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20 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2019 ABOVE AND BEYOND THE STANDARD Since first earning her license in 1999, Sharifi had always looked at state licensing for care pro- viders as meeting basic standards and requirements. "I have always tried to achieve more than the stan- dard," she said. Her family day home's curriculum emphasizes hands-on, open-ended activities. Sharifi is a talented artist whose oil paintings have won awards in Manassas, and she always incorporates art into her day with the children. "Teachers here know me. They love my kids," she said. "They say they are ready for kindergarten." "Providers that enroll in Virginia Quality show their desire to provide quality education to the children in their program," said Courtney Harris, Expansion Coordinator with Virginia Quality. "They are taking the steps to go above and beyond and focus on best practices versus just meeting the standards." Roza Sharifi has always loved children. As a certified mid- wife in her home country of Iran, she delivered more than 1,000 babies over the course of her career. When she and her husband moved to the United States in 1998, and she learned that her Iranian credentials would not certify her to work in an American hospital, Sharifi launched a new career, pursuing licensing to start a childcare business within her Prince William County home. This past spring, Sharifi became the first family day home provider in the state of Virginia to be rated. She earned a level 4 quality rat- ing with Virginia Quality, a voluntary program that offers resources to help Virginia's early childhood care provid- ers to improve quality. Virginia Quality is supported by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Virginia Department of Social Services through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Locally, it is part of Smart Beginnings Rappahannock Area. Characterizes Virginia Quality Care Providers A Commitment to Constant Improvement A Commitment to Constant Improvement WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING Sponsored Material