By Teri Banas

CHARLEVOIX – Dawn Billings discovered a posting in her church bulletin from a mom seeking child care for her two school-age children.

One Tuesday, she decided to act on it. Going on-line, the Hayes Township homemaker found information about becoming a relative and aide child care provider. Two days later, she was enrolled and attending a Great Start to Quality Orientation class, a free health and safety training course required this year of all providers.

“It was a spur of the moment decision,” said Billings, 35, the mother of a 4-year-old son and operator of a home-based beauty products business.

What might have appeared as an impulsive action by Billings, though, wasn’t without deliberation. She knew she wanted to help Heather, the low-income working mother of two whose church posting she had seen, and had the time to do so.

Billings is one of 273 relative and aide child care providers working in a 10-county region from Emmett County south along Lake Michigan to Manistee County. Nearly 23 percent have taken or signed up for the required training. Those who don’t risk losing their state child-care subsidies.

For her work as a child care “aide,” Billings receives a small stipend - $1.60 an hour – from Heather, who in turn receives it from the Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Development and Care Program.

The program helps low-income parents who are working or going to school with the cost of child care. (In some cases, state child care subsidies go directly to providers, in other cases they go to parents. In all cases, parents choose their provider.)

This year, the program requires all relative and aide providers enrolled prior to March 7 to complete the Great Start to Quality Orientation by Sept. 17 in order to remain qualified.

The training – covering everything from American Heart Association first aid and CPR to “Shaken Baby” Syndrome and “Safe Sleep” practices - is provided through the Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s (ECIC) Great Start Regional Child Care Resource Centers.

The ECIC, founded in 2005, is the state's focal point for information and investment in early childhood in Michigan. As part of ECIC’s efforts to implement a comprehensive early childhood system for Michigan, it aims to improve the quality of child care in Michigan through the Great Start Child Care Quality Program.

Billings said she made an important discovery while taking the required class. She found she enjoyed it and liked instructor Candice Case, assistant project leader of the Great Start Regional Resource Center’s Northwest Region office.

“She was very thorough and good at answering questions. I’m glad I went,” said Billings.
“The biggest thing for me was the CPR (training). I had it a couple of years ago, but so many things I didn’t remember. I didn’t remember the number of repetitions to do.”

She added: “I think that’s a very good thing that that’s required.”

She enjoyed the training so much, she signed up for additional (and optional) “Tier 2” training. By completing Tier 2 courses in such things as child development, learning through play and managing child behavior, providers can earn up to $585 more per year.

One Tier 2 course she recommends involves fun with science. Participants learn how to capture kids’ interest on a rainy day with creative science experiments using common household items - dish soap and baking soda, for example.

“I wouldn’t have even bought Alka Seltzer, let alone club soda,” if not for the science lesson, Billings said. “We went outside and played. We had these little test tubes. It was hands-on. My son is gong to be home-schooled. So that made a real big difference to me.”

The new training ensures that all children in Michigan have a child care provider with critical knowledge of basic health and safety, said Lisa Brewer Walraven, director of DHS’ Office of Early Education and Care.

“By taking this first step to create a professional development pathway for providers, we are making sure that every child in Michigan is exposed to opportunities that ensure their success in the future.”

Pam Ward, executive director of the Great Start Regional Child Care Resource Center office in Traverse City, admits most who attend the orientation training are initially hesitant but turn grateful after receiving the CPR and first aid certifications.

“All in all, the feedback has been positive,” Ward said.

Ward feels the training is vital.

“Our most vulnerable children – the poorest of the poor - are in the care of relative and day care aide caregivers. It is our responsibility to provide the caregivers with tools they might need to help to provide a safe environment and a positive impact on the development of the children in their care.”

The Great Start Resource Child Care Center Northwest Region includes Emmet, Charlevoix, Antrim, Leelanau, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Manistee, Wexford and Missaukee counties.

The Great Start to Child Care Quality Orientation Program is available free of charge. To sign up for training in this region, call (800) 968-4228, or (231) 941-7767, or visit http://greatstartforkids.org/content/great-start-connect