Copyright/Access Information
NNCC is reaching thousands of children and families through child care programs. As part of the effort by the National Extension Network to collect data about Extension's role in raising the quality of child care, a national survey was conducted.
Thirty-one states (60%) and two territories (Puerto Rico and Guam) responded with data. Indications are that across the nation, Cooperative Extension is reaching hundreds of thousands of individuals in an effort to build quality child care for America.
Of the 32 states responding, cumulative totals indicate that for calendar year 1997, Cooperative Extension reached over 134,500 child care providers. Of these, 8% were school-age child care providers, 23% were family child care providers caring for children in their homes, 16% were center-based child care providers and 1% were reached through community coalitions and child care councils. Fifty percent did not indicate a provider type.
With a local presence in over 3,000 cooperative extension centers in the nation, educational programs are generally delivered locally to child care providers. In order to meet the scheduling needs of providers, learning sessions often must be offered in the evenings or on weekends. During the reporting year, over 32,500 individual training sessions were reported. Of these, 1,456 were for school-age providers, 1,877 were conducted for family child care providers, and 2,337 were for center-based child care providers.
As a result of training, many children were reached indirectly. It is estimated that 791,485 children were reached as a result of Extension training conducted for children, their parents, or through their child care providers. Of these 137,259 children were associated with school-age child care programs, 69,374 with center-based programs, and 181,857 with family child care programs. Over 84,900 children were reached through Extension's work with community coalitions and child care councils.
Cooperative Extension produces many useful materials designed particularly for children and youth. Often child care programs seek extension materials for use in their curriculum. It is estimated that the number of children reached through use of Extension curriculum totals 418,353. Of these, 126,969 of the children were reached through school-age programs, 125,429 of the children reached were through center-based child care programs and 97,397 of the children were reached through family child care programs. Community coalitions were credited for sharing extension curriculum with over 58,000 children.
Cooperative Extension is responsible for facilitating linkages locally and manages many different types of programs to enhance the quality of life and raise the quality of child care nationally. In working with multiple agencies striving for high quality programs for children, Extension has worked with over 600 organizations and agencies during the past calendar year on child care issues. In addition to the general funds allocated to Extension through the states and federal partners, grant funds are generated. Based on data collected from the 32 reporting states, Cooperative Extension has garnered a total of $8,646,691. Of this amount, $6,588,414 supports school-age child care programming, $485,794 supports programs for and with family child care providers, and $795,451 supports programs conducted with center-based child care.
Due to the facilitative work of cooperative extension, new child care slots have been created to support the need for child care for working parents. Cumulatively, 38,637 new child care slots have been created with 24,038 for school-age care, 8,883 for family child care, and 5,683 for center-based.
With welfare reform a critical issue at this point, localities were asked to estimate the number of children they have reached who are living with TANF recipients. Estimates are that 111,727 total children involved in extension programs are members of TANF families. Of these 32% are involved in school age child care programs, 21% are involved with family child care programs, and 42% are involved with center-based child care programs.
Number of child care providers reached nationwide
School-age child care programming 10,969
Family child care programming 31,604
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 21,067
Community Child Care coalitions/councils 1,131
Total 134,771
Number of Extension training sessions held nationwide
School-age child care programming 1,456
Family child care programming 1,877
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 2,337
Community Child Care coalitions 242
Total 32,638
Number of children reached as a result of Extension training
School-age child care programming 137,259
Family child care programming 69,374
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 181,857
Community Child Care coalitions 84,995
Total 791,485
Number of children reached with extension curriculum
School-age child care programming 126,969
Family child care programming 97,397
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 125,429
Community Child Care coalitions 58,058
Total 418,353
Number of new materials developed related to child care/development
School-age child care programming 154
Family child care programming 128
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 132
Community Child Care coalitions 35
Total 466
Extension Grant dollars for child care programs
School-age child care programming $6,588,414
Family child care programming $485,794
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) $795,451
Community Child Care coalitions $24,500
Total $8,646,691
Number of community agencies Extension works with on behalf of child care
School-age child care programming 1,416
Family child care programming 347
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 1,220
Community Child Care coalitions/councils 673
Total 5,338
Number of new child care slots Extension helped to create
School-age child care programming 24,038
Family child care programming 8,883
Center based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 5,683
Community Child Care coalitions 4
Total 38,637
Estimated # of children reached who are AFOC/TANF recipients
School-age child care programming 36,464
Family child care programming 23,254
Center-based child care programming (including Head-Start and preschools) 46,587
Community Child Care coalitions 5,422
Total 111,727
| Southern Region, Western Region, North Central Region, Northeast Region | School-age child care programming | Family child care programming | Center-based child care programming (including Head Start and preschools) | Community child care coalitions/councils | Total |
| Number of child care providers reached statewide | 10,969 | 31,604 | 21,067 | 1,131 | 134,771 |
| Number of Ext. training sessions held statewide | 1,456 | 1,877 | 2,337 | 242 | 32,638 |
| Number of children reached as a result of Extension training | 137,259 | 69,374 | 181,857 | 84,995 | 791,485 |
| Number of children reached with Extension curriculum | 126,969 | 97,397 | 125,429 | 58,058 | 418,353 |
| Number of new materials your state has developed related to child care/dev | 154 | 128 | 132 | 35 | 466 |
| Number of dollars Extension has brought in for child care programs | 6,588,414 | 485,794 | 795,451 | 24,500 | 8,646,691 |
| Number of community agencies Ext. works with on behalf of child care | 1,416 | 347 | 1,220 | 673 | 5,338 |
| Number of new child care slots Ext. helped to create | 24,038 | 8,883 | 5,683 | 4 | 38,637 |
| Estimated # of children reached who are AFDC/TANF recipients | 36,464 | 24,254 | 46,587 | 5,422 | 111,727 |
Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia | Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa | Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey | New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio | Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont | Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming | NNCC Regions: North Central | Northeast | Southern | Western
Prepared by: Karen DeBord, Ph.D. State Specialist Child development, Cooperative Extension, North Carolina State University and Suzette Fromm, Graduate Assistant North Carolina State University
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