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Finding Quality Child Care

Leaving your child with another person while you go to work can be a scary prospect. Understanding what to look for in a child care facility can offer you a peace of mind. In order to help parents navigate the maze of finding quality child care, we have come up with the following guidelines.

Where can I find information on child care?

District IV HRDC Child Care Link, your Resource and Referral agency, can provide you with a list of providers tailored to your family’s needs. Child care providers registered with resource and referral agencies are state regulated. While licensing and registration doesn’t guarantee a quality program; at least the provider has agreed to minimum health and safety requirements and is required to have First Aid, CPR, and 8 hours of professional training per year.

How can I tell if the facility provides quality care?

What determines “quality” care is different for each family. Here are some general questions to consider when checking out a facility.

	Did the provider greet your child and you by name when you entered the facility?
	Was the provider engaged with children while you were there?
	Did the children seem happy and comfortable in the presence of the provider?
	Were the children engaged in an appropriate activity?
	Was the environment of the facility open and warm?
	Were there plenty of toys available to the children and were the toys appropriate for the children’s ages and abilities?
	Does the provider have a posted curriculum or routine?
	Does the provider’s discipline policy match your own theories of discipline?
	How did your child react to the environment, other children, and provider?
	Is the facility clean and organized?
	Does the facility participate in a food program or have a posted menu that provides a balanced diet?
	Can the provider offer a list of references for you to call?

Give yourself ample time to visit facilities. Stay and observe what is going on.

The last thing most families have to consider is cost. Many times parents find themselves going with whoever is the cheapest. This should be a factor that is incorporated into your decision, but not the deciding one. Cheaper isn’t always better.

Finding child care that is right for you and your family can be difficult. With the right questions in hand, the task will be much simpler. Make out a list of questions before you visit facilities and make sure your questions are fully answered before you leave, this way you can feel confident about making your decision. Call Child Care Link if you need further resources in selecting quality care at 1-800-640-6743 (toll free), or call 265-6743. More information is also available at Child Care Link.

For more Local, State, and National information, please visit our Related Links page.

This page last updated on Monday, November 13, 2006
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District IV HRDC, 2229 5th Ave, Havre, MT 59501
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