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 resources.
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Choosing a child care provider is one of the most important decisions families make. Parents are a child's first and best teachers, but child care providers and teachers are also extremely important for a child.
When parents know they have left their children in a safe, loving, and educational child care environment that can be counted on, they can feel at ease while working to provide for their family.
Child care providers listed with CCR&R are state licensed centers or certified homes, or they meet the requirements to be a registered family child care home. In addition, programs may meet additional requirements above and beyond state regulations such as:
- 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) or the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA).
Provider Quality Accreditation
Families often want to know what they should look for in a high-quality early care and education program.
Quality First ratings, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and program participation with the Department of Economic Security or the Department of Health Services are all indicators of high-quality 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 mentioned programs.
Quality First from First Things First is a voluntary program that over 1,000 providers participate in, and all participants are supported with training and coaching to help improve their programs. Visit the Quality First website to learn more about how child care providers are rated. A Child Care Specialist with CCR&R can also assist you with finding information about indicators of quality.
Quality First ratings, the Child and Adult Care Food Program and program participation with the Department of Economic Security or the Department of Health Services are all indicators of high-quality 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 mentioned programs.
Quality First from First Things First is a voluntary program that over 1,000 providers participate in, and all participants are supported with training and coaching to help improve their programs. Visit the Quality First website to learn more about how child care providers are rated. A Child Care Specialist with CCR&R can also assist you with finding information about indicators of quality.
Accreditation
Generally, being an accredited program means they follow the national standards with the purpose of meeting higher requirements than the minimum state regulations.
Child care centers, family child care homes and out-of-school-time programs may apply for and receive national accreditation from the following organizations. The accreditation guidelines vary by accrediting organization but are generally higher than those required by local or state regulations and licensing.
Providers are graded on the Quality First scale, a signature program of First Things First. Learn more about Quality First on the First Things First website.
Child care centers, family child care homes and out-of-school-time programs may apply for and receive national accreditation from the following organizations. The accreditation guidelines vary by accrediting organization but are generally higher than those required by local or state regulations and licensing.
Providers are graded on the Quality First scale, a signature program of First Things First. Learn more about Quality First on the First Things First website.
Child Care Checklist
Start your quality child care search as far in advance as you can. Finding the right child care option can be challenging, but CCR&R has made it easier with this checklist for families!
It will guide you in asking all the right questions and will give you a better understanding on whether or not a certain child care provider meets your family’s needs.
It will guide you in asking all the right questions and will give you a better understanding on whether or not a certain child care provider meets your family’s needs.