1. 4380 SW Macadam Ave., Ste. 530 Portland, OR 97239 (503) 243-2436 www.npcresearch.com Informing policy, improving programs An Evaluation of the Lane County Child Care Enhancement Project: Quality Improvement Outcomes Presented by Beth Green Sonia Worcel Child Care Research Roundtable October 1, 2008

2. 2 What is the Child Care Enhancement Project? Funded through the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit Program administered by Family Connections at Lane Community College Interrelated Goals: 1.Decrease the cost of quality child care 2.Increase provider stability and wages 3.Increase child care quality

3. Program Components 1. Parent Subsidies 2. Provider wage enhancements & financial supports 3. Individualized mentoring, networking & technical assistance October 1, 20083

4. What Was the CCEP Evaluation? 3-year process and outcome evaluation Data collected on CCEP & control providers (randomly assigned) and families  Observations of child care facilities  Surveys of providers  Surveys & interviews with facility directors  Surveys and interviews with parents October 1, 20084

5. Participating Facilities 2 CCEP child care centers (& 5 control centers) 12 CCEP family child care facilities (& 23 control) October 1, 20085

6. Quality Improvement Outcomes Quality measured by the QUEST  Observations by trained data collectors  Appropriate for family and center-based providers  Quality of provider-child interactions  Quality of environment and materials Quality improvement outcomes found ONLY for family child care providers October 1, 20086

7. Physical Environment CCEP family providers improved more in the quality of developmentally appropriate equipment October 1, 20087

8. Physical Environment CCEP family providers improved more in safety of furnishings & materials October 1, 20088

9. Physical Environment CCEP family providers improved more in quality of materials for language & literacy October 1, 20089

10. Curricula & Provider-Child Interactions CCEP family providers increased the amount of support for social emotional development October 1, 200810

11. Curricula & Provider-Child Interactions CCEP family providers provided more support than controls for cognitive development October 1, 200811

12. Curricula & Provider-Child Interactions CCEP family providers provided more support than controls for language & early literacy development October 1, 200812

13. Why did CCEP Result in Quality Improvement for Family Providers? CCEP providers (center and family) involved in more professional development activities October 1, 200813

14. Why Didn’t CCEP Result in Quality Changes for Center Providers? Shorter length of intervention & less intense intervention for center providers October 1, 200814

15. Summary: Quality Outcomes Strong quality improvement for family providers Not successful for center-based providers Center-based providers received less intervention, and may have been less engaged in networking and mentoring October 1, 200815

16. Summary: Other Outcomes CCEP Family providers were less likely to close (compared to controls) CCEP providers received significant wage enhancements (ranging from 1,00-$15,000) CCEP providers reported greater revenue stability Parents receiving subsidies purchased more hours of care, and reported fewer changes in childcare placements CCEP parents were more satisfied with childcare quality October 1, 200816