Hancock and Washington Counties - Quality

Accreditation is a comprehensive approach to documenting and improving the quality of early childhood and school-age programs.

The National Association for the Education of Young (NAEYC) children has offered accreditation to early childhood programs for the past decade. Other accrediting organizations include the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC) and the National School Age Care Alliance (NSACA).

The State of Maine recognizes any program as being a “Quality Child Care Program” if they meet the standards of the accrediting bodies named above or if they are a Head Start Program of Excellence. The Office of Child Care and Head Start located at DHHS have sponsored a “Quality Program” certificate to child care programs that met established Child Development standards adopted by the State of Maine. 

Currently, 6 Head Start Centers and 4 Head Start/Child Care Center have been recognized as Head Start Programs of Excellence. 3 centers in Hancock and Washington County are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.  4 Family Child Care Providers in Hancock County and 7 Family Child Care Provides in Washington County have achieved the "Quality Program" certificates.

There is a growing awareness that high quality child care can prevent social problems such as juvenile violence and delinquency, teenage pregnancy, welfare dependency, and school failure, all of which affect business and society as a whole.

For more information please contact Resource Development Center
1-800-834-4378 or 207-667-2467,
Fax 207-667-2212 or judithn@childandfamilyopp.com

Child Care Opportunities, Resource Development Center
18 Avery Lane Ellsworth, Maine •  667-2467
14 Stevens Lane, Marshfield, Maine • 1-800-834-4378
judithn@childandfamilyopp.com