Paths to QUALITY™
What Exactly is it?
Paths to QUALITY is a program offered by 4C of Southern Indiana, Inc., a non-profit agency that supports families and child care providers. We offer free services to families tackling the difficult task of finding quality child care, early education, and childhood development in their communities.
Paths to QUALITY provides information on how to find and choose quality child care in licensed centers, family child care homes, preschools or unlicensed registered ministries. It is a voluntary system for child care providers who are willing to go beyond the minimum state requirements of licensing to provide a higher level of care. Families calling 4C of Southern Indiana, Inc. Child Care Resource and Referral will be provided with a list of child care providers who meet their needs and a checklist of questions to ask any provider when making that all-important decision regarding their child care provider. Paths to QUALITY helps child care providers learn new ways to improve the quality of their care and give families more choices when selecting quality child care.
How Does It Work?
Paths to QUALITY has specific standards at each of its four levels that must be met by child care providers. This is totally voluntary for all home child care providers, licensed centers, unlicensed registered ministries and school programs. A Paths to QUALITY representative visits the child care facility to review the quality of the program. After the visit, the provider or program is registered at one of the four levels. As the child care provider improves the standard of care they move to the next level of the Paths to QUALITY. Paths to QUALITY providers and programs are visited annually to ensure that the standards continue to be met.
Level ONE
Health and Safety Needs are Met
Includes criminal history checks, CPR and First Aid Training, TB screening, written emergency plans and a hazard-free environment.
Level TWO
Environment Supports Children’s Learning
Appropriate number of adults for the age and group size of the children cared for, families are informed of the children’s activities and their schedule, which provides time for play, relaxed routines and offers a variety of interesting materials and activities. Child care providers receive ten hours of training annually.
Level THREE
Planned Curriculum Supports Children’s Development
Age-appropriate activities are used to help children learn and prepare for school. Parent evaluations are performed. Child care providers receive sixteen hours of training annually.
Level FOUR
Achieved National Accreditation
National accreditation is the highest recognition of quality a child care provider can achieve. The child care provider has at least eighteen months of experience and receives sixteen hours of training annually.
Is Your Child Care Provider Registered with Paths to QUALITY?
Participating Paths to QUALITY child care providers and programs are reviewed each year and proudly display a window decal with the Paths to QUALITY logo and the color-coded level of quality. If your current provider is not registered with Paths to QUALITY, please encourage them to participate. The program is voluntary and free, and child care providers are recognized for increasing the quality of child care they provide. Contact 4C of Southern Indiana, Inc. Child Care Resource and Referral to find a child care provider on Paths to QUALITY. Receive a list of questions to ask any child care provider about the quality of care and activities offered in their program, and how your child care provider can be on the Path to QUALITY.
