Evaluating the quality of New York City Family Day Care: An early childhood program in the new millennium.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study was designed to assess the quality in New York City Family Day Care in order to determine what factors are associated with the levels of quality.
Five Intermediary Agencies and 25 Family Day Care Providers were selected, interviewed and the Family Day Care Providers were observed in their homes during a two-hour observation using the Family Day Care Rating Scale. The data obtained over a 2-month period were analyzed, contrasted and compared.
The human subjects included executive directors, coordinators, other supervisors and providers. The settings of the study took place in agencies and family day care homes located in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens.
A pilot study tested the conceptual design, methods, implications, validity, reliability and theories. Qualitative data were collected through interviews, questionnaires and observations in terms of economics, relationships, characteristics, experiences, longevity, education, training, support systems, resources, care giving and business practices.
There is a minimal level of quality in Family Day Care. However, some providers had significantly higher ratings in various areas. Indicated below are the levels of quality used in the Family Day Care Rating Scale. (1) Excellent—high quality with personalized care; (2) Good—meet all the developmental needs of children; (3) Minimal—custodial care with some basic needs of children met; (4) Inadequate—does not even meet the custodial needs of children.
On a 280-point rating scale, the highest score was 196 which reflects minimal quality—custodial care rather than developmental appropriate activities were predominant. However, the findings revealed that even the overall level of quality is minimal, on various key indicators, some providers rated excellent, high quality personalized care, some met the developmental needs of children though good care and a few did not meet custodial care needs of children which is inadequate quality.
The level of quality in Family Day Care can be increased in order to enhance the education of young children through equitable funding, training, support systems and resources for boards staff, providers and families.
Replication of this “Quality” study should be done throughout the New York City Family Child Care Industry.