FPG Family and Child Care Program

Announcements

History

In 1966, a pilot child care program was established as a prelude to a large, comprehensive, multidisciplinary research project on the effect of full-day early education, health care, and social services on the lives of disadvantaged children. Graduates from this original cohort of children are now well into adulthood and are still being followed by FPG researchers. Over the years, numerous changes have taken place in FPG's child care program, all with the same purpose: To ensure that services provided by the program are consistent with recommended practices in early childhood. In 1984, the child care expanded its services and its mission for excellence to include very young children with disabilities and their families. Currently the program exists and operates with four primary missions: Research, demonstration, professional development, and services for children and families.

Licensing and Accreditation

The child care program is nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and has a 5-star NC child care license, the highest quality rating possible in the state. The program is subject to the licensing regulations established by North Carolina's Division of Child Development for center-based care. The program is also certified by the state as a Developmental Day Program and, thus, eligible to provide services to young children with disabilities.

Program Missions

Services to Children and Families

The program provides high-quality early education and care to children and families. It is a full-day program, operating from 7:30 am until 5:30 pm and open year round. Staff members are committed to using developmentally appropriate practices that promote learning of language, communication, emergent literacy, social, cognitive, play, and creative skills.
The program also is committed to using practices that build upon each child's individual interests and preferences while assisting them in learning to be members of a diverse group of other children. The program is further committed to being responsive to families' needs and to using practices that are friendly to and supportive of families.

Research

The program supports the research mission of FPG Child Development Institute and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Children and families are often participants in research studies conducted by the child care staff, investigators at FPG, and faculty and students of the University. Generally, the research focuses on practices designed to help children learn and develop, on methods for structuring and operating early education and child care programs, and on health issues of young children.

Demonstration

The program is designed to demonstrate and disseminate information about quality child care and innovative practices related to the early learning and development of young children. The staff is actively involved in developing, implementing, evaluating, and sharing with others new methods for providing early education and care. As a result, many different individuals and groups from throughout the University, state, nation, and other countries visit the program each year. Recent demonstration efforts have included methods for providing individualized experiences for young children with disabilities in child care classes, providing services to very young children with autism and their families, and the importance of continuity of care in child care environments.

Professional Development

The program assists in the preparation of university students across a variety of disciplines. University students are often placed in the program classes for field experiences; these range from relatively short periods of observation to spending many hours per week in the classes over a period of months. The students come from education, speech-language pathology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology, and other disciplines. The program also serves as a training site for child care administrators and service providers across North Carolina who are interested in enhancing the quality of services in their own programs.

Visitors

Over 500 visitors spent time in the FPG Child Care Program last year, most on 30 - 60 minute tours, some for more extended time within classrooms. FPG supports the University and the community at large by fulfilling requests of professors, students, and practicing professionals for short term practice and project opportunities. To arrange a visit, please contact Kathleen Gallagher, Director of Child Care, by phone at (919) 966-5098 or via email kate.gallagher@unc.edu.