This was the first year. These are the providers that are doing something to be high quality. Maybe the community will recognize that they're doing something they don't have to do. While home daycares must have a state license, most of the law's requirements deal with the safety of the physical setting and the physical health of the provider. Accreditation deals more with the provider's knowledge of child development and well-being.
Accreditation is something parents can look for.
Michelle Duty, who operates Precious D Place in Traverse City with her husband, Mitch, was one of those who took the course. While they have six of their own children and have been daycare providers for the last nine years, she believes she can always learn more. Duty, who cares for 12 children in a licensed group home, also believes anything that can bolster providers' image is valuable. That was one of the reasons I took this course, to let parents know there are a lot of good daycares out there that are very experienced and do it because they love children. Accreditation for home daycares is a fairly new concept.