How to Choose a Program

When choosing an early learning program for your child it is very important that you do your research. There are many options available for families and it is critical that you choose a program that will best support your philosophy as a parent and one that will be equipped to meet your child’s individual needs. The following steps will help you when choosing a child care program for your young child:

1. Identify areas of a child care program that are important to you

The ELC has a Quality Rating Improvement System called Quality Counts. The Quality Counts program monitors child care programs on a yearly basis to determine the level of services in the areas listed below. Each contracted child care program will receive a performance rating in six key areas.

For a listing of items that are reveiwed during the monitoring, scroll over the individual areas.

• Curriculum, Screening & Assessment
• Family Engagement
• Health & Safety
• Program Administration
• Staff Qualifications
• * Learning Environments (required additional monitoring)

2. Become an informed consumer

The ELC can help! Through the toll-free Child Care Resource and Referral Line 1-866-973-9030, trained staff can provide you with information on the types of care available, what to look for in quality child care programs, and provide customized referrals for programs that meet your specific needs.

Parents now have the option to receive a customized online search. To perform an oline search for child care program, click here.

To find out more about the types of care, click here to view the Family Guide to Early Education and Care Options.

3. Create a “short-list" of programs that appear to meet your needs

• Contact the ELC to obtain a customized list of programs that have openings. By answering a few short questions, staff can provide you with a list of programs that meet your specific needs (transportation, infant care, meals provided, ability to accomodate a child with special needs, etc).
• Review the Department of Children and Families licensing website at www.myflorida.com/childcare to review licensing reports for each program on your list. As the entity responsible for regulating child care in the state of Florida, the DCF reports highlight compliance with state regulations including teacher/child ratio, health and safety violations, and administrative requirements.

4. Go and visit each program you are considering

The Quality Checklist is a great tool to guide your visit when visiting a child care program. It provides questions to ask and things to look for while visiting early learning programs. Click here to view the Quality Checklist.

During your visit make sure to do the following:

• Look – Think about your first impression. Does the place seem safe? Do the teachers/caregivers interact with the children? Are there plenty of age appropriate learning materials and toys? Be sure to visit at least three times, with the first visit being announced.
• Listen – Do the children seem happy? Do the teachers seem cheerful and patient? If it’s too quiet there may not be enough activity going on. If it’s too noisy there could be a lack of control.
• Count – Count the number of children in the group. Count the number of staff caring for those children. The fewer the number of children for each adult, the more attention each child will get. Small group sizes are crucial to providing children with quality care and are extremely important for babies and young children.
• Ask – Ask about the background and experience of all staff. How long has the staff been with this program? What are policies on discipline? Does staff receive ongoing training?

Following these steps will require an investment of some of your time at the front end, but it will help you find the quality care you want for your young child.

For information on afterschool programs please visit http://www.myfan.org for detailed information on the Florida Standards for Quality Afterschool Programs and a checklist to help you make a selection that best fits your child's needs.

Other Resources

• Voluntary Prekindergarten and Readiness Rate Information: http://www.fldoe.org/earlylearning
• Agency for Workforce Innovation’s Early Learning Call Center: 1-866-357-3239 or http://www.flready.com
• Child Abuse Registry contact information: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us or 1-800-962-2873
• Central Directory of Early Childhood Services (providing services to children with special needs): 1-800-654-4440 or you can access their web page, http://www.centraldirectory.org
• Florida KidCare (health insurance program): http://www.floridakidcare.org or 1-888-540-5437