Southwestern Association

The Association of Christian Childcare Administrators (ACCA) is a premier organization of child care executives dedicated to promoting Christian character, professionalism, and excellence in child care services. With a rich history spanning over 75 years, ACCA has been a beacon of hope for child care workers, executives, and residents, providing opportunities for growth, training, and networking.

Our Mission

ACCA's primary goal is to strengthen and support child care executives, staff, and programs, ensuring that they are equipped to provide the highest level of care to children and families. Our members share a common commitment to promoting Christian values, professionalism, and excellence in all aspects of child care, programs, and services. Through our training, leadership, and supportive fellowship, we strive to empower our members to make a positive impact on the lives of children and families.

Services Offered

ACCA offers a range of services and opportunities for our members to grow and thrive. Our annual meeting provides a platform for administrators, directors, and program staff to network and receive relevant training on current child-care issues. Our Family and Direct Care Workshop, the longest-running workshop in the country for children's home professionals, offers practical training and opportunities for networking. The Youth Leadership Conference provides a platform for older youth and residents to develop leadership skills and abilities. Additionally, we offer awards and recognition to outstanding employees of our member agencies, acknowledging their excellence, commitment, and dedication to the field.

Training and Workshops

ACCA places a high value on relevant, practical training to enable our members to meet the needs of troubled children. Our training sessions feature nationally-known experts who focus on timely issues of vital interest to basic and advanced child care staff, foster parents, social workers, case workers, counselors, and administrative staff. Our workshops and conferences provide opportunities for our members to stay updated on the latest trends, best practices, and research in the field of child care.

Awards and Recognition

Each year, we honor outstanding employees of our member agencies through our awards and recognition program. The Thomas E. Roberts Distinguished Direct Care Award recognizes excellence in direct care workers, while the ACCA Award for Excellence acknowledges outstanding contributions by support staff. These recognitions are given to individuals for their professionalism, commitment, character, and length of service.

Our History

ACCA began as the Southwestern Association of Executives of Homes for Children (SWA), founded by a group of committed Christian executives who shared a common concern to strengthen their individual campus ministries and services. Over the years, ACCA has grown and evolved, but our commitment to excellence and professionalism in child care services has remained unwavering.