Who is AFCCA?

AFCCA, Alaska Family Child Care Association, is a non-profit organization started in 1983 by a group of family child care providers interested in quality child care. Still to this day, family child care providers are coming together to volunteer their time and energy to enhance the awareness of quality child care. Those volunteering on AFCCA’s Board of Directors and on committees of AFCCA are all child care providers just like yourselves.

What is AFCCA’s Mission?

Alaska Family Child Care Association promotes and develops quality professional home based child care.

What is the purpose of AFCCA?

The purpose for which AFCCA is formed are exclusively charitable, educational, and scientific and consist of the following:
~To bring together a group of people interested in quality child care.
~To extend the opportunities available to family child care providers by obtaining and dissemination information, training, support, and technical assistance in early childhood care, child development and education.
~To promote quality family child care awareness and understanding among providers, family and the community.
~To do activities within the parameter of Alaska Statutes and Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, which may be necessary, useful, or desirable for accomplishment of the purpose of the AFCCA.

Who are AFCCA’s Members?

AFCCA is made up of those who are interested in the quality of family child care. This elite group includes family child care providers, parents, agencies working with child care, and advocates of family child care.

The History of AFCCA

The Alaska Family Child Care Society was formally started on August 9, 1983. The charter members were Jo Bybee, President; Rosa Giancaspero, Vice President; Roxie Greer, Secretary; and Debbie Alexander, Treasurer. It was originally formed as a networking organization. All functions were social events with training as a second function.

Monthly meetings/workshops were held with the entire membership. In 1986/87, AFCCS received a three year Education & Training Grant from the State of Alaska to fund a quarterly newsletter (printing and mailing), quarterly workshops (with a trainer stipend), and travel funds to offer training and recruitment in chapter areas. Changes were made to quarterly general membership meetings when monthly board meetings and training became more important.

AFCCS was often asked to represent family child care providers on a number of community, local, and state committees. Later we were also asked to comment on state licensing regulations. Volunteer of the Year was established as well as outside chapter involvement.

AFCCS began offering the food program in January 1987, now called the Alaska Family Child Care Food Program. In March 1990, AFCCS held the first family child care conference . The first Provider of the Year was October 1990 and later was reestablished in May 2005 as part of a Provider Appreciation Day events.

The named changed from Alaska Family Child Care Society to Alaska Family Child Care Association in 1994 to reflect the affiliation with National Family Child Care Associations and the continued movement toward professionalism.

Today, the Alaska Family Child Care Association continues its march toward promoting and supporting quality child care by providing training, networking and support groups, and mentoring to child care providers and more. This organization belongs to its members and can be what you want it to be. If a member needs mentoring, we have members that will mentor providers about their business. If a member needs training, AFCCA has increased the availability of training and other resources.

This is your organization. An organization for family child care providers and advocates of family child care. Please join us as our organization grows and continue the history of the Alaska Family Child Care Association. To Be Continued...for years to come!


Past Presidents

Alaska Family Child Care Association Goals

Member Services
* Distribute of an Association newsletter
* Developing chapters in communities within Alaska
* Maintaining a lending library of books and toys
* Research and development of an insurance program
* Recruit members
* Develop benefits for Association members

Professionalism 
* Presenting an annual statewide conference
* Presenting a variety of informational workshops
* Facilitating accreditation and professional development

Personnel
* Maintain personnel policies for staff members
* Maintain job descriptions for staff members
* Provide networking among providers, parents, and community resources
* Promote career path potentials
* Seek unity, respect diversity
* Utilize local resources to support administration
* Employ an administrative assistant

Infrastructure
* Review and update bylaws for the Association periodically
* Policies and Procedures for the Association
* Review and comply with all local and state requirements

Financial
* Maintain a budget for the Association
* Fundraising to increase opportunities for services to members
* Research and procuring of grants to obtain increased funding to maintain and augment service delivery
* Annual audit