Choosing Quality Child Care
In many ways, your child’s caregiver will be your partner in your child’s growth, development, and education. Every child is special and unique and deserves the best care possible. The quality of care a child receives can impact his or her success in school and life.
Child Care Options-Resource Development Center will help you as you begin your child care search. Take the time now to prepare. Identify your personnel needs and the needs you want fulfilled for your child. We can help you to determine what to look for in quality care and education and assist you with the questions you will want to ask potential providers.
Start your search early
Finding the right child care option for your child can take some time. Start looking as far in advance as you can, no matter what type of care you are considering.
Call us
The best place to begin your search is with us - your child care resource development center 1-888-917-1100. We can give you the facts about child care, a list of child care programs in your area that best meet your needs, and a packet of information that will assist you in your child care search.
Visit child care programs and ask questions
Make sure you visit the child care programs you are considering. Ask questions about these key indicators of quality:
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Adult to Child Ratio: Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer children for each adult, the better for your child.
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Group Size: Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller the group, the better.
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Provider/Caregiver/Staff Qualifications: Ask about the provider/caregiver staffs’ training and education. Ask if they are involved in activities to improve their skills. Do they attend classes, trainings or workshops?
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Quality for ME: Ask if the program is enrolled in Quality for ME administered by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
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Health and Safety: Ask what are the programs emergency procedures? Do they practice fire /or evacuation drills? What is the policy for administering medication? Are hands washed before eating or after diapering?
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Space and Environment: Based on your observation, is the space clean, safe and comfortable?
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Program Management: Ask if the program has written policies and contracts. How will we build effective communication? How would we settle disputes? Are parents encouraged to become involved in the program?
Click here to access a Child Care Checklist that you can bring with you when visiting programs. It will provide you with additional things to notice and questions to ask.
Check provider references
Ask programs to give you names of references. Be sure to ask about any areas of concern you may have.
Check for complaints
Because a program is licensed or certified by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services does not guarantee that they are a quality program. To find out if a program has had any reported or substantiated complaints contact the Child Care Licensing Unit at 1-207-287-9300. Licensing rules can also be viewed or printed on-line: http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/occhs/cclicensing.htm.
Make a choice
Think about what you saw and heard at each visit as well as talking to references and make the best choice for your child and family.
Stay involved
The work isn’t over when you find good care for your child. You and your child’s caregiver are partners now.
For more information on choosing quality child care call Child Care Options-Resource Development Center 1-888-917-1100.
Child Care Options strives to meet your needs. If you are not happy with our services, we want to hear form you. Click here for the Community Complaint Procedure.
Call Child Care Options to discuss your confidential child care needs with our Referral Specialist.