CDSS Programs Community Care Licensing Child Care Licensing Resources for Providers

Resources for Providers

Finding Children For Your Facility

Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) are located throughout the State and provide free help to parents and providers. To find out more, visit their website by clicking on the following link: Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs). Contact your local R&R to inquire further about training and services that may be available.

Training and Educational Resources

The Child Care Videos for Providers and Parents found on The California Child Care Licensing: Resources for Parents and Providers website addresses three user groups: 1) child care center operators, 2) family child care providers, and 3) parents and families. Within each category, you will find topics tailored to the needs of that specific group. Each topic on the website contains videos and resources designed to benefit prospective and current child care providers, families who are seeking child care for the first time, and families with children in care.

Mandated Reporter Training provides an overview of the significant definitions, requirements and protections of the California Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Act. You will learn:

  • How the law defines child abuse and neglect
  • What the law requires of you as a mandated reporter
  • What protections the law provides for a mandated reporter
  • How to spot evidence of child abuse
  • How to report child abuse
  • What happens after a report is filed
  • Definitions of some of the terms used in this program

You will receive a Certificate for your records upon completion of the training. Beginning January 1, 2018, Health and Safety Code 1596.8662 requires all licensed providers, applicants, directors and employees to complete training as specified on their mandated reporter duties and to renew their training every two years. The following is a list of approved Alternate Mandated Reporter Trainings. All trainings on this list are approved statewide. 

California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) approves training programs for child care providers for Pediatric First Aid/CPR and Preventive Health Courses.

Family Child Care at its Best

The Family Child Care at Its Best program, funded by the California Department of Social Services, delivers research-based professional development to licensed family child care and providers serving children in mixed age groups. Offered statewide, this series of workshops helps providers improve their knowledge, skills and quality of care. Workshops may be requested by local Resource and Referral agencies, county offices of education, Quality Counts California (QCC), or other groups that provide training and support to Family Child Care or family friend and neighbor providers. Please visit Family Child Care at Its Best for more details.

PediaLink Child Care Courses created by the American Academy of Pediatrics online learning center courses including:

Zero to Three works to ensure that babies and toddlers benefit from the early connections that are critical to their well-being and development by providing training for child care providers and caregivers. 

Child Care Aware Training Academy has online training programs which are used by providers and R&R staff across the United States, offering: Center-Based Training, Family Child Care Training, General Training and Webinars & Blended Learning.

Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs)

Child Care Provider Associations

There is a broad network of child care provider associations that advocate for children and families and provide valuable resources and information to licensees of Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers.
  • Californians for Quality Early Learning (CQEL) aims to advance early learning quality by supporting programs in integrating best practices and advocating for thriving mixed delivery systems for children and families.
  • The California Association for the Education of Young Children  (CAEYC) serves and acts on behalf of the needs and rights of young children with primary focus on the provision of educational services and resources to adults who work with and for children from birth through age eight.
  • The National Association for the Education of Young Children  (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8.
  • The California Alternative Payment Program Association  (CAPPA) was created to serve as a voice for a mixed delivery system of public and private community based agencies dedicated to connecting poor families and their children to child care and early learning. CAPPA provides ongoing support services to child care programs and providers and access to information and connection to child nutrition programs, resource libraries, and continuing education opportunities. 
  • California Family Child Care Network's (CFCCN) mission is to powerfully impact family child care by providing a highly effective state-wide network. Their purpose is to benefit children and the community by providing support, education, and information related to quality child care.
  • The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) is working to prioritize the role of family child care and promote access, affordability and quality of early care and education. NAFCC is the only professional association dedicated specifically to promoting high-quality early childhood experiences in the unique environment of family child care programs.
  • EveryChild California is a nonprofit association that inspires leadership in early learning and education, and increase opportunities to expand quality publicly funded early care and education (ECE) programs across California.
  • Child Care Providers United is a union comprised of 40,000 family child care providers across the state who are members of SEIU Local 99, SEIU Local 521, and UDW/AFSCME Local 3930. CCPU is dedicated to improving the child care profession and ensuring every child has access to quality early learning and care.

Financial Assistance

There are state and federal child care funding options available, as well as community resources that provide help in the facility development process for both new and established child care providers. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (R&R) or Child Care Advocate Program can tell you if you qualify. For more information, click on the links below:

Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs)
California Department of Education
California Head Start Association

Legal Assistance

The Child Care Law Center uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to every child of every age, every family, and every community.

Public Counsel’s Early Care & Education Law Unit provides free legal assistance and low-cost legal workshops to qualifying family child care providers and child care centers on a variety of issues that providers face in the operation of their child care businesses.

Technical Support Program

The Technical Support Program (TSP) is a non-enforcement service of the Community Care Licensing Division offering  support to licensees and providers who are struggling to meet and maintain the requirements of operating a licensed facility through the Regional Office referral process.

For more information on the TSP, see TSP Brochure (Español).
For questions related to the TSP, email: Childcaretechnicalsupport@dss.ca.gov

Previous Email Distributions

Child Care Licensing Webinars

Child Care Program will host informational ZOOM meetings to provide guidance and resources regarding Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19), Cohort and CDPH guidance, in addition to information pertaining to resources related to the Department’s website. The purpose for these meetings will be to provide more information about topics related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to address important questions impacting Child Care providers.

Vaccination Information

Rights: Yours, Parents', and Children's

Children, parents and authorized representatives, and child care licensees all have rights in licensed child care facilities. Protecting these rights is an important part of the emotional and physical well-being of children in care. Everyone must be treated with dignity and respect and these rights must be protected according to State laws and regulations.

Applicant/Licensee's Rights:

Parents' Rights:

Children's Rights:

Early Start: Early Intervention Services for Infants and Toddlers

The Early Start program is California's early intervention program for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families. Early Start services are available statewide and are provided in a coordinated family-centered system. Anyone can make a referral to Early Start by contacting a Regional Center.

For additional information, visit Early Start or call 1-800-515-BABY.

Other Child Care Related Resources and Information

Kids' Plates are the only DMV license plates that protect California's kids. Kids' Plates generate revenue to strengthen health and safety protections for children and help fund programs to reduce child injury and child abuse. The proceeds from their sale provide funding for local child safety programs throughout the state.

For more information on the Kids' Plates program, please e-mail info@kidsplates.org or call them at 1-800-HEY-KIDS.

To buy a license plate and support these programs, please visit www.kidsplates.org and click on "Order Personalized Plate".

Contact Us

Coronavirus General Question Inbox: CCLCOVID-19INFO@dss.ca.gov

Community Care Licensing Division
Child Care Licensing Program
744 P Street, MS T9-15-48
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-6040

Child Care Advocates - (916) 654-1541
ChildCareAdvocatesProgram@dss.ca.gov


PDF of Child Care Licensing Regional Offices

CCLD Complaint Hotline

If you see something, let us know!

To file a complaint regarding a state licensed community care facility or child care facility visit our Complaint Hotline Page for contact information and more.

 

CCLD Services and Notifications