Child Care
"Quality" can have several meanings, just saying you want quality does not properly illustrate what is intended. In 2003, the Calaveras Child Care Council developed this community definition of what is "Quality Child Care"
A Quality Child Care Setting...
Has a welcoming, safe, clean, and comfortable environment that is fun and challenging.
Is loving and caring, respectful of children and families, and provides consistent and responsive care.
Is well staffed, inclusive, and meets each child's individual services.
Enjoys being with children and are dedicated to growth and learning, which benefits the child, family, and community.
Child Care Availability
We’ve scoured the web for other resources that may help you in understanding the magnitude of our cause that affects thousands each year.
Licensed Family Child Care
For those who prefer a home-like setting, family child care is an option. Available as small (licensed for up to eight children under the age of ten, including their own), or large (licensed for up to fourteen children), they vary in their approach to child care. From relaxed atmospheres with daily activities that closely resemble the time a child would spend at home with their parents, to more structured routines with planned, scheduled activities.
Some advantages of licensed family child care may be: the sense of extended family that benefits both parents and children, the opportunities for multi-age interaction, flexibility that may accommodate the parent's need for unusual hours, and the likelihood of smaller group sizes.
Some advantages of licensed family child care may be: the sense of extended family that benefits both parents and children, the opportunities for multi-age interaction, flexibility that may accommodate the parent's need for unusual hours, and the likelihood of smaller group sizes.
Licensed Child Care Centers
When choosing a licensed child care center, parents are selecting a program and a philosophy. For the parent who prefers a more structured daily routine, this includes regular hours, a clear philosophy of care and program goals, teacher-child and staff-child ratios, thoughtful organization of space and materials, communications between the staff and parents, and age-appropriate activities.
Advantages of center care may include: a staff focused on child care, multiple adults to care for children, staff trained in child development and possible connections with other community resources.
Advantages of center care may include: a staff focused on child care, multiple adults to care for children, staff trained in child development and possible connections with other community resources.
License Exempt
Exempt child care comes in many different shapes and sizes including: care provided by a family member related by blood or marriage, a Co-Op where parents take turns watching each others children, and no money is exchanged, or an unrelated license-exempt provider that only watches the children from one family besides their own. Cost, cultural responsiveness and flexibility are often factors that appeal to parents. TrustLine is a registry for exempt child care providers including nannies and care givers “that have cleared criminal background checks in California. It’s the only authorized screening program of in-home caregivers in the state with access to fingerprint records at the California Department of Justice and the FBI.[v] This is an important tool that parents can use when selecting an in-home child care or license-exempt provider to care for their children. This means that if you want someone to come into your home to do child care, or if you want to take your child to someone else's home and they are not licensed, you can check if their backgrounds are clear of disqualifying criminal convictions and child abuse records.
To check if a provider is registered on TrustLine or to register, call 1-800-822-8490.
To check if a provider is registered on TrustLine or to register, call 1-800-822-8490.
After School Programs
Another license-exempt option for school-age children is on-site after school programs that are part of a school district. Parents need not worry about transportation and children enjoy an uninterrupted flow from school programs to child care.
State and Federally Funded Child Development Programs
Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded and provide comprehensive early education programs for children from prenatal to age 5. The California State Preschool programs are funded by the state. Both programs have eligibility requirements and provide low or no-cost preschool to eligible families. Child development programs are designed to meet the emotional, social, health, nutritional, psychological, and educational needs of children and their families. School readiness is a primary focus.
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