September 6, 2006. Kalamazoo, Michigan – Ella Fabel-Ryder, executive director of Child Care Resources, announced today that it had met Child Care Aware® Quality Assurance – a national voluntary certification program.

The Child Care Aware Quality Assurance system is designed to ensure that families across the country have access to consistent, high quality services that support them in making informed child care choices.

Flor Philips, Child Care Aware’s Manager, explained, "The child care market is a complicated one to navigate. Families want to know what good child care looks like and how to find and pay for it." "Local child care resource and referral (CCR&R) services provide families with expert help." "Child Care Resources has met national practices for service delivery, and is the best resource for information on local child care availability, licensing laws, quality indicators, scholarships and subsidies, and other parenting resources."

"Child Care Resources is very proud to have achieved Quality Assurance for our child care resource and referral services," stated Stephanie Buszka, referral coordinator for Child Care Resources. "We have always strived to provide excellent child care consumer education services – having a national seal of approval proves we are succeeding."

In addition to helping families find child care and other parenting resources, Child Care Resources supports child care professionals and businesses with information about quality child care and training for child care providers. Child Care Resources works to improve access to quality early education and child care for all residents of southwestern Michigan. It is committed to the belief that every child is entitled to a safe, nurturing, inspiring, QUALITY child care environment. Child Care Resources is part of the Michigan 4C Association and the 16 Regional 4C (Community Coordinated Child Care) agencies statewide. Parents seeking referrals to licensed or registered child care programs and anyone who has questions about the early care and education of children can contact Child Care Resources (or the regional 4C that serves their area) by calling 1 866 4CHILDCARE (1.866.424.4532).

Child Care Aware is an initiative of NACCRRA, the nation’s network of child care resource and referral. In addition to administering the Quality Assurance Program, Child Care Aware operates a national hotline, 1-800-424-2246 and website, www.ChildCareAware.org, available in both English and Spanish, which connects families to their local CCR&R and provides parenting and early care and education information.

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