MAINE FAMILY CHILD CARE ASSOCIATION INC.
211 Marginal Way # 163
Portland, Maine 04101
Web site: mainefamilychildcare.com
...holding the future in our hands, heart and homes
Providers Reaching out since 1978
Celebrating 25 years 2003
The Maine Family Day Care Association was established in 1978 through the efforts of Leah Rubinoff and a small network of family child care providers in the Portland area. Ms Rubinoff was the director of a Family Day Care Program later known as the Title XX network. The group met with Jeff Kent, a provider from New Hampshire who was successful in organizing providers from his home state. Jeff was also instrumental in the creation of the National Association of Family Day Care.
The 1980 election of family child care providers, Pam Farmer (now Leo) and Jeremy Farmer, as co-presidents marked the beginning of our provider run organization. This was the first and only time the association had co-presidents. The original name, Maine Family Day Care Association, was changed in 1990 to Maine Family Child Care Association (MFCCA), to keep up with professional terminology.
MFCCA in the early years held annual conferences, the only statewide conference for family child care providers. Attendance was small in the beginning, the first one held on the campus of Westbrook College in Portland (Now University of New England) was comprised of about 40 providers. Attendance grew steadily through the 1980’s to reach close to 300 attendees in some years. The location moved to the campus of USM Gorham. The activities of MFCCA were carried on by volunteer members, most of whom did this work after working a long workweek with children. The activities of the association at this time were supported solely by member dues and conference fees. In these early years the conference often concluded with a toy auction to raise money for the next year’s conference.
The next few presidents were Theresa Walsh, Kay Mishkin and Rachel Sylvester, all from the Portland area.
The original founders of MFCCA did not assume we would have such a statewide impact. The vision expanded along with membership, to see MFCCA as a hub and resource for providers across the state.
In the later 1980’s, when insurance companies stopped issuing policies to day care homes, and cancelled existing ones, MFCCA responded strongly by polling our members for need, and started a lobbying effort in Augusta. Efforts paid off; when a Market Assistance Program was established, making insurance companies write policies and controlling rates. The program was very successful and was concluded by 1990 when the insurance climate was more favorable.
Another challenge faced by MFCCA during the 1980’s was the movement to abolish all rules regulating family child care. A citizen group said these regulations hampered their choices and limited the numbers of providers. At this time compromise legislation added a second type of regulation, with few quality controls, called Registered Babysitting Services. Along with the Licensing system, this created a two-tier regulation, which confused parents and providers alike. MFCCA took the stand that a mere set of regulations will not guarantee quality care, but regulation does help to set a minimum standard of health and safety to protect children. The association supported maintaining a strong system of regulations, which we felt, would protect and professionalize the field of child care.
A bi-monthly newsletter, CARING, was established in the mid 80’s, with Kay Mishkin as editor. A photocopier was purchased to print various materials for the association as well as the newsletter. This copier was housed in the editor’s home. In the mid 1990’s editorship passed to John Wise from Portland, who took the newsletter from cut and paste to computer technology. He was followed by Zelda Smith and for a time Donna Cobb edited this newsletter. The name change to “Providers Reaching Out” also occurred at this time.
Martha Pojasek from Bangor was elected president 1988, increasing the geographical scope of the association. An active provider group in her area was able to raise monies to bring Bob (Captain Kangaroo) Keeshan as keynote speaker to the annual conference, on the campus of University of Maine in Orono.
Things started to change for MFCCA with the creation of the Resource Development Centers (RDC’s). Many of the services formerly provided only by MFCCA were now being done by the RDC’s. They had a local presence and a permanent staff, and money to accomplish goals quicker and more effectively than MFCCA. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension began to offer extensive technical assistance to people just starting up in child care. In addition, other organizations were getting grant money to help family child care providers. MFCCA did try once to enter the grant process, looking for funding to create an office, staffing, and communications to link providers statewide. Unfortunately that effort was in vain, and those tasks became the responsibility of the University of Southern Maine through its growing efforts into the field of child care. Margaret Watkinson, from Topsham was president through this time.
Losing its primary functions created an identity crisis for our organization. Membership declined and visibility of the organization was diminished. A retreat was held in 1994 at the Captain Nichols Inn in Searsport. President Kathy Stewart spearheaded this effort to examine our mission and purpose. Curry Ander facilitated the retreat, and much work was done on our by-laws and future planning. Zelda Smith as president, followed Kathy and created the collaborative climate where MFCCA reached out to work with other organizations.
Despite the growing networks of supports for family child care homes through the later 1990’s, MFCCA continued at a low level, to provide its annual conference and newsletter. Members began to be present at state level meetings and committees such as the Child Care Advisory Council, the Comprehensive Training Committee and the Health and Safety Committee. Donations from the Office of Child Care and Head Start, and also the RDC’s supplemented association funds
With this help MFCCA was able to mount a successful effort to achieve non-profit status (501) (c) 3 in 2002, Jeanette Lamb was the President at this time. At the same time the organization was incorporated, adding the words “Inc” to our title. . Under the presidency of Ruth-ann Halterman of Oxford, Maine, a membership drive and push forward into technology is occurring. Aided by association secretary, Donna Cobb of Windham, MFCCA has made great strides into the new century. A Web page has been added to our resources for providers. Monthly meetings are once again held for officers, board members and any others who are interested.
At this point, 25 years into our history, MFCCA is looking forward to helping providers, advocating and informing the public and continuing to support healthy, safe quality care for children and a satisfying and successful career for providers in Maine. MFCCA would like to thank all who help and support family child care providers. We also would like to thank all the people who have continued to make the organization a success. MFCCA is still run by volunteers who offer their time and energy to continue it‘s success.
We hold the future in our hands, hearts and homes.
Written by Zelda Smith in 1998 and revised by Ruth-ann Halterman and Kay Mishkin in 2003
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Mission Statement MFCCA is a state wide organization that advocates for excellence in family child care. We promote education, guidance, support, leadership and the development of community awareness of child care providers as professionals.
New Officers for 2006-2007
President : Ruth Burke
ruthburke@hotmail.com
Vice President : Jessica Bickford, Bangor
Secretary : Becky Guerrette, 137 Neck Road, Litchfield, Maine 04350
Treasurer : Sasha Shunk
SashaShunk@yahoo.com
Newsletter Editor : Kay Mishkin
kaymishkin@gwi.net
Conference Chairperson:Maureen LeBlanc
mleblanc@maine.rr.com
Board of Directors
Beth Welch - bwelch4212@aol.com
Maureen LeBlanc - mleblanc1@maine.rr.com
Kathy Beland
Kay Mishkin: kaymishkin@gwi.net
Agnes Beane - agnesbeane@yahoo.com
Michelle Albert - mmalbert@yahoo.com
Mailing address:
MFCCA
211 Marginal Way # 163
Portland, Maine 04101
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