The Child Development Resource Center, a program of the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, today announced it has redesigned and enhanced its website to better assist local families searching for child care resources.
The new website, https://childcare.santacruzcoe.org, allows families to submit online requests for child care referrals. They also can review a child care checklist that can be useful when considering child care facilities.
The Child Development Resource Center is the one-stop source for Santa Cruz County families seeking child care. Child Care Referral Specialists can answer questions — by phone or in-person — and connect families with licensed child care centers and licensed family child care homes to meet their needs.
“The Child Develop Resource Center’s new website brings relief and solutions to families too often frustrated by the process of finding child care,” said Sita Moon, program coordinator for the Child Development Resource Center.
The Child Development Resource Center provides free comprehensive information on the many options available when making child care arrangements for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children. Families that request referrals are given a list of at least five child care providers based on the family’s priorities but hold the ultimate responsibility for selecting the most appropriate child care setting for their children.
The Child Development Resource Center also supports child care providers. Providers can list their business for free on the Child Development Resource Center website and families are referred to their programs. Providers also can receive help in becoming licensed and be connected with resources like health and safety trainings, professional development, food assistance programs and more. Child care providers can go online to add or update their business listing. They also can tap into resources and reach out to staff with questions.