Yavapai College’s Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center was honored yet again for its outstanding child care programs this month, when it was awarded accreditation by the National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs.

“The Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center at Yavapai College has been recognized as an early care and education program exemplifying excellence in the care of young children.” The official announcement said. “By achieving accreditation, [the FEC] provides a high-quality program for children, professional development opportunities for staff, and an environment for children that is conducive to their individual growth and development that exceeds state licensing requirements.”

National Accreditation Commission, or “NAC,” accreditation, is a hard-won, highly sought credential within the Early Childhood Education field. Sponsored by the Association for Early Learning Leaders, the National Accreditation Commission is one of the country’s pre-eminent support organizations for child care owners, directors and administrators. The January 13 announcement makes YC’s Family Enrichment Center one of only 1,300 NAC-accredited childcare providers in 35 states and abroad.

“It’s a prestigious thing for us, as educators, to have,” FEC Director Jeannine Skousen said. “Accreditation is designed to improve the quality of our program, helping us exceed state academic, social and quality standards. The FEC holds a Quality First 5-star rating from First Things First, and national accreditation is part of that rank.”

The accreditation caps a rigorous, multi-step qualification process that the FEC began back in 2020. The National Accreditation Commission requires an exhausting self-analysis – where parents, staff and administrators evaluate the program and its alignment with NAC standards. Self-analysis is followed by an evaluator’s site visit, which proved difficult.

“When COVID happened, the world kind of stopped.” Skousen recalled. “We weren’t having anybody in, besides employees and children.” After a temporary extension, a virtual visit and a lot of paperwork, the NAC evaluator dropped in for a visit last month. “It was a spontaneous visit, just before [Winter] Break. The validator reviewed documentation, including staff and child files, conducted classroom observations and interviewed employees."

Accreditation is awarded in four-year terms. Members must file annual reports and agree to unannounced site visits to ensure integrity of standards. Skousen is excited about the networking and training opportunities accreditation offers.

“Early childhood educators require 20 to 30 hours of training every year.” The FEC also uses a behavioral health coach and a program coach to observe and improve instruction. “We’re always learning,” She explained. “The science of brain development helps us understand the importance of early childhood education, particularly from birth to five years. As new information in neuro and behavioral sciences emerge, it’s important for us as teachers to continually learn and train."

Founded in 2007, The Del E. Webb Family Enrichment Center at Yavapai College is a child development center on YC’s Prescott Campus that offers a safe, child-centered program focused on nurturing young minds and promoting children’s learning. The Family Enrichment Center has earned a coveted Five-Star rating from Arizona’s Early Childhood Agency, First Things First.