Together 4 Quality

NORWESCAP Child & Family Resource Services the local child care resource & referral agency for Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren Counties is pleased to announce Together 4 Quality, an accreditation project. The purpose of this new project is to enhance the quality of center based care and registered family child care in northwest New Jersey.

Research proves that quality early care and education experiences have an impact on children’s later school success, states Antonette Franklin, CFRS staff member. Sharon Giacchino, CFRS Director adds, NORWESCAP Child & Family Resource Services has partnered with nineteen child care programs to increase the number of accredited child care programs available for children and families. Each child care program will select a State approved national accreditation to pursue. Currently in Hunterdon County, there are four accredited child care programs. Together 4 Quality will increase that number to eleven.

NORWESCAP Child & Family Resource Services’ team of child care specialists and child care health consultants will conduct several research based rating scales to gather information on program services and assist each child care program in developing a quality improvement plan. Through free onsite technical assistance and training, NORWESCAP staff will work with programs to navigate accreditation standards as well as implement policy and environmental changes that affect the quality of services offered to children and families.

The child care programs selected to participate in the project in Hunterdon County are Evergreen Child Development Center, The Goddard School of Flemington, Hayth’s Preschool Learning Academy, Haytown Nursery School, Hunterdon County YMCA Learning Center, Jugtown Mountain Nursery School, and Start Smart Academy.

Recently at a project kick off celebration, directors and key staff members participated in accreditation training. Representatives from both the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation were present to give overviews of their quality standards. During the day’s events, directors shared their thought about Together 4 Quality and accreditation.

According to Marge Moore, Director of Haytown Nursery School in Tewksbury, Accreditation will help us improve the quality of our programs as well as affirm our current practices that are of high quality. She adds, NORWESCAP CFRS staff has the knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm to help lead us through the accreditation process.

Mary Monahan, Director of Jugtown Mountain Nursery School in Asbury, adds, I’m always trying to improve my program, this was the next step I needed to take. Mary feels that accreditation will be a visible sign of quality and that accreditation will assure families of our commitment to continued quality services.

Holly Guido, Director of The Goddard School of Flemington states, Accreditation will give us a competitive advantage as well as show our commitment to quality. Theresa Hayth who has been the Director of Hayth’s Preschool Learning Academy for twenty-eight years states, There is always time to discover new ways to do things. A relatively new program in Raritan Township, Evergreen Child Development Center is participating in the project. Colleen Nickel the Director shared, I wanted to set the standards early and follow them as the school matures. When asked how NORWESCAP CFRS will help she adds, It will be great to have the support and training needed to get through the process.

NORWESCAP CFRS developed the project to respond to a national trend of establishing quality rating systems for child care programs. We are hoping to have all programs through accreditation within a two year timeframe, states Sharon Giacchino, CFRS Director, The time is right for CFRS to try a new approach to delivering technical assistance. Together 4 Quality truly unites child care centers, family child care providers, parents and NORWESCAP CFRS with a common goal for child care services that meet industry standards for quality.