| The Calaveras Child Care Council supports the development of affordable, accessible, quality child care which promotes the success of all children, their families and the economy of our communities Availability: To be of advantage or use. Our rural community tests the definition of availability. Is it of use or help to those seeking child care? Can it be accessed? Is it convenient to the job site, the home, or training centers? Is it open when needed? What age does it serve? Can those needing child care afford to use it? Is it a quality environment that provides developmental opportunities to our children? These are only some of the questions we must ask ourselves when evaluating the availability of child care in Calaveras County. Availability means Access: There are many forms of child care available to families, but sorting through the choices can be very puzzling. Among the choices available in Calaveras County are licensed family child care homes, licensed child care centers, license-exempt care, and state/federally funded programs. Licensed Family Child Care: For those who prefer a home-like setting, family child care is an option. Available as small (licensed for up to eight children under the age of ten, including their own*), or large (licensed for up to fourteen children), they vary in their approach to child care. From relaxed atmospheres with daily activities that closely resemble the time a child would spend at home with their parents, to more structured routines with planned, scheduled activities. Some advantages of licensed family child care may be: the sense of extended family that benefits both parents and children, the opportunities for multi-age interaction, flexibility that may accommodate the parent's need for unusual hours, and the likelihood of more individualized care. Licensed Child Care Centers: When choosing a licensed child care center, parents are selecting a program and a philosophy. For the parent who prefers a more structured daily routine, this includes regular hours, a clear philosophy of care and program goals, good teacher-child and staff-child ratio, thoughtful organization of space and materials, communications between the staff and parents, and age-appropriate activities. Advantages of center care may include: a staff focused on child care, multiple adults to care for children, staff trained in child development and possible connections with other community resources. License Exempt: Exempt child care comes in many different shapes and sizes including: care provided by a family member related by blood or marriage, a Co-Op where parents take turns watching each others children and no money is exchanged, or an unrelated license-exempt provider that only watches the children from one family besides their own. While cost may be an advantage, license exempt care may also offer the greatest flexibility. TrustLine is a registry created by the California State Legislature to give parents an important tool to use when selecting an in-home child care or license-exempt provider to care for their children. This means that if you want someone to come into your home to do child care, or if you want to take your child to someone else's home and they are not licensed, you can check if their backgrounds are clear of disqualifying criminal convictions and child abuse records. Another license-exempt option for school-age children are on-site after school programs that are part of a school district. Parents need not worry about transportation and children enjoy an uninterrupted flow from school programs to child care. Head Start/State Preschool: Calaveras Head Start/State Preschool is a comprehensive child development program designed to meet the emotional, social, health, nutritional, psychological, and educational needs of three to five year old children and their families. *Certain ages and ratios apply. Affordability: Be able to pay for without hardship. Is child care affordable in Calaveras County? Along with the pleasures of our rural life style come the realities of fewer jobs, lower wages and varied work schedules. While we all want the best child care for our children, all too often, cost becomes a major factor in the final decision. Parents seeking child care are most often young adults in their early income producing years. Child care costs from 12% (at an annual household income of $34,663) to 35% (at full time minimum wage) of a families gross monthly income, per child. Single parents and families with more than one child face even greater challenges. On the other hand, child care providers earn some of the lowest wages in our community, pay high insurance and facilities rent and wade daily through ever-changing rules and regulations. There are a variety of subsidized child care programs available to income eligible families in Calaveras County. Eligibility is based upon family size and income, and some programs have additional eligibility criteria. For more information on the subsidized programs available in Calaveras County contact the local resource and referral program: HRC,s Child Care Resources at (209) 754-1075. Quality: The degree of excellence. How do we define quality child care in Calaveras County? Are our standards different than urban areas? Are our needs different? How do we regulate and monitor the quality of our providers? Are our providers properly trained? Is child safety being attended to? How can someone seeking child care evaluate these factors and make an informed decision? While there is not set definition of quality there are indicators that a family can evaluate. These include:
local Resource and Referral Agency for information on:
HRC, Child Care Resources is located at 584 West Saint Charles St. in San Andreas. Office hours are 8:00am to 4:00pm Monday through Friday. Phone: (209) 754-1075. ADDITIONAL PHONE NUMBERS and Resources for parents:
Calaveras County Library - Hours
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Formore links for parents click this button:
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