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DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING A RESOURCE AND REFERRAL SYSTEM

Ann Francis, M.S./ Karen DeBord, Ph.D.
Human Development Specialist / Director
University of Missouri / Virginia Tech Resource and Referral Service

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Child care resource and referral (R & R) services are beginning to develop in many communities across the Commonwealth. Sponsoring agencies
vary widely, from local government agencies to private non-profit community agencies. The populations served by R & R's vary as well, with some serving the general public while others mainly serve corporate clients. As outlined by the Virginia Child Care Resource and Referral Network in its definition of resource and referral in Virginia, most R & R programs include the following basic components:

The provision of support, education, and assistance for parents in choosing child care and respect for their ability to choose the most appropriate child care setting
Ongoing assessment of the need for child care in the community
Collection and maintenance of information about child care needs and issues
Willingness to work with community agencies serving children and families, and to collaborate in the overall community effort to address child care needs
Willingness to work with all child care providers, including for-profit and non-profit centers and family child care providers, in a non-judgmental, professional atmosphere
Efforts to improve the quality of child care in the community through the provision of training and support for child care providers
Efforts to increase the supply of child care in a community through active recruitment of child care providers and technical assistance for potential providers
Assistance with locating funds for the development of new resources for child care
Work toward universal access to child care resource and referral services for all families

R & R agencies serve as advocates for quality child care services, and as catalysts for community action toward the development and support of such services.

GETTING STARTED

Developing a new resource and referral service in a community requires the ability to work with all segments of the community, including parents, family child care providers, public and privately-sponsored centers, and all of the various agencies that serve children and families. The sponsoring agency should be perceived as one which is able to bring together all of these forces in a non-competitive atmosphere with the common goal of increasing the supply and quality of child care, and helping parents find the child care that best suits each family.

There are two options for development of a new resource and referral service:

1. Establish the service as an office within an existing agency.

2. Create a new agency expressly for the purpose of providing the resource and referral service.

The first option is the most commonly chosen one because it is less complicated. The second option involves making decisions about incorporation and tax status, as well as choosing a board of directors, finding funding, office space, and staff, and establishing a reputation in the community. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages.

DEVELOPING AN R & R WITHIN AND EXISTING AGENCY

Setting up an R & R within an existing agency requires a strong commitment from that agency. It is likely that the agency will need to provide financial assistance, as well as office and staff support for the program. It is advisable to consult the agency's attorney concerning the issue of liability. It is essential to identify the agency's liability to parents, children, providers, and the staff of the R & R. Clear, concise policies and careful record keeping can help provide controls which will lessen the liability of the agency.

Even though the agency probably already has a board of directors, it is a good idea to establish a link between the community which will be using the service and the agency. One way to accomplish this would be the development of a child care advisory committee, comprised of members of the board and community representatives, including parents, providers,and representatives of local agencies that serve children. Such a committee can be helpful in maintaining strong links and shaping future programs. This might be the same group organized as the original community child care task force discussed earlier in this manual.

Often, non-profit agencies that wish to begin new programs must seek funds to help offset the cost of the program. Many agencies develop corporate contracts as a way to help pay for the program and provide a service to the local business community. Corporations buy "enhanced " resource and referral services from the agency for their employees. These services may include newsletters, parenting seminars, and individual counseling for parents needing help with child care.

Usually corporate contracts serve only the employees of the company purchasing the service. Other sources of funding often sought by agencies beginning new services include community agencies such as United Way, human services commissions, and local governments.

DEVELOPING A NEW AGENCY

To develop a new agency, careful and lengthy planning is required. This step should not be taken until community resources have been fully explored and it is clear that there is not an existing agency able to sponsor the program. It is important to define the new agency's mission, goals, and objectives, as well as to assess the realistic possibility of obtaining funds, community support, and personal commitment from those involved in the project.

If the planning committee decides to apply for incorporation as a non-profit corporation (most R & R agencies are operated on a not-for-profit basis), an attorney should be consulted. A board of directors must be identified and Articles of Incorporation describing the organization must be prepared to complete the process of incorporation. Once this is completed, it is also advisable to have the attorney assist with the completion of an application to the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status.

The board of directors should reflect a broad spectrum of community interests and should include individuals with a good knowledge of children's services and programs in the community. Possible categories of representatives on the board might include:

Parents
Child care providers from all segments of the child care community, including family child care, center-based care, for-profit, non-profit, and church-sponsored child care
Nanny agencies
Social services agencies
Children's health agencies
Local government
Business and industry
Community services agencies
Local school systems
Colleges and universities that have child development or early childhood education departments
Legal services
Professional organizations serving children's interests, such as the local affiliate of the Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education or the local chapter of the Virginia Education Association
Mental health and mental retardation services

There may be other categories in some communities which are not included on this list, but which should be represented on the Board of the R & R. It is always helpful to have board members who are adept at fund raising as well.

DOCUMENT USE/COPYRIGHT
National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Part of CYFERNET, the National Extension Service Children Youth and Family Educational Research Network. Permission is granted to reproduce these materials in whole or in part for educational purposes only(not for profit beyond the cost of reproduction) provided that the author and Network receive acknowledgment and this notice is included:

Reprinted with permission from the National Network for Child Care - NNCC. Francis, A. (1991). Designing and Developing A Resource and ReferralSystem. In K. DeBord (Ed.), Community-based Child Care: An Action Manual for Communities Addressing Child Care Publication 350-038. pp. 39-41. Blacksburg, VA. Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Any additions or changes to these materials must be preapproved by the author.

FORMAT AVAILABLE:: Print - 122 pages
DOCUMENT REVIEW:: Level 2 - Virginia State University Extension
DOCUMENT SIZE:: 13K or 4 pages
ENTRY DATE:: February 1995