The Big List of Child Care Acronyms

Acronyms or call letters are used in the field of child care/early care and education to refer to various agencies, institutions, groups, credentials, etc. Following is a list of acronyms/call letters that we hope will help providers, parents, advocates and others have a better grasp of the "lingo" commonly used in child care/early care and education and related fields.

Please contact Maria Dacus at 1-334-353-1006 if you have additions to this list!
Or e-mail Mdacus@uab.edu.

AALECE = Alabama Association of Licensed Early Care and Education (formerly AALCCC)

AAYC = Alabama Association for Young Children

ACEA = Alabama Community Education Association

ACEI = Association for Childhood Education International

ACHE = Alabama Commission on Higher Education

ACHR = Alabama Council on Human Relations

ACYF = Administration on Children, Youth, and Families

ADECA = Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs

AEA = Alabama Education Association

AEIS = Alabama Early Intervention System

APT = Alabama Public Television

ASU = Alabama State University

AUM = Auburn University at Montgomery

CCAC = Child Care Action Campaign

CCMA (CMA) = Child Care Management Agency

CDA = Child Development Associate

CDF = Children’s Defense Fund

CRS = Children’s Rehabilitation Services

CTF = Children’s Trust Fund

DCA = Department of Children’s Affairs

DHR = Department of Human Resources

DMHMR = Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation

DPH = Department of Public Health

DRS = Department of Rehabilitation Services

ECCA = Employers’ Child Care Alliance

EI = Early Intervention

FACTS = Family and Child Training System

FOCAL = Federation of Child Care Centers of Alabama

FRCA = Family Resource Coalition of America

HHS = U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

HIPPY = Home Instructional Program for Preschool Youngsters

IDEA = Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IPA = International Association for the Child’s Right to Play

JCCDC = Jefferson County Child Development Council

JCCEO = Jefferson County Committee for Economic Opportunity

JOBS = JOBS (formerly Job Opportunities and Basic Skills)

MCHB = Maternal and Child Health Bureau

MR/DD = Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities

NAC = National Accreditation Commission for Early Care and Education Programs

NACCP = National Association of Child Care Professionals

NACCRRA = National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

NAEYC = National Association for the Education of Young Children

NAFCC = National Association for Family Child Care

NBCDI = National Black Child Development Institute

NECPA = National Early Childhood Professional Accreditation

NICHD = National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

NSACA = National School-age Care Alliance

R & R = Resource & Referral

SDE = State Department of Education

SEAC = Special Education Action Committee

SECA = Southern Early Childhood Association

STARS = Specialized Training Achievement Recognition System

TANF = Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

UAB = University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAP = University Affiliated Program in Developmental Disabilities

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