Community Resources

CDRC Publications:
Guide to Assisting Families with Child Care Needs in Santa Cruz County, 2003
A guidebook to choosing quality child care and accessing local services. Information to share with parents and child care providers. Chapters include: Child Development Resource Center Financial Assistance for Child Care Choosing Child Care Glossary

Local Resources

• Children & Youth Commission of Santa Cruz County
  Advocates for the needs of children and families in Santa Cruz County. The Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of the month, from 3:30-5:30, in the Santa Cruz County Office of Education in Capitola. 831/454-4318


• Child Care Planning Council (CPCC)
  The CCPC sets assesses child care needs, sets priorities for state and federal child care funds in Santa Cruz County, and affects policy decisions regarding child care and school-age recreation programs. The Council consists of parents, providers, school and governmental representatives and interested citizens. They meet on the third Thursday of the month at the County Office of Education. Call for times: 831/479-5320.


• California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing
  111 N. Market Street, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95112; 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 license child care centers and family child care homes in Santa Cruz County. 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. 408/277-2051


• California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Child Care Advocate
  Jim Hopper, 111 N. Market Street, Suite 300, San Jose, CA 95112; The Child Care Advocate 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. 408/277-2051


• First 5 Santa Cruz County
  Established by the Santa Cruz Board of Supervisors, First 5 Santa Cruz strives to ensure family friendly services and education are available so that each child reaches age 5 healthy, ready and able to learn and emotionally well developed. Regular meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month, from 1-3:00pm, in the County Office of Education. Monthly Commission Workshop meetings with community members to review existing programs meet on the second Wednesday of the month, from 1-3:00pm at United Way, 1220 41st Avenue, #B, Capitola. Projects include: Kit for New Parents, Civil Engagement, Task Force, and Children’s Report Card. 831/465-2217


• Community Information Database
  Visit this website for an online information and referral directory for Santa Cruz (and Santa Clara) County funded by First 5 Santa Cruz. Their categories include Children and Youth, Food, Housing, Health, Seniors and Employment.


• Children's Network
  (Interagency Children's Services Council, Local 997 Children's Services Coordinating Council) Judy Darnell, United Way; jdarnell@unitedwaysc.org A countywide interagency collaborative appointed by the County Board of Supervisors to oversee issues affecting children and their families. The Network allocates the Children's Trust Fund, the Child Abuse Prevention, Intervention, and Treatment Funds, the Family Preservation and Support Programs Funds and the Community-based Family Resource Program Funds. They meet the first Wednesday, every other month (September/November/January/March/May) in the County Office of Education Board Room, from 11:45-2:15. Meetings open to the public. 831/465-2210


• Santa Cruz County Government
  http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us


• Workforce Santa Cruz County
  http://www.workforcescc.com

California Resources

• On the Capitol Doorstep
  An independent monthly report on public policy issues affecting young children in California. 926 J Street, Suite 1007, Sacramento, CA 95814; 916/442-5431


• Child Development Policy Institute
  This group strives to help establish a sound public policy focused on what is best for the children of California.


• California Child Care Resource & Referral Network (CCCR&RN)
  The Network is composed of 61 child care resource and referral programs (like the CDRC) throughout California. The Network supplies resources and information on trends in child care; educates parents to be good child care consumers; and trains local agencies to recruit providers to maintain, increase and improve the child care supply. They have county and statewide child care statistics, including The California Child Care Portfolio 2001: A compilation of data about child care in California, county by county. It’s updated every other year. The Santa Cruz County section is compiled using CDRC Child Care Switchboard statistics. Call the CDRC at 831/479-5282; or the R&R Network at 415/882-0234.


• Child Development Policy Advisory Committee
  915 Capitol Mall, Room 336, Sacramento, CA 95814; CDPAC make public policy recommendations to the Governor, the Legislature, and relevant state departments on child care and development. They also encourage child development policies and programs that are long range, developmentally appropriate and socially advanced. 916/653-3725


• California Department of Education, Child Development Division
  560 J Street, Suite 220, Sacramento, CA 95814; Administers a variety of early care and education programs to improve the quality of child care & serve families throughout the state. One of their projects, "Care About Quality," is a child care consumer education campaign. Call 1-800-KIDS-793 or 916/323-1312.

National Resources

• Child Care Law Center
  221 Pine Street, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104; A national non profit legal services organization that uses legal tools to make high quality, affordable child care available to every child of every age, every family and every community. 415/495-5498


• Children’s Defense Fund (CDF):
  A national non profit that provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America -- who cannot vote, lobby or speak for themselves. They have publications and data on child care, child health, child welfare, families, and other items.