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When Maureen Fontaine received her accreditation through the National Association of Family Child Care (NAFCC), her journey was far more transformative than she expected.
“Earning NAFCC credential was about more than the credential itself,” said Maureen, a home-based educator for over 33 years who also serves on All Our Kin’s Board of Directors. “The process truly deepened my knowledge and helped me grow in my work. It represents the deep, ongoing learning that defines my practice.”
For home-based child care providers like Maureen Fontaine, NAFCC accreditation represents one of the highest forms of professional recognition — validating that programs meet rigorous, research-based standards set by NAFCC. It strengthens credibility with families, enhances professional standing in their field, and in some states, even leads to higher compensation through Quality Improvement Systems (QIS).
For Maureen, the most lasting change has been in how she approaches her daily work.
“Reflection has become a core part of my practice. It helps me better understand each child’s needs and interests and guides me in developing an emergent curriculum.”
Removing Barriers, Opening Doors
Family child care educators in Connecticut now have a faster pathway to accreditation. All Our Kin has been accepted into the 2025 cohort of the NAFCC Accreditation Accelerator Pilot, a national initiative designed to reduce barriers, streamline the accreditation process, and expand the number of accredited FCC educators through targeted support and closer collaboration between networks and NAFCC.
For educators, this partnership translates into meaningful, practical changes. Through the Accelerator Pilot, educators can bypass the required six-month Self-Study period, receive priority scheduling for Accreditation Observations, and benefit from coordinated support between All Our Kin coaches and the NAFCC accreditation team. Together, this partnership helps educators move through the process more efficiently – and with greater confidence.
“So many educators are ready to take this step but too often face real challenges in navigating the process or accessing the right support,” said Erica Phiilips, Executive Director of NAFCC.
“All Our Kin is a natural partner in this work, given its deep commitment to coaching and bringing the kind of trusted, relationship-based support that helps educators not only pursue accreditation, but succeed,” she added.
Ultimately, what benefits educators benefits children and families. Throughout the accreditation process, educators receive high-quality coaching and mentorship that strengthens their ability to build nurturing relationships, create safe and supportive environments, and implement developmentally appropriate learning activities.
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Support That Makes a Difference
“Accreditation represents an achievement and a commitment to the children, parents, and staff I work with,” shares family child care educator Vivian Alvarez. “Working with All Our Kin has been an incredible experience because I’ve learned so much along the way. I was pushed out of my comfort zone but I felt confident because AOK was alongside me on this journey.”
That confidence, Vivian says, came in large part from All Our Kin’s Senior Program Quality Manager, Nilda Aponte.
“Nilda has always been there to help, take the time to answer questions and provide tremendous support.”
“It’s an honor to support educators through the NAFCC accreditation process and witness their growth along the way,” said Nilda Aponte. “ Achieving accreditation reflects their hard work and dedication, and celebrating them means recognizing the difference they make for children and families each day.”
To learn more about NAFCC accreditation and the support available through All Our Kin, visit our NAFCC Accreditation page: https://allourkin.org/nafcc-accreditation-support