The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has granted $995,513 to Child Care Aware of America to help parents research potential child care providers. Child Care Aware of America will create and maintain a searchable website, an information hotline and a smart phone app designed to educate parents about local child care options. These resources will be free to all parents.
The website will include links to state licensing agencies so parents can see a child care facility’s health and safety records. Where available, parents can also access an individual provider’s quality score or rating as determined by the state.
Child Care Aware of America will also connect parents to more than 700 Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agencies throughout the country. CCR&Rs work locally to help parents find and evaluate child care options. Child Care Aware of America is the national membership organization for CCR&Rs.
“We know how important making the right child care decisions can be,” said ACF’s Office of Child Care Director Shannon Rudisill. “Our goal is to ensure parents have access to the best, most complete information when choosing the right child care setting for their children.”
The hotline can be reached at 800-424-2246. The website and smart phone app are currently under development. Interested parents should monitor Child Care Aware of America’s website for news of when the website and app become available.