University News
PACT/WIU Child Care Center Receives National Accreditation
July 18, 2011
MACOMB, IL - - The Parent and Child Together (PACT) for West Central Illinois/PACT Child Care Center at Western Illinois University in Macomb has received accreditation from the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC).
As a NAC accredited center, PACT WIU Child Care Center has been recognized as an early care and education program that exemplifies excellence in the care of young children.
"The accreditation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the staff at our Macomb Center," said Denise Conkright, executive director of PACT. "All of our parents, staff members and administrators at PACT WIU Child Care Center are to be congratulated for achieving this level of excellence."
Conkright explained that the accreditation process included a self-study process in which administration, staff and parents evaluated the program in accordance with NAC Accreditation Standards. After the self-study process was complete, an onsite observation took place at the PACT WIU Child Care Center by an early childhood professional. After the observation, national commissioners assessed the information provided by PACT and the onsite observer to make the decision of accreditation.
By achieving NAC accreditation, PACT WIU Child Care Center provides a high quality program for children, provides professional development opportunities for staff, provides parents a program that has exceeded state licensing requirements and provides children an environment that is conducive to their individual growth and development.
Glenna Mount, site supervisor, added "We made it as a team and we could not have done it without the support of administration and the wonderful parents."
About PACT
Parent and Child Together (PACT) for West Central Illinois has been providing comprehensive services, through Early Head Start and Head Start programs, to limited-income families with children under five years old, in eight counties, for more than 30 years. The PACT WIU Child Care Center also provides childcare for WIU students and staff. Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs designed to encourage the healthy development of young children. For more information, call 1-800-443-7228 or go to pactheadstart.com.
About NAC
The National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs (NAC) is sponsored by the National Association of Child Care Professionals (NACCP), a leading association serving childcare owners, directors and administrators. The organization's goal is to strengthen and enhance the credibility of leaders in the field of early childcare and education by providing membership services and benefits. For more information about NACCP and NAC, visit naccp.org.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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