By Teri Banas

DETROIT- Retired Chrysler assembly worker Jacquelyn Chevis loves the exchange of ideas and experiences that comes from taking classes with other relative and aide child care providers through the Great Start Regional Child Care Resource Center in her area.

The upbeat 57-year-old Detroiter has discovered she “loves to learn,” and that, she says, has made her better at caring for children.

Chevis cares for Atia, her 1-year-old granddaughter, as well as two school-age grandsons, while their mother Ivy, 35, is at work or school.

Up until Ivy became unemployed recently, Chevis received a modest stipend through the state Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Development and Care Program, which is designed to help low-income parents with the cost of child care. In some cases, subsidies go directly to providers, in other cases they go directly to parents. In all cases, parents choose their provider.

Chevis hopes to rejoin the program once Ivy returns to work, but even without pay, watching the children is a job she loves, and one she takes seriously.

Chevis is one of more than 5,000 so relative and aide child care providers in the metro Detroit area who are taking or have completed a new training course mandated by the state this year.

Nearly 4,900 other Detroit area providers haven’t done so yet, putting the child care pay they receive at risk.

Providers enrolled with DHS prior to March 7 must have completed the course – called “Great Start to Quality Orientation” - by Sept. 17 in order to remain qualified.

The course – which includes CPR certification, American Heart Association first aid, nutrition, health and safety, “Shaken Baby Syndrome” and “Safe Sleep” practices – is provided by the Lansing-based Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s (ECIC) Great Start Regional Child Care Resource Centers.

Getting providers to fulfill that training has been difficult. Michigan has roughly 22,300 aide and relative providers. About 53 percent of providers have either taken the basic training or are registered to take it, according to ECIC.
 

Chevis views provider training as so vital, she’s taken additional “Tier 2” courses in addition to the mandated course.

Tier 2 courses cover such things as child development, learning through play and managing child behavior. By completing 10 hours of Tier 2 training, providers can earn up to $585 more per year.

“I just think that watching somebody in the course of the day at this young development stage is so important that it’s done correctly,” Chevis says. “You spend a lot of time with a child. You’re the parent, teacher, protector. You’re all those things.”

The former autoworker says she also enjoys attending the informal “coffee club” gatherings following training, where she recently learned about early symptoms in young asthmatic children.

“You know these things as parents, but maybe you don’t really understand how it impacts the child until you hear it coming back at you,” Chevis said.

The purpose of training, according to Lisa Brewer Walraven, director of DHS’ Office of Early Education and Care, is to help providers improve their skills, which benefits children.

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

Chevis’ mentor, Allyson Jones, an Early Learning Communities Hub coordinator, echoed that sentiment, adding that the training offers encouragement to providers and builds solidarity among participants whose work is often intense and isolated. The Early Learning Communities Hub is operated by the United Way of Southeastern Michigan, home to the Great Start Regional Child Care Resource Center, Wayne.

“The value of good, quality child care can’t be overstated, yet far too many children continue to be denied quality,” said Jones.

Currently, two of every three children in publicly-subsidized child care in Michigan are in unregulated child care settings where little is known about safety or quality, a rate much higher than other states, according to ECIC.

“Millions of children are at needless risk of becoming violent or delinquent teens and adult criminals because of lack of quality care and education,” Jones said. “Wise investments in high-quality early learning can help a host of children get on a path toward college rather than county jails or prisons. We have to increase our investment in young children if we want to keep and create jobs in an educated, knowledge-based, improved economy.”

The Great Start to Child Care Quality Orientation is available free of charge. To sign up for training in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties, dial 211, or visit http://greatstartforkids.org/content/great-start-connect