Before You Apply for YoungStar Providers Seeking an On-site Visit

For Parents For Providers Fraud Prevention Media

Step 3: Get your information on The Registry
In order to earn 3 Stars or higher in YoungStar, your program must meet certain education levels (what education levels do I need for each star rating level?). This education is ONLY verified through The Registry- so if your program isn't on The Registry, you cannot earn points for your education and training.

• Actions for Group Child Care: Ensure that all Lead Teachers and the Center Director qualifications are current and accurately reflected by The Registry Career Level assigned. See instructions for individuals to do this below.
• Actions for Family Child Care: Ensure that the primary caregiver qualifications are current and accurately reflected by The Registry Career Level assigned. If the owner is not the primary caregiver/teacher, then the qualifications of the primary caregiver/teacher are evaluated for purposes of YoungStar. See instructions for individuals to do this below.
• Actions for School-Age Care:  Ensure the educational qualifications of the Group Leaders and the Site Supervisor/Coordinator/Administrator/Director are current and accurately reflected by The Registry Career Level assigned.  See instructions below for obtaining a Registry Career Level.
• Actions for Administrators/Owners of Group, Family or School-Age Programs: Create or update a Registry Organizational Profile within The Registry. Learn how to do this with instructions below.  If you have trouble doing this, please contact Bridget Benson at the Child Care Information Center: 1-800-362-7353.
• Instructions for individuals to get started in The Registry and receive a Registry Career Level.
• Instructions for creating a Registry Organizational Profile.

Step 4: Consider completing your own assessment of your program's quality
In order to earn 3 or more stars in YoungStar, your program must complete a self-assessment.

• Your program can complete this assessment before a YoungStar staff member comes out to your program. This will give you the opportunity to point out what's going well in your program already and what could be going better.
• Your program can also choose to complete a self-assessment with a YoungStar Technical Consultant.
• If you would like to complete or begin a self-assessment without assistance from YoungStar staff, we recommend you choose this tool for group programs, this tool for family programs, or this tool for school-age programs.
• Other self-assessment tools you can use
  • Optional Self-Assessment Tools for Group Providers
  • Optional Self-Assessment Tools for Family Providers

Step 5: Consider creating a Quality Improvement Plan for your program, highlighting where you think your program is doing well and where it needs improvement
In order to earn 3 Stars or higher in YoungStar, your program must complete a quality improvement plan, based on your self-assessment.

• Your program can complete this quality improvement plan before a YoungStar staff member comes out to your program. This will give you the opportunity to create your own plan for improving quality in your program.
• Your program can also choose to complete a quality improvement plan with a YoungStar Technical Consultant.
• If you would like to complete or begin a quality improvement plan without assistance from YoungStar staff, download an example to use:  Group   Family   School-Age

Step 6: Familiarize yourself with the tools YoungStar staff will be using
Learn about what YoungStar staff will be using when they rate your program.

• Evaluation Criteria for Group Child Care Programs
• Evaluation Criteria for Family Child Care Programs
• Evaluation Criteria for School-Age Care Programs

Step 7: Complete and submit a YoungStar Contract
Complete your YoungStar Contract