Finding Quality Child Care

It is important to find quality child care for your child. Many studies have shown that early educational opportunities available to children prior to kindergarten have a significant effect on their school performance and their chances to succeed later in their adult life. So take your time in reviewing the child care providers before making your decision on one. Here are some steps to Finding Quality Child Care.

STEP 1: Contact Your Resource & Referral (R&R) Agency

Use the online Child Care Information & Referrals (Link to Child Care Referral section) or call 1-888-92-CHILD to find your local R&R agency. Your R&R agency has trained staff to provide you with more detailed information than what is stated below and the technical assistance in finding the right quality child care for your family.

STEP 2: Review Your Child Care Options

Know the different types of child care available to you.

Child Care Centers: These are facilities which operate in non-home settings, usually in public buildings. Centers generally serve larger groups of children (15 or more) and most separate children by age groups. Some centers are licensed by the State of California, Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing (CCL). Certain center-based programs such as public recreation programs or after-school care programs are not required to obtain a child care license.

Family Child Care: This type of child care is operated in a provider’s own home and is also licensed by the State of California, Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing (CCL). Family child care homes are in residential settings and provide a home-like environment. A small family child care provider is licensed to care for either six or eight children; a large family child care provider is licensed to care for 12 or 14 children.

License-Exempt: License-Exempt providers are not required to obtain a child care license from the State of California. License-exempt care includes care provided by a grandparent, aunt, or uncle of the child(ren) or an individual who is not licensed but cares only for the children of one family not related to the provider. Such an arrangement does not require a license.

STEP 3: Interview and Visit the Child Care Providers

Questions to ask the child care provider:
  • Is there an opening for my child?
  • What days/times are you open?
  • How much does care cost? Is their financial assistance available?
  • Do you provide meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks)? Is the cost included or is it extra on the child care cost?
  • How will you accommodate the special needs of my child?
  • Can I visit my child anytime?
  • Do you have a substitute or a back-up child care provider?
  • What do you do if my child is sick? (Is there a special room for sick children? Would my child not be able to come in to the child care facilities and I would need to find new child care arrangements for my sick child?)
  • How do you handle discipline?
  • What kind of parent involvement do you have?
  • Are you a licensed child care provider? (You may want to request a view their license and/or license number. You may use this information to conduct further research of the child care provider through other resources.)
  • If they are a licensed child care provider, how many children are they licensed for by age category?
  • What is the adult to child ratio? (In other words, there are how many children being cared for by one adult?)
  • What is your level of training or experience? Do they have any accreditations?
  • Can you provide any parent references?
Things to look for when visiting the child care provider:
  • Is the inside and outside environment clean, safe, healthy, warm, and inviting? (Make sure the napping, eating, and toilet areas are clean. Make sure the play areas look safe.)
  • Do the children seem happily involved in the daily activities and comfortable with the child care provider?
  • Are there are a variety of toys and learning materials, such as books, toys, puzzles, blocks, and physical activity equipment that is interesting for your child and will contribute to your child’s growth and development?
  • How many children are there to an adult? (In general, the fewer the number of children under an adult’s care, the more attention your child will receive. It is especially important that there are fewer number of infants under an adult’s care to provide more attention to your infant’s needs.)

STEP 4: Check Child Care Providers’ References

For Licensed Providers: California state law requires a licensed child care facility to make accessible to the public, a copy of any licensing report pertaining to the facility that documents a facility visit or any substantiated or inconclusive complaint. In addition, a more complete file regarding a child care licensee may be available at an office of the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division. You have the right to access any public information in these files. Contact Community Care Licensing (http://www.ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/CClistingMaster.pdf) to obtain the complaint history of a licensed child care provider or for more information. Please note that in Los Angeles County there are two offices, the Los Angeles East Office and the Los Angeles Northwest Office. The Community Care Licensing website will help you identify which location to contact.

For License-Exempt Providers: Parents can conduct a background check on an individual who will be providing child care for their child(ren) through Trustline. Trustline is a database of child care providers that have cleared criminal background checks in California. Child care providers are cleared through fingerprint check of records at the California Department of Justice. It is a resource for parents to check if their child care provider has no disqualifying criminal convictions or substantiated child abuse reports in California. You may learn more about Trustline by visiting their website http://www.trustline.org. or calling 1-800-822-8490.

Questions to ask from the parent references:
  • Did your child enjoy the child care experience?
  • Did your child learn new things while enrolled with child care provider?
  • How did the child care provider handle disciplining the children under their care?
  • How did the child care provider respond to you as a parent? (Does the child care provider have any issues to visiting anytime? Does the child care provider easily accept input about the care being provided or about the child care facilities?)
  • Do you feel your child was prepared for school under the child care provider’s care?
  • Would you recommend the child care provider to other parents without any reservations?
  • If the child is no longer under the child care provider’s care, why did you leave?

STEP 5: Deciding On the Right Quality Child Care For You & Your Child

  • Which child care provider would my child be happy being with and grow developmentally?
  • Which child care provider meets the special requirements for my child?
  • Are the child care provider’s values compatible to my family values?
  • Is the child care location conveniently located and easily accessible, in case of emergency, from where I work or live?
  • Is the child care affordable according to my family needs and resources?

STEP 6: Stay Involved With Your Child Care Provider and Your Child’s Development

  • Keep informed about your child’s growth and development while under the child care provider’s care. Talk to your child care provider everyday to see what they plan for the day and how your child did during the day. Work with your child care provider to resolve any issues or concerns that may come up about your child.
  • Talk to your child everyday and discuss how their day went.
  • Visit and observe your child in the child care facilities at different times of the day.
  • Stay involved in your child’s activities (at the child care facility and at home).
  • Network with other parents.