Quality child care gives children a boost in the first and most important years of their development, including:
Carefully choosing which child care provider cares for your child each day can have a positive effect on your child’s developing mind for their whole life!
There are three main types of child care providers that have different requirements:
Offers both part-day and full-day child care in a facility for infant to school-age children. Centers have more staff with higher levels of education, but typically have higher children-to-adult ratios. Child care centers are usually more expensive than other care.
Benefits:
Detriments
Offers both part-day and full-day child care in the provider’s home for infants to school-age children. They give care in the home of the providers and typically have fixed children-to-adult ratios. Homes usually have one provider and one assistant with varying education levels. Homes usually are more affordable with greater flexibility of care hours for parents with unstable schedules.
Benefits:
Detriments:
Less staff and typically lower education levels
Caregivers chosen by the parent must obtain a background check through the Trustline Program and may only care for the children of one family in addition to their own. Care takes place in the caretaker’s home, giving low ratios and high individual attention. This is usually the most affordable form of care and the most flexible hours.
Benefits:
Detriments:
Below is a list of programs that certify high-quality child care and early education:
A child care facility with high scores of one or more of these awards is proven to provide high-quality child care!
There are lots of child care options available. Ask to tour the home or facility of a child care provider when you look for a new child care. Here are five things you can do on your tour to ensure your child will receive the best possible care:
How To Choose Quality Child CareVariable schedules are reimbursed for the actual care hours provided that are within the hours authorized. The reimbursement will not exceed the amount billed by the provider or the full-time (FT) or part-time (PT) RMRC listed on the certificate for child care services. CDA will not reimburse for child absences, provider holiday or closure days on a variable schedule. If the full billed/invoiced amount is not paid, the parent is responsible for the difference directly to the provider.
The number of reimbursable provider holidays and/or non-operation days is limited to a maximum of 10 days per fiscal year. Once these allowable limits are exceeded, reimbursement will be prorated for future closure days.
Fees for registration, material and/or insurance may be reimbursed if the current reimbursement amount does not exceed the Regional Market Rate Ceiling (RMRC). Reimbursement of these fees is limited to one (1) per child, per fiscal year and will be made in a single payment when requested on the child’s attendance record.
Note: For providers with programs that have multiple fees in one year or where it has been determined that the reimbursement amount exceeds the RMRC, the excess fees will be the responsibility of the parent.
When child care is authorized for a total of 25 or more hours per week the Full Time Weekly RMRC will be used. When child care is authorized for a total of less than 25 hours per week the Part Time RMRC will be used.
