The Power of Partnerships:
Department of Defense
Child Care Expansion
Initiative
2012 National Child Care Policy Symposium
National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
Washington, DC
March 9, 2012
Broad Interest: Federal and State Levels
• First Lady and Dr. Biden’s national call to
action to address the unique challenges
facing military families
• Presidential Study Directive on Military
Families urging federal agencies to work
together to support military families
• Increased the synergy of the partnerships
between DoD, USDA, and ACF
• Military Family Caucuses
• State interest in QRIS/other quality initiatives
DoD’s Child Care Initiative - Why
• Two-thirds of those stationed in the United
States do not live on an installation
• Many Reserve Component families live in
remote areas and long distances from an
installation
DoD’s Child Care Initiative - What
• To address child care availability
and quality for:
• geographically dispersed Guard and
Reserve families
• active duty members who are unable to
access care on the installation
DoD’s Child Care Initiative - Where
Alaska
Washington
Indiana
Kentucky
Vermon
t
Delaware
Virginia
North
Carolina
California
Colorado
Kansas
Texas
Florida
DoD’s Child Care Initiative - How
• A Child Care Liaison in each of the pilot
states will serve a single point of contact
• Develop a strategic plan that will guide
efforts in regulatory, non-regulatory, and
legislative focus areas
• Forge new partnerships, strengthen existing
partnerships
• Support efforts for legislative and rules
changes, as appropriate
• Facilitate delivery of training resources
DoD’s Child Care Initiative – How
• In addition to the Child Care Liaison, states are
supported by an Educator from the Land Grant
University System
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is lead
• Provide access to evidence-based, research
informed materials
• Responsible for providing specific training and
technical assistance opportunities
• Facilitate partnerships with Cooperative Extension
System in counties throughout the state
DoD's Child Care Initiative
• Strategic Plan created for each state
• Input from state stakeholders/use of tools:
• DoD ERIS (Effectiveness Rating and Improvement System)
Standards
• State Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS)
• State Child Care Licensing Regulations
• Richard Fiene, Ph.D. – 13 Indicators of Quality Child Care
• We Can Do Better and Leaving Children to Chance reports
(NACCRRA)
• UNL – Training & Technical Assistance Environmental Scan
• NACCRRA Training & Technical Assistance Overview
DoD's Child Care Initiative
Markers of Progress
• Legislative/Policy Wins (with Defense State
Liaison Office)
• 17 pieces of legislation in 2011
• Recommendations for Child Care
Rule/Regulation Change –
• Kansas and Washington adopted recommendations
• Training Implementation with Focus on
Sustainability
Training and Technical Assistance
Evidence based programs selected for initial
training implementation:
• Better Kid Care
• Online and Instructor Modules
• Rock Solid Social Emotional Foundations
• Getting Started in Family Child Care
• I am Moving, I am Learning
• Series 3 Online
• Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Training Opportunities
Multiple Delivery Systems:
• Training of Trainers
• Face-to-Face
• On-line
Sustainability Plan
• Strategic plans in place, guiding the
planning for sustainability
• Trainers ready and available to continue
training of providers
• Statewide partnerships including Land Grant
University System and Cooperative
Extension System
Small Group Session
• Three Sessions
• 15 minutes per session
• 10:50-11:05
• 11:10-11:25
• 11:30-11:45
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Small Group Session
• Professional Development - Assessment
• Professional Development - Changing state
structure
• Teaching Methods - Train the Trainer
• Teaching Methods - On-line Learning
• Partnerships - New Pathways
• Partnerships - Developing Sustainability