Quality programs want to ensure they have high-quality staff, this means ensuring that all staff receive full criminal background checks. Federal criminal background checks should be completed by staff upon hire and renewed regularly.

A licensed program must meet requirements set by the Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning. These standards require basic health and safety measures be met in the environment, that educational requirements are met, that the facility is inspected for safety and compliance, and ensures that the records for inspection are publicly available.

Quality Rating – Indiana offers a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for child care providers called Paths to QUALITY™. Although all licensed child care programs are not required to participate, programs that do participate meet quality standards and may receive personal coaching from our Child Care Answers staff.

Child care programs are more likely to protect children from harm and illness if they consistently practice standards such as frequently washing hands, disinfecting diaper changing stations, cleaning toys and properly storing cleaning supplies and other poisonous materials.

These factors can affect the quality of care for children in relation to safety, attention given and daily adult interactions. Depending on the age and personality of your child, take a moment to understand which group size and ratio works best for you. Look for opportunities for your child to be independent, work together with caregivers and other children, and change activities throughout the day.

Quality programs work closely with families to ensure they are informed about their child’s development and are a welcomed partner in their care. They often have an open-door policy, which means family members are free to come and go at any time. A program that provides written policies to include and engage families may be signs of true family partnerships.

Generally, accredited programs are those that meet the highest standards of care and exceed licensing regulation. Once accreditation is achieved, the program will have a certificate.

‘Inclusive’ programs include children with and without disabilities as they take part in the same routines and play activities. Child care providers in inclusive programs learn to recognize each child’s strengths and needs. They creatively adapt routines and activities so that each child can be successful.

Longevity of teaching staff contributes to higher-quality care. It also shows a welcoming, supportive and positive environment, which may translate into better care for your child. The amount of education and continuing professional development a child care provider has is an important indicator of quality.