Best Beginnings Quality Child Care Initiatives

The state of Montana child care development fund has created an infant and toddler merit pay program. As we have learned that early development is a very crucial time, the state of Montana has developed a program which the targeted goal is to provide quality child care for infant and toddlers by training the providers with motivating merit pay. While there are a few particular requirements such as a course of infant and toddler training that is typically held over the duration of the summer. The training includes some reading and discussion, and touring many local childcare facilities to develop ideas on utilizing space, creating enriched environments for learning, safety precautions, and more. Also to be eligible for the merit pay you have to be current members of the Montana Early Care and Education Practitioner’s Registry which also is beneficial because it requires more additional training. By completing these few steps you can then become eligible for the merit pay. The merit pay is given to those who work in child care facilities. The pay is dispensed in increments and as you continue to provide quality child care in these facilities you receive increasing payments which vary for different facilities, typically starting at $300.00 and reaching up to $800.00. Providing this merit pay to child care providers is so beneficial to the infant and toddlers that spend quite a bit of their time in these facilities. For one it provides a consistent provider for those years of life. Two the provider that spends many hours a day with your child has training and knowledge on quality care. Many child care employees make minimum wages and work in these facilities because of the option of being able to bring your child to work. If these incentives motivate providers to become skillful, caring teachers for our youth, I believe that we own them at least that. After all they spend countless hours with our youth. I have recently learned that a similar program is offered for those who are working in preschools and are currently pursuing early education degrees. While choosing the right child care that meets the needs of everyone’s own particular family; I believe that knowing that those who have received some training in caring for infant and toddlers would help in choosing a quality child care facility.
Bibliography
7-5c Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services Best ... . (2008, march 1). Retrieved march 29, 2010, from mt.gov: http://www.mt.gov