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Marshall, N.L., Creps, C.L., Burstein, N.R., Cahill, K.E., Robeson, W.W., Wang, S.Y., Schimmenti, J., & Glantz, F.B. (2003). Family child care today: A report of the findings of the Massachusetts Cost/Quality Study” Family Child Care Homes. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Child Care Bureau, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families.
This report examined workforce issues, quality of care, education in family child care, and costs associated with licensed family child care homes in a random sample of 203 providers in Massachusetts.
The Study
- Data collectors measured quality of care in family child care homes in site visits lasting from three to four hours.
Interviews were conducted with providers to collect other pertinent information.
The Methods
- The sample was drawn from six regions in the state of Massachusetts. Unregulated and unlicensed homes were not included in this study.
- Fifty-seven percent of selected homes agreed to participate (final n=203).
The Findings
- Workforce issues
- Family child care providers would be more likely to stay if the job was elevated to a professional level with benefits and more prestige.
- Many providers cited an expectation that they would switch careers within the next three years.
- Quality of care and education
- Family child care homes in MA are comparable to national rates.
- The majority of caregivers were warm and sensitive to the children but did not provide much learning stimulation.
- Characteristics of quality licensed family child care homes
- Education of the provider was most closely linked to quality of care, not years of experience.
- Costs
- Most revenue came from parent fees.
- Relationship between quality and cost
- Costs would rise per family child care home if quality were to improve across the board.
R2P Evaluation
This study featured one state’s experience with family child care. The results were consistent with other studies findings in relation to quality of care and cost and quality of care and education of providers.
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