This study extends a previously identified and validated typology of home-based child care providers which used providers’ reports of their beliefs and practices related to caregiving to categorize providers rather than regulatory status. We use a mixed methods case study approach to present findings from 12 licensed family child care providers with a specific focus on exploring differences in perspectives and engagement with outside systems among providers in different profiles. Data come from multiple sources, including state administrative data, provider surveys, an observational measure of program quality, interviews, and field notes. Findings highlight some consistent differences in practices, perspective, and engagement with systems between profiles. The case studies presented highlight and extend what is known about family child care providers’ perspectives on quality improvement initiatives and how their perspectives relate to their practices with children and families. Results can inform the development and refinement of quality improvement initiatives offered to home-based child care providers.

这项研究扩展了先前确定和验证的家庭式托儿服务提供者的类型，该类型使用服务提供者关于其与照护有关的信念和实践的报告来对提供者进行分类，而不是对监管状况进行分类。我们使用混合方法案例研究方法来介绍12家获得许可的家庭托儿服务提供者的发现，并特别关注探索不同配置文件提供者之间的观点差异和与外部系统的互动。数据来自多种来源，包括州行政数据，提供者调查，对计划质量的观察性评估，访谈和现场记录。调查结果突显了配置文件之间在实践，观点和与系统的接触方面的一些一致差异。所介绍的案例研究突出并扩展了有关家庭托儿服务提供者对质量改进计划的观点以及他们的观点如何与他们对儿童和家庭的做法相关的知识。结果可以为开发和完善提供给家庭式托儿服务提供者的质量改进计划提供信息。