Organizational Values of Child Care Centers Daycare or child care is one of the most important decisions parents will make regarding their children. Traditionally child care was done in the home by the mother while father went out into the world to support his family. Due to cultural, social, and economic factors that has slowly changed. Recent times have seen an increase in women taking jobs outside the home but children must be cared for, resulting in a rise of daycare facilities. The daycare industry has been continually emerging to cater to the needs of these parents.

Daycare centers exist for the sole purpose of caring for children. Their purpose is to ensure children's needs are met physically, emotionally, mentally, and developmentally. Daycare workers primarily deal with making sure that children receive the same amount of care that they have when they are at home. Daycare facilities should be able to give to every child the same care they receive from their parents and Caring Kids Daycare Center is at the forefront of that movement.

Organizational Values

Caring Kids Daycare Center is dedicated to creating a safe and nurturing environment where learning meets caring with each child. The core values of the daycare center are at the heart of every decision made and every interaction with children and parents as well as with each other.

Caring Kids Daycare Center values all people: children, families, staff and educators. The goal is to make childhood a wonderful and rich experience for every child who enters the center. The intention is to guide with love and understanding because one of the most important gifts given a child is a healthy self-esteem. Each child is respected as an individual while nurturing their spirit and embracing the various cultures of all. Organizational policies embody values that guide the decision-making of managers and supervisors and shape employees' work experiences, immediately affecting their behaviors, work relationships, compensation, and sense of security (Foote, Seipel, Johnson, & Duffy, 2005).

The core values of Caring Kids Daycare Center are many but at the heart of each is to respect and cherish each child: to value every child as an individual in his own right and treat each equally in all aspects; to create a secure and warm environment where a child can develop confidence and independence; to create an environment where all opinions are respected; to aid in the development of a child's imagination and social skills; to encourage each child to express his feelings openly; and to build partnerships with parents and families, encouraging them to fully participate in their child's progress and care.

Caring Kids Daycare Center's philosophy is to work with every child in every area of a child's development: physical, emotional, social, creative, and cognitive. When children master a new level of ability, there are always experiences they can choose in order to gain new mastery. In order to encourage freedom of expression and cognitive abilities the center is filled with bright colors, toys, books, and other visual learning aids. These provide many opportunities for children to practice physical skills, learn problem solving, gain knowledge of their environment, and practice interacting more effectively with others.

Decision Making

Organizational structure of any business is built on a framework of policies and rules specific to that organization. Doing so determines authority at each level and explains the duties and rights of all employees. It also explains the various levels of management, how each role will be defined and filled and the responsibilites of everyone involved. The main objective or mission of the organization, what is desired to be accomplished and how it will be accomplished is part of the organizational structure.

Within the child care industry there are two main types of organizations: center-based and home-based family care. Center-based care is the more formalized child care center and includes part and full day preschools, child care centers, school and community-based pre-kindergartens and Head Start and Early Head Start centers. Home-based family day care...

This structure outlines how policies are adopted, governance, relationship with area agencies, staff, and board of directors. These all deliver a complete explanation of the center and what parents and other family members can expect in dealing with the center.
Caring Kids Daycare Center also took the opportunity to develop an organizational chart displaying the roles of parents, teachers, and others involved in running the center. It begins with parents, then moves down to board of directors, director, director's assistant, and secretary. The chart ends with teachers, teaching assistants and volunteers. All members work as a team toward the goal of caring for, teaching, and nurturing children.

All of these illustrate the value set of the center. When hiring employees and placing them within the organization it is natural to assume the center would wish to hire those whose own value set more closely agrees with the values of a team-based structure. These individuals will find it easier to exhibit a more willing acceptance of their new roles within the organization and support the mission (Foote, et al., 2005).

Communication

Barrett (2006) states "Leadership communication is the controlled, purposeful transfer of meaning by which leaders influence a single person, a group, an organization, or a community. Leadership communication uses the full range of communication skills and resources to overcome interferences and to create and deliver messages that guide, direct, motivate, or inspire others to action" (p. 3).

For any business to achieve success, an overall goal should be communicated effectively. Maurer (2009) states: "Even more powerful than having clear goals for your team is embedding these goals in the overall direction of the organization" (p. 29). As an employee, one's company's goals should be one's main objective.

It is important for a business leader to communicate goals in a manner that is easily understood. Wicklund & Ramos (2009) assess that communication is strengthened by using simple words that everyone can understand. In order to communicate company goals and objectives to employees, leaders should be focused on the importance and effectiveness of goal setting. It is also imperative that the leaders in a company lead by example. A team is most likely to follow by direction rather than dictation. Robinson, Lloyd, & Rowe (2008) claim as long as one focuses his or her efforts on the goal; others will follow by his or her example.

The best way to achieve certain goals as a company would be to listen and accept feedback from the employees as well as the customer. In almost any business customers are the company's greatest recourse. Communication of organizational business objectives and effective listening affect the bottom line and are vital to success in the workplace.

Information Confidentiality

The heart of Caring Kids Daycare Center is the people - the educators and management team. Without caring and dedicated people the mission of the organization is not realized and children do not receive the care due them. The center is staffed with enthusiastic and caring professionals who work to ensure every child receives the very best the center has to offer in care and education. That care extends to the parents and families as well and includes guardianship of all confidential information.

Parents and families should be aware of their authority to grant permission, or to refuse to grant permission, for the sharing of confidential information regarding their child. Clear procedures for ensuring confidentiality and the appropriate sharing of information in Caring Kids policy statement and handbook were designed to help in establishing trusting relationships. Procedures should be carefully explained and consistently followed, including a description of the measures that may be taken if there is a breach of…