2013 Accreditation Updates
Through a continuous effort to ensure the quality, integrity, and accountability of NAFCC’s Accreditation system, the Accreditation Council has announced a number of changes which will take place January 1, 2013.
The changes encompass;
- Quality Standards Update
- Revised Accreditation Timeline
- Name Change for Annual Renewals
- Revised Criminal Background Check Requirements
1. Quality Standards for NAFCC Accreditation Update
In 2010, a Quality Standards Review Team was appointed by the NAFCC Accreditation Council to conduct a thorough examination of the Quality Standards, to review current research and best practices in the field, and to make recommendations for changes and additions to the Quality Standards. In 2011 an expert panel convened and suggested specific standards on childhood obesity prevention. The Quality Standards Review Team recommended the addition of seven new standards, as well as modifications to 12 currently existing standards. These changes will become effective January 1, 2013. Many of the changes, including the new standards, address childhood obesity prevention. Others are directly related to the safety and well-being of young children, including a standard specifically related to the new crib safety regulation recommended by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
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View Complete Standards, including updates
How Does this Affect Providers?
Providers submitting an accreditation application after December 31, 2012 will need to demonstrate compliance with updated standards during the observation visit.
2. Revised Accreditation Timeline
A provider in the process of accreditation can now receive an accreditation decision as soon as 8 weeks earlier than is currently expected. The time from application submission to an accreditation decision has been reduced. Please see the following revised timeline to calculate when to submit an application, expect an observation visit, and receive accreditation.
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NAFCC Receives Application by...
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Observation Takes Place (Candidate’s Choice)
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NAFCC Makes Accreditation Decision
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| January 31st | April or May | Typically within 8 weeks of receiving the observation materials from both the candidate and the observer |
| February 28th | May or June | |
| March 31st | June or July | |
| April 30th | July or August | |
| May 31st | August or September | |
| June 30th | September or October | |
| July 31st | October or November | |
| August 31st | November or December | |
| September 30th | December or January | |
| October 31st | January or February | |
| November 30th | February or March | |
| December 31st | March or April |
How Does This Affect Providers?
Providers submitting an accreditation application after December 31, 2012, will have an observation visit and receive an accreditation decision according to the revised timeline.
3. Name Change for Annual Renewals
When providers become accredited, they agree to abide by the Quality Standards and to be measured against them with an annual integrity and compliance review. In 2009 NAFCC implemented the restructured accreditation process which included a new component - annual renewals. Annual renewals allow providers to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to high quality care by maintaining the eligibility requirements and meeting the standards through the quality improvement and professional development goals they have accomplished.
We have heard very positive comments about annual renewals since they were implemented. Providers report that annual renewals keep the Quality Standards fresh on their minds. Annual renewals drive them to continually improve. Annual renewals make preparing for re-accreditation a less complicated process because they keep current on eligibility requirements.
We have also heard many providers and accreditation facilitation project (AFP) staff suggest changing the name “annual renewal” to annual update. It is often confused with re-accreditation. It is believed that “update” is much clearer and is easier to understand.
We have listened to the overwhelming number of comments and after four years it is time to make a change. Annual renewals will now be known as annual updates!
We appreciate comments and suggestions which help to make the accreditation process clearer and easier to understand. Your voice can be heard by going to the accreditation drop down box on our website and clicking on “Ideas, Concerns, and Accolades”.
4. Accreditation Criminal Background Check Policy
Current NAFCC Policy
NAFCC currently requires family child care providers and co-providers seeking accreditation to obtain and submit to NAFCC a state criminal background check for the state they live in and an FBI Fingerprint background check. The intent is to ensure anyone having contact with children be screened for a prior history of criminal acts which could leave children enrolled in the family child care home at risk.
New Additional NAFCC Policy
In addition to the current policy, NAFCC is implementing additional criminal background check requirements.
- Family child care providers are required to obtain and submit to NAFCC a state criminal background check and an FBI Fingerprint Identification Record every 3 years for assistants and substitutes.
- Family child care providers are required to obtain and submit to NAFCC a state criminal background check and an FBI Fingerprint Identification Record every 3 years for adults over age 18 years living in the family child care home.
If the regulatory agency completes a state and an FBI Fingerprint criminal background check every three years or less for the provider, co-provider, assistants, substitutes, and adults over age 18 years living in the family child care home, a copy of the current family child care license verified by NAFCC to be in good standing, satisfies the criminal background check requirement.
If the regulatory agency does not complete one or more of these background checks within the 3 year timeframe, it is the provider’s responsibility to obtain them and submit them to NAFCC.
View the Complete Policy ad Instructions for Obtaining Criminal Background
How Does This Affect Providers?
Providers submitting an accreditation application in 2013, will have until the 1st year annual update (renewal) to meet the new additional criminal background check requirements.
Providers submitting an application or annual update after December 31, 2013, will need to meet the new additional criminal background check requirements at the time application or annual update is submitted.