The Department of Early Learning and Care offers a subsidy that helps eligible families pay for child care so they can work, attend school, or engage in family well-being activities: Employment Related Day Care (ERDC).

Student families needing child care while they attend college may be eligible for a child care grant.

Certain programs offer low income families preschool at no cost.

Other child care programs may offer sliding scales, scholarships, or other financial support for families. Contact us for more information (see top of the page).

Our experienced staff offer personalized referrals to meet each family’s needs. Your hunt for child care begins with a conversation with your personal Family Connections consultant who is knowledgeable about all aspects of your search and has information about what to look for and questions to ask as you begin your child care search.

Allow time to find a quality program. Talk to several providers and visit as many programs as you can. If possible, begin well ahead of time. It may take some time to find a program and provider you are satisfied with. Some providers keep a waiting list (go prepared with some slips of paper) with your name and phone number to leave with a provider you like. Knowing that your child is well cared for will be worth the effort and time you put into finding the right program for your child.

Consider the cost for child care. Keep in mind that the child care program is the provider's business. Providers charge varying rates and have methods of preferred payment. Low income working families and students may be eligible for child care subsidies.

Call the child care providers. Begin each phone call by asking if it's a good time to talk (if not, find out when is a better time to call back). Discuss the following information, including anything else that is important to you:

• Available openings
• Your scheduling needs
• Typical day routines
• Location of program
• Fees the provider charges
• Whether pets are present

If you like what you hear on the phone, arrange a time to visit the child care site. Never rely on another person's opinion of a program without checking it out for yourself.

Visit child care providers. Arrange at least one visit when children are present so you can observe the provider’s interactions with them. Some providers encourage bringing your own child along with the understanding that it is only a visit and no decision will be made at this point. Ask to meet any substitutes who will be present in the program during child care hours.

Look for:

• Overall positive feeling
• Children appear happy and engaged in fun activities
• Provider is focused on children and is caring, energetic, and affectionate with them
• Positive guidance is used
• Provider communicates effectively
• Environment is safe with space for various activities
• Television is not a major part of the program
• Provider is prepared for emergencies

Ask for references. When you find a provider that you like, ask for names and phone numbers of parents that you can call as references. Ask the parents about their children's experiences. If they had to choose another time, would they choose that provider again?

Make a decision. Weigh all of the information, trust your feelings, sort out what you feel strongly about, and make a final decision. Where would your child be happiest? In which place were you most comfortable? Plan to do drop-in visits.

If you need to find care on short notice, here is a checklist to get you started. If you don’t find a situation that is a good match for you, contact us (see top of the page).