CDCs earn accreditation Published Dec. 12, 2008 By Kendahl Johnson 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Following nine months of preparation and an intensive inspection, the National Association for the Education of Young Children recently announced the Robins Child Development Centers, both East and West, have been accredited. The Air Force mandates that all child development programs will be accredited by an outside agency. They chose the NAEYC, one of the top accrediting bodies in the country. Although the CDCs undergo an accreditation process every five years, this year's process was much more involved than in year's past because the NAEYC revamped its accreditation system and adjusted the evaluation criteria. "Our staff worked hard to achieve this accreditation and I am happy that all the hard work has paid off," said Karen Bradley, CDC West director. Representatives from NAEYC made visits to Robins in September to inspect the two centers, observing classrooms and checking to ensure 10 standards with more than 400 criteria were being met. Preparations for the visits began in January. "We worked long hard hours to achieve this," said Ella Durham, a supervisor at the CDC East. "It was well worth the time we spent. We now focus more on the children's strengths and weaknesses and are better equipped to serve the whole child." Ms. Bradley said although the teams have received accreditation and that process is over, they are not "slacking off." She also said being accredited adds an extra layer of prestige to an already solid program. "We've always strived to offer quality care regardless, but to get accredited by NAEYC means so much," she said. "It ensures the children are getting the quality care they need and deserve."