Press Release                                                             www.afriend.com
January, 2005                                                             (770) 725-2748

Agency Wins APNA Agency of the Year Award

Atlanta, GA - A Friend of the Family-Home Services, Inc. has reason to celebrate. The agency is not only celebrating their 20th year in business, but they have recently been named the APNA Agency of the year (Alliance for Professional Nanny Agencies).

Judi Merlin, owner, founded A Friend of the Family in 1984. She saw that there was a need for quality home care. All caregivers must meet the standards of the agency before they are placed with a family. Merlin utilizes the most extensive screening process in the industry: thorough background checks, evaluations, training, references, and work history for all potential caregivers. Criminal background checks are done in all states. There is also a driving check and Social Security trace done on potential candidates. The agency is continually monitoring a caregiver’s performance.

Merlin has set a very high standard for the in-home care industry setting a precedent for other agencies to follow. More and more families need childcare providers or caregivers and require a standard of excellence before they let them into their home. When parents go off to work they want to know that their children are taken care of by a loving, nurturing nanny.

The standard that A Friend of the Family requires is what made APNA take notice. APNA sets high standards for an agency to become a member. Not just any agency is accepted for membership. The agency has to follow APNA’s code of ethics and standards of practice which include obeying all laws and regulations applicable to in-home childcare referral and placement and protecting all confidential information received by the caregiver and family.

A Friend of the Family has been recognized before. In 1999 APNA named them Agency of the Year for Outstanding Team Management and Nanny Support. Merlin started a new program within her agency called Raise the Bar 2004. The program was put in place so that management can take a look at internal operations and reconnect with caregivers and bring them up to new standards.

"Our plan was to recognize our 20th year in business with a year long celebration. Our celebration was a re-dedication to our original values and to professionalism in the in-home care industry. We set high standards for our caregivers before and after they are qualified. Our caregivers are expected to continually increase their knowledge of childcare. This year we provided a series of workshops for our caregivers on topics like nutrition and special needs children. Our caregivers must be positive role models for the children in their lives. Through our seminar and in our daily interaction, we help our caregivers to improve their communication skills so they can interact effectively with their employers. We continually focus our efforts in communicating our concept of professionalism to our caregivers while coaching them to become the best caregivers they can be. The APNA award was recognition of our year long project and we are appreciative of being recognized for our efforts by APNA," Merlin said.

A Friend of the Family currently serves Atlanta and Athens, Georgia and Greenville, South Carolina. They provide childcare and elderly care. Caregivers can be long term, consistent, live-in, and live-out. Childcare providers can be to homes, hotels, corporate events and church nurseries. The agency also provides housekeepers, party assistance, pet care, errand service and house watching.

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