Document Type
Poster Session
Department
Leadership and Organizational Studies
Faculty Mentor
Joyce Gibson, PhD
Keywords
access, quality, rural vs. urban, child care
Abstract
Equal access to quality child care is not a reality for all families. Oftentimes the high cost of care prevents those from disadvantaged backgrounds from having the option of quality. This study will explore barriers to quality child care access in rural Maine. In addition, the researcher will attempt to define quality child care from the perspectives of families who are accessing childcare as well as providers who are serving those families. There are almost 1800 licensed child care programs in Maine that vary in size, location, setting, and quality. It is important that all families have equal access to quality care that will support their families’ needs in addition to positive child development and growth. This study will be an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, using an initial survey of approximately 50 childcare providers and 50 families with children living in rural areas of Maine. The surveys will be followed by interviews with approximately 5 providers and 5 families who completed the survey process and volunteered to participate in the interview portion. Interviews will be conducted either via zoom or phone by the researcher. The research questions will attempt to explore more thoroughly information that was gathered through surveys. The researcher expects the results to indicate a lack of access to quality care in rural Maine. If this is the case, it is anticipated that the study will provide more clarification about barriers to access for families and barriers to quality improvement for providers.
Open Access?
1
Included in
Access to Quality Childcare
Equal access to quality child care is not a reality for all families. Oftentimes the high cost of care prevents those from disadvantaged backgrounds from having the option of quality. This study will explore barriers to quality child care access in rural Maine. In addition, the researcher will attempt to define quality child care from the perspectives of families who are accessing childcare as well as providers who are serving those families. There are almost 1800 licensed child care programs in Maine that vary in size, location, setting, and quality. It is important that all families have equal access to quality care that will support their families’ needs in addition to positive child development and growth. This study will be an explanatory sequential mixed methods design, using an initial survey of approximately 50 childcare providers and 50 families with children living in rural areas of Maine. The surveys will be followed by interviews with approximately 5 providers and 5 families who completed the survey process and volunteered to participate in the interview portion. Interviews will be conducted either via zoom or phone by the researcher. The research questions will attempt to explore more thoroughly information that was gathered through surveys. The researcher expects the results to indicate a lack of access to quality care in rural Maine. If this is the case, it is anticipated that the study will provide more clarification about barriers to access for families and barriers to quality improvement for providers.
