It can happen suddenly—a job offer that starts next week, an injury, or news of expecting a baby are only a few of the situations that can leave a family suddenly searching for child care. Many families not only feel the pressure of their circumstances, but can become easily overwhelmed and struggle to understand the different options for child care in their community. Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions families make, which is why the role of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies as a reliable source of information is so crucial. Quality consumer education and engagement practices reduce barriers families face when accessing quality child care by ensuring they receive trusted information that supports their roles as decision makers and advocates.
At Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA), we recognize that CCR&R experts go above and beyond every day. It takes a special skill set to not only assist families in finding child care solutions, but to also equip families in becoming informed consumers. Our CCAoA Consumer Education Specialists have found that encouraging meaningful dialogue, active listening and knowing what questions to ask results in providing solutions and resources that families might not even know they needed. And families are sharing feedback such as:
- “Thanks much for all of the great info that you gave me!”
- “Wow! That’s Awesome!”
- “(we) Really appreciate your help.”
Are you a CCR&R professional that might benefit from honing your skills to make the most of your consumer education efforts? We are excited to announce a spring webinar series for you! Whether you are new to the field of Child Care Resource and Referral, a seasoned veteran or somewhere in-between, we invite you to join us as we kick off a three-part webinar series focused on CCR&R Consumer Education. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in further dialog with one another and our experts at CCAoA throughout the webinar series.
What's Coming
Stay tuned for this three-part series coming in March, April and May.
- Consumer Education 101 for CCR&Rs will introduce basics of consumer education and provide a foundation for helping to engage and inform families searching for high quality care programs. While created for those new to Consumer Education, this webinar may also serve as a great refresher for CCR&R staff.
March 28, 2-3 p.m. ET
- A Conversational Approach to Consumer Education will provide CCR&R professionals with ideas for how to engage families through active listening, customization and asking the right questions while sharing important information. All are welcome to join the discussion.
April 18, 2-3 p.m. ET
- Consumer Education for Children with Special Needs will consider the unique approach to consumer education for families of children with special needs. This webinar will provide ideas for how CCR&R staff might tailor consumer education conversations.
May 16, 2-3 p.m. ET
