DEVELOPING A RESEARCH PLAN TO MEASURE THE EFFECTS OF A FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR TRAINING POLICY ON CHILD OUTCOMES

根据2014年CCDBG法案的目标，以提高低收入儿童的保育质量，内华达州福利和支持服务儿童保育和发展计划部门于2016年3月1日颁布了一项政策，要求对家庭，朋友和邻居（FFN）提供者进行特定培训。 无执照的提供者必须在任职前或在90天的指导期间接受30小时的健康和安全培训，此后每年接受24小时的培训。 预计这一新政策的实施将提高通过FFN提供者获得非正式护理的儿童所获得的护理质量。 第一阶段规划赠款的目标是对这一新政策的执行情况进行严格的评估，这一评估可在第二阶段进行。 通过这一新政策，加强对FFN提供者的健康和安全以及早期教育和儿童保育培训，预计FFN提供者对儿童的护理质量将有所提高。 在第一阶段，牵头机构将与利益攸关方和研究人员合作，确定如何衡量新的FFN培训政策对儿童结果的影响。 通过这一进程，还预计牵头机构将概述数据收集、分析和数据共享的进程，扩大伙伴关系，更好地利用数据教育利益攸关方和国家领导人，并为决策进程提供信息。 内华达州现有的质量评级和改进系统，即银州之星质量评级和改进系统，评估和促进正规幼儿保育环境的质量，包括幼儿保育中心、家庭保育中心和学区幼儿园前计划。 该州目前正在进行一项成果研究，将在高质量儿童保育中心上学的儿童的成果与在低质量儿童保育中心上学的儿童的成果进行比较。 根据QRIS星星评级，将中心确定为高质量或低质量。 在目前的成果研究中吸取的经验教训将在第一阶段进行审查，并将有助于为拟议项目的研究设计提供信息。 在I期规划期间将审查的其他考虑因素包括：从操作上定义结局研究的相关变量，选择适当的有效和可靠的结局测量评估，以及评估数据系统需求和改善数据基础设施。

In line with the goals of the CCDBG Act of 2014 to enhance the quality of childcare for low-income children, the Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services Child Care and Development Program enacted a policy on March 1, 2016 to require specific training for Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) providers. Non-licensed providers must take 30 hours of health and safety training pre-service or during an orientation period of 90 days and then 24 hours of training annually thereafter. It is expected that the implementation of this new policy will improve the quality of care received by children who access informal care through FFN providers. The goal of the Phase I planning grant is to develop a rigorous evaluation of the implementation of this new policy that could be carried out during Phase II. By increasing health and safety and early education and childcare training for FFN providers through this new policy, it is expected that the quality of care received by children from FFN providers will increase. During Phase I, the lead agency will work with stakeholders and researchers to determine how to measure the effects of the new FFN training policy on child outcomes. Through this process, it is also expected that the lead agency will outline processes for data collection, analysis and data sharing, expand partnerships, and better utilize data to educate stakeholders and State leaders and inform decision-making processes. The existing Quality Rating and Improvement System in Nevada, Silver State Stars QRIS, assesses and promotes quality in formal early childhood care settings including child care centers, family care centers, and school district pre-kindergarten programs. An outcome study is currently being conducted in the State in which the outcomes of children that attend high quality rated childcare centers are being compared to the outcomes of children that attend low quality rated childcare centers. Centers are identified as being high or low quality based on their QRIS star rating. Lessons learned during the current outcome study will be reviewed during Phase I and will help inform the research design for the proposed project. Additional considerations that will be examined during Phase I planning include: operationally defining the variables of interest for the outcome study, selecting appropriate valid and reliable outcome measurement assessments, and evaluating data system needs and improving data infrastructure.