Our Child Care Resource and Referral Program in Alpine County offers a broad range of services to enhance children’s lives.
Help Finding Child Care – Our resource and referral coordinator can provide families with a personalized list of licensed child care centers, preschools, and family child care homes that meets individual needs and circumstances. Also available are enhanced referrals for children with special needs and tips on choosing child care. Click
here for tips on choosing child care.
(Report prepared by The California Child Care Resource & Referral Network)
Resource Center & Toy Lending Library – The resource center offers consumable arts and crafts supplies, the use of a laminator, and a copier. These materials and services are provided at cost. The lending library contains a variety of developmentally appropriate toys and materials for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers that can be borrowed by parents and child care providers for use at home or school. Also available are books, DVD’s, and videos on a variety of educational and parenting topics.
Parent and Provider Training – Choices for Children offers classes on a wide variety of topics for parents and providers. All classes are open to the public and topics may include guidance and discipline, infant toddler development, teaching skills through play, understanding temperament, nutrition and more. Also offered is the Redirecting Children’s Behavior, a parent education series and Play & Learn, a free play group for parents, caregivers and children.
Provider Information and Support – Free information, materials, and support are available for licensed and unlicensed child care providers and programs.
Family Child Care Licensing - Choices for Children offers classes to support the licensing process to become a licensed Family Child Care Home and ongoing education. These include a licensing orientation, CPR & First Aid, Mandated Child Abuse Reporting, Business Practices, Creating Environments, and Curriculum. College credit is available through Lake Tahoe Community College. A Family Child Care specialist is also available to assist with the licensing process by providing a pre-licensing support visit and ongoing technical support. Through the Child Care Initiative Project licensed child care providers may also be eligible for free toys and materials.
Caring for Kids – Grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbors, nannies, and babysitters have access to information and support through personal visits, Play & Learn play groups, and a Babysitting 411 class for preteens and teens. Free toys and materials may also be available. Click
here to view details.
Events – Choices for children hosts a number of community events throughout the year to honor and support children and families in Alpine County.
Provider Appreciation Brunch- This event is held to enrich early childhood programs and honor the valuable child care and development services provided by the early childhood community of Alpine County and South Lake Tahoe. Click
here for ideas on how you can show your child's provider how much you appreciate their presence in your child's life.
Winter and Spring Celebrations– Family oriented community gatherings with arts and crafts activities for children and opportunities for families to network and receive information about local events and services. Check out the fun activities we enjoyed on December 14, 2007.
We had a fantastic time December 12, 2008 making these fun crafts!
Special Events and Trainings – Choices for Children makes every effort to meet the needs of our geographically diverse communities. Based on the availability of grant funding, additional classes or events may be held throughout the year. Past classes have included Inclusion and Special Needs and a family music concert. See
calendar for current offerings in Alpine County.
Click
here to view our
Resource & Referral Program Guide
Click
here to view our
Child Care Referral Policy and Uniform Complaint Policy
Tips On Choosing Child Care
Choosing quality child care is an important task that involves knowing your options, finding and interviewing potential child care providers and programs, and choosing a child care provider you can trust to provide the best care for your child.
Question the provider in an initial phone interview. Ask questions about current openings, the child to adult ratio, number of children being cared for, hours care is offered, fees, what children do during the day, type of discipline used, and meals and snacks. (Providers who participate in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program provide food that meets nutritional requirements.)
Understand your options. There are different types of child care environments available. These include child care centers, licensed family child care homes, preschools, and in home care provided by a license exempt provider such as a family, friend, neighbor, nanny, or babysitter.
Ask the provider about their background. All employees at licensed centers and adults living in family child care homes are required to have a background check and their programs licensing history is available by calling Child Care Licensing at (916) 229-4530. Unlicensed providers can acquire a background check through the
Trustline program at 1-800-822-8490.
Look at the child care environment when you visit. Check to see if it is healthy and safe and there is adequate space, interesting toys and materials, engaging activities, and nurturing interactions.
Inform yourself about the child care center or child care provider’s policies and procedures. Find out about rules, fees, holidays and vacations, sick policy, and contracts.
Typical day. Ask the child care provider or center about the daily schedule. Children thrive in environments that offer a predictable routine that includes a balance of quiet and active periods both indoors and outdoors.
Your instincts should be trusted. If you are comfortable with a facility or home, chances are your child will be too. You are the best judge of your child’s needs.