Accreditation promotes excellence in child care settings and helps families choose the best care for their children. Accredited child care programs, and those working towards accreditation, can receive program and staff funding. 

Important information about applications for the Professional Development Grant:

Child care staff certified as child development assistants or child development workers must submit a Professional Development Supplementary B Form by February 15, 2010 for eligible expenditures paid between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010.  Find more information here.

 Child Care Accreditation Funding for Day Care Programs - Information and Forms

Child Care Accreditation Funding for Family Day Home Agencies - Information and Forms

Child Care Accreditation Funding for Out-of-School Care Programs - Information and Forms

Learn more about accreditation:

The Canadian Accreditation Council of Human Services (http://www.oscprogram.com) - The Canadian Accreditation Council of Human Services (CAC) provides accreditation services to licensed out-of-school care programs in Alberta.  Once an out-of-school care program applies to CAC for an accreditation self-study package, CAC provides the program with the out-of-school care accreditation self-study package, supports the program while working through the accreditation process, and grants accreditation status once the program demonstrates that is meets the standards of excellence.

The Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services -  The Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services (AELCS) provides information and services about accreditation standards and processes for day care centres and family day home agencies in Alberta.  AELCS also evaluates and awards child care programs that have successfully met the standards of excellence.  The AELCS website has the latest information about accreditation and a list of all accredited child care programs.

The Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement – for early learning and care services - The Alberta Resource Centre for Quality Enhancement (ARCQE) enhances best practices, builds capacity in the sector and helps prepare child care providers for the accreditation process.  Through ongoing needs assessment and quality enhancement resources (such as workshops, in-service training opportunities, policy templates, resource materials and information on child development and best practice), service providers are better prepared to provide higher quality services and meet accreditation standards.

Quality Grant funding may be used to acquire services from ARCQE.