Dear FACCM Members,

As 2022 comes to a close, the FACCM Board of Directors and staff would like to thank you for entrusting us with the opportunity to serve our members through accreditation with integrity and impassioned advocacy. We take the responsibility to represent FACCM childcare business owners and operators seriously and are honored to do so each day.

APPLE Accreditation gained national exposure in 2022, while remaining the top accrediting choice for business operators in Florida. Our philosophy has not wavered. We are grounded in a business-friendly approach to high-quality early care and education. APPLE is an active partner with our accredited programs, fellow accrediting agencies, and state entities to ensure that an APPLE Accreditation reflects a commitment to continuous growth in quality early learning experiences for young children. We will continue to work hard to refine and refresh our standards to align with the times we live in, while holding to those standards that cultivate quality and safety for all. We are looking forward to expansion and a deeper-rooted presence both in Florida and nationwide.

As our relationships with state and national decision makers, agencies, and advocacy groups continued to strengthen, we saw great strides in moving the needle for the industry this past year. Intentional efforts by the FACCM legislative committee, lobbyist, and members earned us a solid seat at the table when collaboration was needed. In 2022, we proudly participated in conversations with early learning bill writers before legislative session, state agency meetings during budget and resource disbursement decisions, and united with childcare business associations like ours across the country to learn more about systems in other states. We are regularly consulted as the voice of early learning business operators, offering a rational and simple message. It must be the right decision for all young children and those that serve them.

I am excited to share the 2023 FACCM Advocacy Priorities. Although details shift throughout the year, this document underscores the foundational focus for 2023. We encourage you to share these priorities as a proud FACCM Member. It is a public document, available on our website as a resource to you all year.

From our families to yours, we wish you all the best for 2023!

Jennifer Shields

Executive Director

Florida Association for Child Care Management