Web Site Bridges Gap Between Parents and Childcare Centers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2003

Contact:
Victor Scamardo
National Child Care Registry
7592 W Farmington STE 146
Germantown, TN 38138
Phone: 901-624-8882
email: nccreg@heavyelement.com

Web Site Bridges Gap Between Parents and Childcare Centers

GERMANTOWN, TN—A new Internet site, the National Child Care Registry, helps parents selecting a child care center make good decisions based on information provided about the centers. Data is provided by an independent rating system, and through evaluations and comments from parents with children enrolled in the centers. Parents seeking information about a child care center can verify that the center is a member of the Registry via a free search at http:// www.nccreg.com. Detailed information about member centers requires a small annual subscription fee.

Other services the site offers include an online fingerprinting system and a process for notifying authorities when a child is reported missing.

According to National Child Care Registry Founder Victor Scamardo, "The goal of the registry is to bring parents and child care centers together. Parents can see comments from other parents who use the same child care facility, and they may also post their own grades and comments. The child care centers, in turn, can show they operate a facility that stands up to public review, and they can use the registry to attract new clients."

"Recent media coverage of irregularities in the management of child care facilities and the failures of state regulating bodies to properly audit the facilities has eroded public confidence in the child care industry. Our independent rating service of parent evaluations and certification through accepted industry standards helps other parents find a child care center they can trust with their most precious possession—their children." Scamardo said.

The easy-to-understand grading system for member child care centers is based on a comprehensive questionnaire completed by the center and is combined with grades and comments from parents who use that child care center's services, Scamardo explained. Only parents who are members of the Registry can issue grades and post comments

Parents may publish comments describing their experiences with any child care facility, and these comments are viewable by other Registry members. Only child care centers that are members of the Registry will be able to respond to and address comments about their facilities.

"The membership fee for parents is very reasonable—less than the cost of a trip though the drive-up window of a fast-food restaurant." Scamardo said. "To keep the National Child Care Registry useful, we charge a small, annual fee to ensure only registered users are able to make comments and give letter grades to our registered child care centers. This policy prevents non-registered users from using our site to make unfair comments about our registered child care centers."

Child care providers also pay a small fee for membership in the National Child Care Registry. Member facilities are encouraged to update their registration information on a regular basis and may post special incentive offers on the site to attract potential clients. Center administrators are also able to see all comments and grades provided by member parents and may offer comments in response.

"Our member child care centers receive many benefits from the Registry," said Scamardo. "They show parents their facilities have nothing to hide and are open to public scrutiny. They get an inexpensive web presence that may attract potential clients. And the parent comment service allows center administrators and their customers to communicate in a timely manner."

Several member child care centers have changed policies or established new services based on parental comments, Scamardo noted.

The National Child Care Registry seeks to bring parents and child care centers together through an interactive web site featuring information about member facilities and the comments of facility clients. National Child Care Registry is the copyright property of National Child Care Registry, Inc. of Germantown, TN. Complete information about the National Child Care Registry is available on the web site at http://www.nccreg.com or by calling 901-624-8882.

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