Can a home childcare provider have more than one agency represent them?

[Inspired by Reggio]

Hmmm - I guess that might depend on the agency - but my guess is going to be NO that you have to pick one and go with them?

I know when I was comparing back in 2007 I had looked at the two in my area to compare and the one was a privately funded 'franchise chain' agency and it paid way less, had less resources for providers, forced you to follow 'their' boxed curriculum and they did not even allow you to take PRIVATE clients if you found them let alone partner with another agency - so if you had a space in your program you had to wait for THEM to fill it - so I obviously did not go with them - being with an agency has 'cons' as it is but those just tipped the scale to say the least.

The agency I ended up going with you were virtually still 'self employed' they referred you clients but you chose to accept them into your program or not depending on the fit and you could take private clients as long as you stayed within the 'age restrictions' of a licensed model, you designed and implemented your own program as long as it met the DNA requirements for variety and developmentally appropriate ... they had an awesome toy lending and resource library and they offered monthly newsletters with ideas and resources plus they offered monthly professional development workshops and networking ... I was with them my first two years - however I found that I was always able to secure private clients much faster than they could refer and set up interviews for me as the middleman and well after two years I gave up my contract with them because I found that the OEYC in my area offered all the same 'resources' for only a $25 a year membership fee and well I was wasting the agency resources cause they still had to come out monthly and 'inspect' the premises despite not having any clients enrolled here 'just in case' they referred someone.

What provide are you in again Connect?

Do you HAVE to be with an agency?