IdahoSTARS is a joint-project between the University of Idaho's Center on Disabilities and Human Development (CDHD) and the Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children funded by the Idaho State Department of Health and Welfare (DHW).

The importance of the early childhood years in developing a child's full potential has been receiving considerable, deserved attention in Idaho. Having skilled, knowledgeable, caring professionals is vital to that process.

Beginning in 1985, the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP), a state subsidy program, has worked to improve the quality and availability of services to young children and their families. In 2000, ICCP facilitated a task force representing the child care/early childhood community, professional organizations, child care resource and referral agencies, higher education, and state government that met to review the current program and make recommendations for improved delivery of services and to improve the quality of early childhood programs in Idaho.

In an effort to establish a seamless system to upgrade the professional development of early childhood practitioners, the state of Idaho created the IdahoSTARS project.

This voluntary professional development system is aimed toward individuals who work with children ages birth to 8 in a variety of settings utilizing inclusive practices, including:

• Family and group child care
• Child care centers
• Head Start programs
• Public and private schools: pre-K through 3rd grade
• Higher education: community and tribal colleges and universities
• Community agencies serving children and families.

CDHD and the Idaho AEYC along with the seven Regional Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies through a contract with the Idaho State Department of Health and Welfare will:

• Set standards for the profession
• Develop systems for progression in professional development
• Provide support for Early Childhood
• IdahoSTARS will promote the important contribution to society and to individual child growth and development that early childhood practitioners provide.

Goals of IdahoSTARS

Part 1: Increasing affordability by providing child care providers enrollment and registration services for ICCP and updating of this information on a regular basis.

Part 2: Improving accessibility with resources and referrals for parents seeking child care through the Idaho CareLine, 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588, collecting and maintaining data on providers, recruiting child care and ICCP providers, encouraging cultural sensitivity and inclusion, and ensuring an equitable distribution of providers statewide.

Part 3: Improving quality by providing new opportunities for training and professional development for all child care providers. The project will evaluate trainers and establish training standards and approve training. The project will award financial incentives for achieving levels of training and certification, length of service in the child care profession, and utilization of skills learned in training and certification processes in the child care setting. The project will provide consumer education to parents and recognize businesses that contribute to child care programs.