ABSTRACT

Research Findings: This study provides a framework for categorizing one subset of the large and heterogeneous group of home-based child care providers, unlisted paid providers. We analyzed data on unlisted paid home-based child care providers (n = 448) from the 2012 National Survey of Early Care and Education conducted in the United States. We used latent profile analysis to explore how providers align into profiles based on key characteristics related to their caregiving beliefs, self-reported instructional practices, professional engagement, and family supportive practices. Findings reveal that unlisted paid home-based providers align into three profiles: Low Instruction, Low Professional Development (51.3%, n = 230); Higher Instruction (35.2%, n = 158); and Engaged with Outside Systems (13.4%, n = 60). Results suggest that there is variation in providers’ instructional practices, family supports, and professional engagement activities among profiles. Additionally, provider age, enrollment characteristics, and neighborhood urban density predicted profile membership. Practice or Policy: Results provide insight into the design and implementation of quality improvement supports for this subset of home-based child care providers. Using this typology can help match unlisted paid home-based providers with supports that align with their beliefs and practices. It also adds to the limited research base about this subset of providers that can be used to guide practices and policies related to home-based child care.

摘要

研究结果：本研究提供了一个框架，用于对庞大且异质的家庭托儿服务提供者、未列出的付费提供者的一个子集进行分类。我们分析了 2012 年在美国进行的全国早期护理和教育调查中未列出的有偿家庭儿童保育提供者 ( n = 448) 的数据。我们使用潜在档案分析来探索提供者如何根据与他们的看护信念、自我报告的教学实践、专业参与和家庭支持实践相关的关键特征来调整档案。调查结果显示，未上市的付费家庭提供者分为三种情况：低指导、低专业发展（51.3%，n = 230）；高等教学（35.2%，n= 158); 参与外部系统（13.4%，n = 60）。结果表明，提供者的教学实践、家庭支持和专业参与活动在不同档案中存在差异。此外，提供者年龄、注册特征和邻里城市密度预测了个人资料成员资格。实践或政策：结果为这部分家庭托儿提供者的质量改进支持的设计和实施提供了见解。使用这种类型可以帮助将未列出的付费家庭提供者与符合他们的信仰和实践的支持相匹配。它还增加了关于这部分提供者的有限研究基础，可用于指导与家庭儿童保育相关的实践和政策。