It's one of the most difficult and important decisions you'll ever make as a parent. Who will you trust to take care of your children?
Back in 2010, the Appleton Fire Department shut down an unlicensed daycare. Alarming pictures taken from inside the home showed cribs crammed into an unmonitored basement, toys piled from the floor to the ceiling, and fire alarms that didn't work. It's a shocking wakeup call for parents everywhere.
"Childcare shouldn't just be this is where I drop my kid off for the day, and I don't really worry about it," said Jamie Tramte Brassfield of Family and Childcare Resources of N.E.W.
But with hundreds of daycare options, how do you choose the best and safest one for your child? Tramte Brassfield works with parents to create a customized list of quality providers that meet the family's needs. One of the tools she uses is the YoungStar Quality Rating and Improvement System that was implemented five years ago by the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
The program rates providers on a scale of one to five stars. Five is the highest quality of care while one star programs do not meet basic health and safety standards. For parents like Gena VanDomelen of De Pere, it helps take the guesswork out of choosing a daycare.
"Going out on the website and being able to see that right in front of your face takes the stress out of it," she explained.
Tramte Brassfield is also a consultant who examines local providers to determine their YoungStar rating. It's a 40 point evaluation process that includes an onsite visit once a year.
"When the evaluators come, although it's stressful and you know you're being observed closely, it is really what we should want for all kids," says Sue Vincent, Executive Director of Encompass Early Education and Care, Inc. in Green Bay.
YoungStar measures quality in four different areas. First, the education level of the providers.
"With a two star program, teachers don't have to have credit based education, but then as you move up to five stars, we're looking for classroom teachers that have a minimum of an associates degree," Tramte Brassfield explains.
Second, they examine the learning environment and curriculum. Encompass is a five star program.
Vincent says, "We track their development on an ongoing basis to make sure they're learning in all sorts of areas whether it's literacy, math, science, creativity."
The third area under review is the program's business practices. Do they treat employees fairly and involve parents fully?
And lastly, they examine health and well-being.
Tramte Brassfield asks, "Are the children being served nutritious meals that meet the USDA food guidelines? Are children getting physical activity or are they just sitting?"
The ratings are posted on the Department of Children and Families easy to use website. There, you can also see each provider's violations.
"It's normal for childcare programs and providers to have licensing violations but, again, we help them improve what they're doing," says Tramte Brassfield.
For VanDomelen, the system brings some peace of mind.
"Knowing that big brother is watching them, and if they want to keep that accreditation, they're going to do the best that they can do for my kids."
While the YoungStar rating program is a great tool for parents, experts say you should consider other things as well when choosing a childcare provider including location and affordability. Experts say a five star provider for ages two and under will cost about $220 to $250 per week, while a three star provider for the same age group will charge under $200 per week.
For VanDomelen, paying more for Encompass' five star quality is worth every penny.
"I know they're not just playing with Play-Doh, playing with trucks. They're going to be getting some type of education as well."
But experts warn that the YoungStar rating system isn't perfect. Participation is only mandatory for providers that receive a Wisconsin Shares child subsidy. Next year, daycare providers will likely lose some of that funding which means some may pull out of the program.
Experts also note that daycare providers that are nationally accredited only have to go through the YoungStar rating evaluation every five years instead of every year.
