Looking For Quality Child Care
The Child Care Resource & Referral - Arizona is committed to helping families find the best information on locating quality child care, early childhood resources in their community, information on state licensing requirements, and availability of child care subsidies. It also supports families in making childcare choices for their children to prepare them for school readiness and a bright future.
Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions families make, but all too often they rely on word-of-mouth. Parents are a child's first and best teachers, but those who care for children when parents can't be are also extremely important for a child.
When parents know they have left their children in a safe, loving, and stimulating child care environment that they can count on, they don't have to worry while they are at work. Research shows that when parents know their child is getting the kind of care children need to be happy, healthy, safe, and ready for school they are more productive employees.
Quality child care lasts a lifetime and by choosing quality care, you give your child a great start on a love of learning for a lifetime of success. Quality child care programs provide a number of benefits, including:
Child care providers listed with CCR&R are state licensed (centers) or certified (homes) or they meet the requirements to be registered family child care home. In addition, programs may meet additional requirements above and beyond state regulations such as:
Quality ratings, the food program and program accreditation are all indicators of high quality child care. When researching a high quality child care program, be sure to ask or find out if the program is participating in any of the programs mentioned above. A Child Care Specialist with CCR&R could assist you with finding information about indicators of quality.
Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions families make, but all too often they rely on word-of-mouth. Parents are a child's first and best teachers, but those who care for children when parents can't be are also extremely important for a child.
When parents know they have left their children in a safe, loving, and stimulating child care environment that they can count on, they don't have to worry while they are at work. Research shows that when parents know their child is getting the kind of care children need to be happy, healthy, safe, and ready for school they are more productive employees.
Quality child care lasts a lifetime and by choosing quality care, you give your child a great start on a love of learning for a lifetime of success. Quality child care programs provide a number of benefits, including:
- Help your children grow socially, emotionally and physically
- Support your child’s learning (children in high quality preschool and/or after school programs tend to do better in school)
- Build links to the community and encourage volunteer service, which enriches the entire community
Child care providers listed with CCR&R are state licensed (centers) or certified (homes) or they meet the requirements to be registered family child care home. In addition, programs may meet additional requirements above and beyond state regulations such as:
- Voluntarily participating in Arizona's Quality Improvement and Rating System known as Quality First (QF)
- Providing nutritious meals and snacks by participating the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
- Achieving program accreditation from national organizations such as the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Quality ratings, the food program and program accreditation are all indicators of high quality child care. When researching a high quality child care program, be sure to ask or find out if the program is participating in any of the programs mentioned above. A Child Care Specialist with CCR&R could assist you with finding information about indicators of quality.
