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 Early Education and Child Care Options. The Choosing Quality Child Care publication will aid parents in choosing quality child care for their family. Presented in a useful checklist format, parents will feel confident choosing the child care outlet best suited for their family's needs. Includes information about choosing VPK programs.
Choose Wisely
Choosing quality child care is one of the most important and difficult decisions you will ever make. A good setting is one that provides the environment and experiences your child needs to learn new skills and develop socially. Look for a positive and caring relationship between the caregiver(s) and the children.
Your relationship with the caregiver should feel comfortable and trusting. The environment should be cheerful and above all, safe. The program should include experiences and activities you consider important. You want to choose a program that fits your ideas about parenting and learning and where your child will be safe and happy.
Do Your Homework
It’s a good idea to visit and compare at least three child care settings. Make appointments with prospective caregivers and, if possible, take your child with you to the interview. Plan to spend at least 30-60 minutes visiting at each site. If possible, drop by for a second visit on another day. Use the Quality Checklist included with this brochure for some ideas on what to look for during your visit. Depending on your particular needs, you will probably want to add some questions of your own.
Be a smart shopper
Caregivers should be caring, qualified and well organized. Their facility license should be current and they should provide you with written policies and procedures regarding fees, meals, discipline, illness, communicable diseases, and emergencies.
Make an informed decision
Like any parent, your first concerns are for the safety, health, and welfare of your child. Every facility will have
different features, but you must decide which things are most important to you and your child, and prioritize
accordingly.
Before making a final decision, check the state’s child care licensing website www.myflorida.com/ childcare for inspection information about any licensed program you are considering choosing.
Visit A Family Guide for Early Education and Child Care Options Download Page
You can download the guide in PDF format.
Resources to Assist Families
Financial Resources
Dependent Care Tax Credit
This credit enables parents to deduct eligible child care expenses from their annual income tax return. The amount of the credit is deducted from the family’s total tax liability and can represent a substantial savings for families. For additional information, request Publication 503 from the Internal Revenue Service.
800-TAX-1040
www.irs.gov
Earned Income Credit (EIC)/Advanced Earned Income Credit
The EIC is a special tax benefit for working people who earn low or moderate incomes. The advanced EIC allows workers who qualify to receive a portion of their income tax refund in advance in each paycheck throughout the year.
800-TAX-1040
www.irs.gov
Child Care/School Readiness Services
Parents earning low or moderate incomes may qualify for financial assistance to help pay a portion of the costs for a child care or school readiness program. To find out if you qualify or to learn about other scholarships and other financial assistance options, contact your local early learning coalition, the Office of Early Learning and/or your local CCR&R office.
See Agency for Workforce Innovation-Office of Early Learning
Head Start
This comprehensive program provides preschool, health, nutrition and family support services for eligible 3- and 4-yearolds prior to kindergarten. It is funded by the federal government; there are no costs to families who meet the eligibility criteria.
Contact your local early learning coalition, the Head Start program, the Office of Early Learning and/or your local CCR&R office.
Family Resources
Agency for Workforce Innovation-Office of Early Learning
Vision: All of Florida’s children are eager to learn and ready to succeed when they enter kindergarten. Mission: To establish a unified approach and specific strategies for systemic change — through local Early Learning coalitions and interagency partnerships to ensure that all children are emotionally, physically, socially and intellectually ready to enter school and ready to learn, fully recognizing the crucial role of parents as their child’s first teacher.
(850) 922-4200
www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning.html
Americans with Disabilities Act
For general ADA information, answers to specific technical questions, free ADA materials, or information about filing a complaint, call:
800-514-0301 (voice)
800-514-0383 (TTY)
www.ada.gov
Child Care Aware
Child Care Aware is a non-profit initiative committed to helping parents find the best information on locating quality child care and child care resources in their local community; maintain links to resource and referral agencies in every state of the U.S.
800-424-2246
www.childcareaware.org
ChildHelp
National Child Abuse Hotline
The Childhelp USA® National Child Abuse Hotline is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse. Serving the United States, Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam, the hotline is staffed 24 hours daily with professional crisis counselors who utilize a database of thousands of resources.
800-4-A-Child
www.childhelpusa.org
Department of Children & Families (DCF) Licensing Website
The Department of Children and Families is statutorily responsible for the administration of child care licensing and training throughout Florida. This program regulates licensed child care facilities, licensed family child care homes, and licensed mildly ill facilities in 60 of the 67 counties in Florida.
850-921-4713
www.myflorida.com/childcare
To view the licensing inspection report for a provider select “provider search,” enter a provider’s name and county then click on search. When provider information appears, select “inspection reports.”
Florida Abuse Hotline
Provides a full spectrum of services, from parenting classes and respite care to transportation and child care; the goal of the department is to keep children safe in their own families when possible.
800-96-ABUSE
800-96-2283
www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse
Florida’s Central Directory of Early Childhood Services
The Central Directory provides information and referral on disabilities and special health care needs for families, service coordinators and other professionals that work with children with special needs. The Central Directory can also refer you to the local Early Steps or FDLRS ChildFind in your area if you suspect your child may have a disability.
800-654-4440
www.centraldirectory.org
Florida Child Support Enforcement
Child support services that include locating missing parents, establishing legal paternity, and establishing, enforcing, and modifying support orders.
800-622-KIDS or 800-622-5437
www.myflorida.com/dor/childsupport/
Florida KidCare
Florida KidCare is the children’s health insurance program for uninsured children younger than age 19. It is made up of four parts: MediKids, Healthy Kids, Children’s Medical Services (CMS) Network for children with special health care needs and Medicaid for children. The Florida KidCare program assesses eligibility based on age and family income.
888-540-5437
www.floridakidcare.com
MyFlorida.com
Florida’s government website - www.myflorida.com
National Association for the Education of Young Children
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8.
800-424-2460
www.naeyc.org
Parent Anonymous Hotline
A community of parents, organizations and volunteers committed to: Strengthening Families to Build Strong Communities.
909-621-6184
Parents Without Partners
Provides help to single parents by way of discussions, professional speakers, study groups, publications and social activities for families and adults.
561-391-8833
www.parentswithoutpartners.org
The Children’s Forum
The Children’s Forum promotes quality child care and early learning, engages parents, conducts research, and supports excellence in teaching and care giving through training and technical assistance services. The Forum’s goal is to ensure that children develop the strong foundations they need beginning at birth and arrive at school ready to succeed. The Forum coordinates services with community-based early learning coalitions, child care resource and referral agencies and other organizations statewide.
888-352-4453
www.thechildrensforum.com
Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK)
A free voluntary program designed to prepare four-year-olds for kindergarten and build the foundation for their educational success.
866-357-3239
www.vpkflorida.org
211
National information and referral service that provides information and referrals to human services such as crisis intervention services, support groups, financial assistance, job training, etc.
Dial 211
www.211.org
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