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My background is in Early Childhood Education, and pre-motherhood, I worked for a social service agency that helped parents choose quality child care. I created and delivered workshops, and educational materials to help parents navigate the many options available to them.
If you need, or desire, to put your child in a child care setting, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Finding Child Care:
Contact your Employee Assistance Program: Some companies offer on-site child care, discounted child care with contracted providers, dependent care flexible spending accounts (pre-tax dollars that can be used for child care expenses), and/or provide assistance in choosing child care in the form of onsite workshops in choosing child care and/or enhanced referral services (someone assigned to you to help you locate programs according to your specifications in terms of price, location, hours, etc.).
Contact a local Resource and Referral (R & R) Agency: These are agencies that offer a free service to all parents seeking child care. They can give you the names, fees, hours, location of providers that meet your specifications. Unlike the enhanced referral option discussed above, these counselors are not assigned to you, and usually will not follow up with you. They will get some very detailed information from you about what you need or want, and can tailor a list to meet those needs, such as someone who speaks a specific language, or has experience with a certain condition (though by law, providers are not allowed to discriminate based on language, religion, special need, etc.). These R & R agencies often offer workshops, parent information sessions, handouts, newsletters and the like. To find an R & R near you, visit their national website.
Child Care Options:
Child Care Centers: These are formal centers providing child care services. Centers usually serve a wide range of ages from infants through after school care. They are required to be licensed with the state, and have specific child to adult ratios dependent upon the child’s age. They are inspected by the state prior to being granted a license, and periodically afterward.
Family Child Care Homes: These are private homes that you take your child to. Most Family Child Care Centers provide a formal child care experience complete with activities and filed trips, just in a homey setting. These providers also may have a wide variety of ages represented. They are required to be licensed by the state, and have specific limits on how many children can be cared for, as well as child to adult ratios. They are inspected by the state prior to being granted a license, and periodically afterward.
Nannies: Unlike Family Child Care, nannies are your employees and work in your home. Unless you contract through an agency (who will deal with payroll, tax withholding, etc.) you are considered the employer and must verify eligibility to work in this country via an I-9 form, withhold certain taxes, provide all materials. Whether through an agency or hiring on your own, families are well advised to have their provider fingerprinted (either at the potential candidates expense, the parent’s expense or splitting the cost). A nanny worth her salt may already have proof of fingerprint clearance for you to check.
Tune in tomorrow as we discuss the indicators of quality child care, and what to look for in a child care setting.
Marie, you are talking right up my alley. I currently work for one of those resource and referral agencies you speak of. In Michigan it is the 4C…or for us 4C of the U.P. I am trying to come up with a training for child care providers on how to sensitively handle children who are in foster care or being adopted, or have been adopted, and how to work with parents to address their special circumstances. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them.
I am currently a nanny for 4 adopted siblings under the age of 5 and I would also love to hear how to sensitively handle children who are in fost care/being adopted. Thanks for any feedback!
Liz