Child Care Centers

Child care centers provide care in a group setting such as a church, school, community center or other building designed or renovated for child care. Child care centers can provide full or part-time services. Some provide before and after-school programs. Some are called nursery schools or preschools. Many centers are operated by public agencies (school districts, local municipalities); by nonprofit community agencies or organizations; churches; universities; or as for-profit businesses. All child care centers are regulated by the State Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division, unless specifically exempt from licensure— such as Parks and Recreation programs or parent cooperatives. Regulations address a variety of issues, including safety features of the building, square footage requirements, ratio of children to adults, and capacities. The State of California requires center directors and teachers to obtain negative TB tests, obtain a fingerprint and Child Abuse Index clearance through the Department of Justice, and have specific college semester units of Early Childhood Education. In addition, at least one center staff person that has completed15 hours of health & safety training and infant/child CPR must be on site at all times.

Opening a Child Care Center

• Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing holds Orientation Meetings for those interested in learning more about opening a child care center in Santa Cruz County. Regulations and procedures are discussed. Call the CDRC Child Care Switchboard, 831/476-8585 or 831/763-8725, for the date and location of the next meeting, or call Community Care Licensing at 408/277-1286.

Resources      [ Return to top ]

• CDRC’s Early Education Resource Library
  Contains Licensing information, sample contracts, bookkeeping/recordkeeping tips, curriculum development, and much more. 831/479-5282


• CDRC Programs
  Health & Safety Training Reimbursement Program: A training reimbursement of up to $65 per provider is available for health & safety and CPR training. Courses must be taken between June 1, 2006 and June 15, 2007. Reimbursements are made on a first come, first served basis, and will continue until funds are completely spent. Call 479-5284 for more information.

Local Professional Associations/Organizations/Resources

• Community Bridges—Child and Adult Care Food Program:
  236 Santa Cruz Avenue, Aptos, CA 95003; 831/688-8840 www.cbridges.com/child_adult_care_food.html Community Bridges improves the diets of children in licensed child care by offering providers reimbursement for meals, ongoing nutrition education and training through annual workshops, home visits, and monthly newsletters.


• Cabrillo College Early Childhood Education
  6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003; 831/479-6354 Santa Cruz County’s community college has a comprehensive ECE department and, and offers classes at its Aptos and Watsonville campuses. Call for a listing of classes.


• California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing
  111 N. Market Street, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95112; 408/277-1286 www.ccld.ca.gov Promotes the health, safety and quality of life of each person in community care through the administration of an effective collaborative regulatory enforcement system. They hold monthly orientation meetings for those interested in starting up a child care program (center-based or family child care). They develop and publish the Title 22 policies and procedures that regulate child care programs. Updates and forms can be downloaded off their website.


• Child Care Advocate
  The Child Care Advocate works for the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing and promotes the delivery of quality child care by providing a link between Community Care Licensing and the community. Part of this job is to provide licensing information and assistance to providers who want to expand, renovate or start child care programs. Child Care Advocate publications include: Innovations in Child Care, and Self-Assessment Guide for Child Care Centers, Infant Care Centers, School-age Center and Family Child Care. Currently there are two Advocates. Betsy Rutana is the Advocate for the Northern Region and Center of the State. She can be reached at (510) 622-2623 or Elizabeth.Rutana@dss.ca.gov. Holly Daas Advocate for Southern California. She can be reached at (760) 929-3274 or at: Holly.Daasnes@dss.ca.gov.

Other Resources

• Professional Association for Childhood Educators (PACE)
  A statewide association for private child care programs. PACE sponsors conferences and events for member providers and directors. They also operate a child care subsidy program for member centers. Contact PACE at 1-800-541-9922.


• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
  1509 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1426; 202/232-8777 or 1-800-424-2460. www.naeyc.org. The nation’s largest, most influential organization of early childhood educators and others dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through 3rd grade. They have extensive resources (in English & Spanish) for sale: videos, brochures, books. They also provide accreditation.


• California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC)
  4400 Auburn Boulevard, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95841; 916/486-7750. www.caeyc.org. California’s branch of NAEYC (see above). CAEYC promotes excellence in early childhood education from birth through 8 years. They provide conferences, publication, information on parenting, advocacy, research, credentialing, salary & status, regulations, professional development and children’s education.


• Central Coast Association for the Education of Young Children (CCAEYC)
  Mary Ashley, CCAEYC President: 408/353-1900 A newly forming local branch of the California AEYC is working to unite providers & others interested in issues affecting young children. They’re planning a spring conference. Contact Mary for meeting times and updates.


• Child Care Law Center
  221 Pine Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104; 415/394-7144. www.childcarelaw.org. A national nonprofit legal services organization that uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to every child or every age, every family, every community. They have information on all the complex legal issues surrounding child care. Some of their publications include: Legal Update, a quarterly newsletter, Zoning & Child Care, Inclusion of Children with Disabilities, CalWORKs and Subsidized Child Care, California Child Care Policy.

Accreditation      [ Return to top ]

Embarking on the accreditation process demonstrates a child care center’s commitment to providing higher quality of care for young children and their families. Child care centers can seek national accreditation through the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The 3-step process includes:
• Self-study: Programs determine their level of compliance to national standards and make any identified program improvements.
• Site Visit: A trained NAEYC Accreditation Validator visits the program and vertifies the program’s compliance as repoted in the self-study.
• Commission Decision: An experienced group of child care professionals reviews the Validator’s report and makes a recommendation for accreditation or for continued self-study and program improvement.

Accreditation is renewable every three years, if the quality standards continue to be met.

National Academy of Early Childhood Programs-the accreditation department of the National Association for the Education of Young Children; 1509 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1426; 202/232-8777 www.naeyc.org.

Financing      [ Return to top ]

• ChildCare Ventures
  A facilities development intermediary that assists Santa Cruz child care centers and family child care programs in navigating the complex process of financing or building or modifying facilities. They provide training and technical assistance on business manage- ment, facilities development, affordable loans, and land use. ChildCare Ventures also works to develop mutually beneficial child care and business partnerships. Call David Foster at 831/425-7708, X-2345.


• Building Child Care (BCC)
  A collaboration of organizations designed to help child care providers access public and private sector financing for child care facilities (both center based and family child care) in California. They also have start-up checklists for centers & homes, Financial Planning and Facilities Development Manuals for Child Care Centers and Family Child Care, lists of architects with child care facility development experience in California, and additional resources. Their California toll free number is 1-888/411-3535 or visit their website at www.buildingchildcare.org.