure providers have the skills and knowledge needed to prepare our children for a successful future, providers paid to care for unrelated children should have 40 hours of orientation (or basic training) and 24 hours of annual training. Given that 42 states require providers to only have a high school diploma or less, training is an important tool in preparing caregivers to keep children safe, healthy and learning.
Give our children the best start possible. Sign the petition urging Congress to enact legislation that will require providers to complete 40 hours of orientation and 24 hours of annual training.
According to a national survey conducted by the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA), more than three quarters of parents believe that all providers go through training in child development BEFORE working with children. The truth is that many providers begin their work with children with little or no training in CPR, child development, or other health and safety basics needed to ensure children are in safe settings that promote their healthy development.
Caring for children is one of the few professions in which practitioners may begin working with clients -- in this case young children -- with little or no orientation training. In Virginia, cosmetologists and barbers are required to have 1,500 hours of training. Even nail technicians are required to have 150 hours of training. Yet, 11 states do not require any orientation training for family child care providers and 20 additional states require less than 10 hours. Given that 42 states only require child care providers to have a high school diploma or less, training is an important tool in preparing caregivers to keep children safe and promote healthy development.
To ensure providers have the skills and knowledge needed to prepare our children for a successful future, I strongly urge you to support legislation that would require all providers caring for unrelated children for a fee to have at least 40 hours of orientation training and 24 hours of annual training.
Research shows that training makes a difference in the quality of care provided. Considering that 90 percent of a child's brain develops by the age of 5, the early learning experiences a child has plays a significant part in his or her future success.
[Your comments]
As a Member of Congress, you have the opportunity to make sure all children in child care are in safe, healthy and developmentally appropriate settings. By supporting legislation that requires all paid providers caring for unrelated children to have at least 40 hours of orientation training and 24 hours of annual training, you can prepare the way for a successful future of all our children in child care.
