Sharing Web Resources

This semester I have really familiarized myself with the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (www.naccrra.org).  This week was spent exploring some of the links that Naccrra has to see where they lead.  Surprisingly, the majority of the links on the site go to other sites that are run by Naccrra.  One example is the Child Care Aware Parent Network, which is a website devoted to parent education and engagment.  There are resources on child development, parenting techniques, and ways for parents to get involved in public policy.  The engagemet piece is very important with the issues we have been discussin in the class this past few weeks.  With things like funding for child care, and subsidy an standards...having parents that are passionate enough about these issues to learn how to contact legislators and educate the policy makers so the necessary changes can be made.  Another of the links from Naccrra's site is the Child Care Aware Training Academy, which has a variety of online trainings for both child care providers and CCR&R staff.  They also have an entire CDA class available online.   Looking at other parts of the website, I learned of another inequality that had not been discussed in the class; teacher pay.  From Naccrra's site, I found there is a huge gap in pay for child care provides.  In some states, the average wage is only $9 where in other states the wage is $15.  I realize much of the difference is in cost of living in various states.  But, it did bring another point of benefits.  There are some centers that provide insurance, paid time off and retirement.  However, it is not true of all centers.  Speaking of inequalities, it is important that child care be seen as a career choice that deserves full benefits, especially retirement.