Developing Your Family Child Care Business
MCC-Penn Valley
Francis Institute for Child and Youth Development
3201 Southwest Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64111
Phone: 816.604.4347
Toll Free: 866.676.6224
Fax: 816.759.4527
Email:Joy.Humbarger@mcckc.edu
Overview
Developing Your Family Child Care Business™ is an 8-module, facilitator-led interactive learning process for individuals wanting to launch and grow successful family child care businesses. The program, available in English or Spanish, covers topics that help participants think and act as business owners. Participants create a clear blueprint for building sustainable businesses that serve the needs of the parents and children as well as the community.
The program includes two manuals. The Participant Manual is divided into modules that can easily accommodate the varying scheduling and content needs of providers and training organizations. The Manual walks providers through a step-by-step process for establishing or improving their business. The Facilitator Manual is a detailed, step-by-step aid that allows training organizations to successfully conduct the program.
The format of the program, which includes worksheets and tips for completing assignments, is user-friendly and results in a 90% completion rate of Business Plans and Parent Handbooks. Training and evaluation support are available from the Francis Institute for Child & Youth Development.
In partnership with First Step Fund, the Francis Institute was instrumental in the development of the program and has assisted in delivering the program since its inception in 1996. Currently 149 sites are certified to teach Developing Your Family Child Care Business™ or Desarrollando Su Negocio Cuidando a Niños en el Hogar™ programs. Over 1,800 individuals participated in this comprehensive training program last year.
Who Utilizes this Curriculum?
Developing Your Family Child Care Business™ programs (both in English and Spanish), are now being used by partners representing a variety of organizations including:
- Microenterprise Organizations
- Small Business Development Centers
- Economic and Community Development Agencies
- Women and Minority Business Centers
- Universities and Colleges
- Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
Developing Your Family Child Care Business™ Program Outline
(Click on each module to view description)
Module 1: Exploring Business Ownership
- Distinguish among the roles played by a family child care business owner.
- Write and evaluate a business concept statement.
Module 2: Managing & Organizing My Child Care Business
- Identify critical personnel and resource team solutions.
- Choose an appropriate legal structure.
Module 3: Defining My Family Child Care Services
- Identify family child care business features and benefits.
- Determine governmental and professional licensing requirements.
Module 4: Analyzing the Family Child Care Business Market
- Profile the local child care industry and identify trends.
- Define target market.
- Determine the business’s direct, indirect, and future competition and its distinctive services.
Module 5: Promoting My Family Child Care Business
- Identify market advantages/disadvantages related to the business location.
- Develop promotional strategies.
- Begin the process of pricing services.
Module 6: Keeping Track of Finances
- Identify costs associated with running a family child care business.
- Learn to use basic accounting tools such as cash flow statement, income statement, and balance sheet.
- Project income based on pricing.
Module 7: Operating My Family Child Care Business
- Set policies for operating the child care business.
- Consider entrepreneurial oversight to improve the business.
- Complete the Business Plan and Parent Handbook.
Module 8: Celebrating My Accomplishments!
- Graduation.
- Presentation of Executive Summary