More than half a million children are born every year in California. Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions families make. WIC Can Help support families by sharing childcare referral and resources using the resources here to help them navigate this important process.

RESOURCE AND REFERRAL

Some California families qualify for government financial assistance to help pay for child care. For information about eligibility and finding or paying for child care, call the toll-free Consumer Education line at 1-800-543-7793 or use the online R&R Directory to locate the nearest R&R.

Children’s Home Society of California (CHS)
Contact: (213) 240-5900 or other regional offices
CHS' Child Care and Development Services assists low-income parents in achieving self-sufficiency, promotes quality child care by providing resources and training to child care providers, and provides education and resources to parents of children from birth to 13 years of age who are in need of care during any part of a 24-hour day. 

• California Childcare Resource and Referral Network: Agencies in every county support parents, providers, and local communities in finding, planning for, and providing affordable, quality child care.
• Child Care Assistance: subsidized child care services to eligible families, including Alternative Payment, CalWORKs, and Child Protective Services.
• Child Care Placement: Family Child Care Network pays for all or part of child care expenses.

OTHER RESOURCES

• Choosing Quality Childcare Matters Fact Sheet (California Child Care Health Program at UCSF)
• Head Start Agency List
• First 5 California: including School Readiness and Quality Child Care Counts Programs
• Choosing Child Care Booklet (Child Action, Inc.)
• Child Care Subsidies in California (Child Care Law Center)
• NEW! Parents and Providers: Sharing the Care (Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers & Families)

Steps for Selecting Care: (from Child Action, Inc)
Parents seeking child care should interview several providers and keep these five simple ideas in mind: 

• LISTEN to your instincts. If you are comfortable in a facility, chances are your child will be too.
• COUNT the number of children to be sure there are enough adults present. Providers who believe in quality will urge you to do so.
• LOOK AROUND and compare programs, because they know that finding the right provider is important to you and to them.
• ASK QUESTIONS about the day to day care of your child and the provider’s licensing history.
• BE INFORMED about the caregiver and the current licensing regulations for child care.