Valley parents should choose summer care providers wisely
Apr 15, 2013, 5:00 AM | Updated: 6:20 am
PHOENIX — Summer break will be here soon and that means a lot of Valley parents will be looking for qualified child care.
Unfortunately these days, parents have to be extra careful of where they leave their kids.
“First of all, make sure the providers have clear fingerprints and background checks,” said Becky Hancock, program coordinator for Childcare Resource and Referral. “That’s the one nice thing about our database, we have a database for all regulated providers in Arizona.”
Hancock said it’s important to ask a potential provider if they know what to do in case of an emergency.
“Make sure the providers have current CPR and first aid. If there’s an infant involved, make sure they have infant CPR too,” said Hancock.
Parents should physicallt check out the facility, too.
Hancock suggests parents ask themselves, “Is the facility clean? Does it smell good? Are the diapers being changed? Is it disinfected? Are they washing their hands?”
CCR&R can provide a free list of quality indicators as a guideline when parents are checking out a childcare center or provider for the first time. CCR&R is funded through the Arizona Department of Economic Security and the Child Care Administration by the Federal Child Care and Development Fund.
