Photo courtesy of Darcy Doyle-Hupf, Northwest’s Child
Arlington, VA – Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC), National Head Start Association (NHSA), and National Indian Child Care Association (NICCA) would like to congratulate Darcy Doyle-Hupf and the staff at Northwest’s Child in Seattle, Washington. They have been selected as the Provider of the Month for January 2016 and they’re the second provider trained in working with children who have special needs.
The Provider of the Month campaign was launched in May of 2015 in conjunction with Provider Appreciation Day on May 8 to honor outstanding child care providers and early childhood educators who exemplify what it means to be a quality care provider for children.
Not every provider is equipped to care for children with moderate to special needs – Darcy Doyle-Hupf saw that need in her community, and tried to fill it when she founded Northwest’s Child twenty four years ago, caring for children, teens, and young adults who have moderate to severe disabilities.
In her nomination of Doyle-Hupf, a former staff member said:
“Through a philosophy of love, kindness, and acceptance to all, Northwest's Child continues to serve many children with special needs - and when you serve a child with special needs, you also serve the family and enrich the lives of the community. Many people approach the teachers and assistants while on field trips and compliment them on how wonderful it is to see the children in the community, participating in daily life."
Doyle-Hupf goes out of her way to actively engage all the children in her care in activities and field trips off-site, including visits to museums, playgrounds, a corn maze, a petting zoo, and even a behind-the-scenes tour of an Auntie Anne’s pretzels.
The model of child care that Doyle-Hupf created for children with special needs is supported by trained staff and supportive administrators and helps many children and families in the Seattle area. The focus of the programs at Northwest’s Child place an emphasis on life skills and community interaction, as well as building relationships with peers, but they also assist parents in accessing services for their children. Their mission is simply to serve the communities most vulnerable, and they do it well.
Congratulations to Darcy Doyle-Hupf and the staff at Northwest’s Child! Doyle-Hupf will be recognized at the Child Care Aware® of America 2016 symposium alongside other exemplary providers across the country this April in Washington, D.C.
Do you know an outstanding provider or early childhood educator who is deserving of the Provider of the Month award? Visit www.providerappreciationday.org for details on how to nominate them, and help Child Care Aware® of America and partner organizations honor those providers that go above and beyond every day!
Child Care Aware of America is our nation’s leading voice for child care. CCAoA works with state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and other community partners to ensure that all families have access to quality, affordable child care. CCAoA leads projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake research, and advocate for child care policies that improve the lives of children and families. To learn more, visit usa.childcareaware.org. Follow them on Twitter @USAChildCare and on Facebook at facebook.com/usachildcare.
NAEYC’s mission is to promote high-quality early learning for all children, birth through age 8, by connecting practice, policy, and research. NAEYC advances a diverse, dynamic early childhood profession and supports all who care for, educate, and work on behalf of young children. Learn more at www.naeyc.org.
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care. NAFCC accomplishes this mission by strengthening state and local associations as the primary support system for individual family child care providers, promoting a professional accreditation program which recognizes and encourages quality child care for children, representing family child care providers by advocating for their needs and collaborating with other organizations, and promoting the diversity of the family child care profession. Learn more at www.nafcc.org.
The National Head Start Association (NHSA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization committed to the belief that every child, regardless of circumstances at birth, has the ability to succeed in life. The opportunities offered by Head Start lead to healthier, empowered children and families, and stronger, more vibrant communities. NHSA is the voice for more than 1 million children, 200,000 staff and 1,600 Head Start grantees in the United States. For more information about NHSA, visit www.nhsa.org.
The mission of National Indian Child Care Association is to unify tribes and tribal organizations to promote high quality culturally relevant child care and development. National Indian Child Care Association will provide leadership, support, and communication on behalf of Native American children, families, and communities. To learn more about NICCA, visit www.nicca.us or follow them on Facebook at facebook.com/nicca.us.
