“I had so much fun on Thursday taking the parenting class with my husband & we made some new friends too while we were there. I will definitely keep going back every time.” 

“Such an awesome resource for children and families. Their staff is kind and caring and always make you feel welcomed.” 

“A-M-A-Z-I-N-G STAFF!!!!! Incredible resources! I love this place! There is a free library and playground where you can bring your children. They also have events on certain days!” 

These are just a few of the Google Reviews for the Early Childhood Resource Center (ECRC) in Canton, Ohio, which is a member of Child Care Aware® of America.  

With more than 60 reviews that largely echo the sentiments above, and nearly a 5-star rating, what is the secret to ECRC’s success? Turns out: it’s about providing great client service and support.  

Angela Moses, director of Early Care and Education Services at the Early Childhood Resource Center, shared how she and her staff have worked hard to create a welcoming experience for the families they serve. Here are four tips for child care staff to address a client's concern:  

• Work quickly. When a concern arises, don’t delay. Work quickly to resolve the issue. 

• Seek understanding. Try to get a full 360-degree view of the situation, including the client’s perspective and the staff’s perspective.  

• Provide training. Equip your staff with resources, training and effective communications strategies so they can better support the clients.  

• Take an empathic approach. View the concern from the client’s point of view. This helps the client feel understood and can reduce overall tension and conflict.  

Each September, we commemorate National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. Ready.gov has announced that this annual event’s theme for 2021 is “Prepare to Protect. Preparing for disasters is protecting everyone you love.”

The COVID-19 pandemic forced rapid changes upon the field of early care and education and dictated a re-examination of how many of its traditional systems and services are offered. Professional development is one such system, particularly traditional one-on-one coaching models. For many years, the norm was face-to-face coaching support, but the pandemic required the field to face a new reality. How do we balance offering this much-needed aspect of professional development while protecting the health and safety of staff and children?  

Child Care Aware^® of America is pleased to announce the call for nominations for its 2022 Board of Directors. 

With the nation’s attention now on the needs of the child care system, we have a “moment in a movement” to build a better, more equitable system – one that works for and supports children, families, child care providers and communities. You can contribute to this critical mission by nominating yourself or others to be considered for a Board seat with CCAoA. 

In response to an evolving organizational structure and to changes in the child care field, Child Care Answers will launch a campaign in late August announcing its amicable split from Early Learning Indiana. As a part of this split, Child Care Answers undertook a rebranding initiative. Executive Director Mollie Smith explains how they went about it and what they learned from the process.

Have you experienced difficulty recruiting experienced, qualified staff? You are not alone. Child care professionals across the country have expressed a need for talented candidates to fill open positions within child care centers, homes and Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs).