Child Care Resource & Referral Services
(CCR&R)

Child Care Referrals

CAPMC Child Care Resource & Referral program finds that parents are best able to understand their own family's child care needs. We strive to offer parents a variety of child care referrals of licensed facilities in Madera County that reflect these needs.

CAPMC/CCR&R makes referrals, NOT recommendations, to child care options. We encourage parents to visit the sites and make independent inquiries about the care givers and programs before making a selection. Any resulting obligations for services are made solely between the parents and the provider of care.

Referral services are provided to all persons requesting them regardless of income or other eligibility factors. Confidentiality of both parents and providers is maintained.

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How to Request a Referral

Click here to access our referral request form available on this website. Fill out the form on the computer and submit it, or print it out and FAX it day or night to CCR&R at (559) 675-1497. When we receive your form, we will conduct the searches based on the information provided. Be sure to include your telephone or Fax number, or email address so we can return the referral list to you.

OR
Call us at (559) 675-8469 or (800) 505-0404, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The referral search usually can take place while you are on the phone, but occasionally a search may require more time, and you will be phoned back with the referral information.

OR
Visit us at the CCR&R office at 1225 Gill Avenue, Madera. You'll be asked the same questions as if you call in. You will walk away with referrals and information about choosing quality child care.

In order to make an effective search for a child care provider, you will be asked to identify:
- Name, address, and phone number
- How many children you need care for and the age(s) of your child (children)
- Hours and days the care is needed
- The area where you prefer to look for care (near home, school, or work)
- Why care is needed (work, school, etc.)

CCR&R will search the Provider database to find referrals for child care providers that match your stated needs and preferences. If matches are found you will be given several referrals at a time.

The referral information will consist of:
- The name of a Provider/Program/Center
- The phone number of the Provider/Program/Center
- School district and/or main cross streets where Provider is located

The next step is yours. Call the referred providers to conduct phone interviews. Make appointments to visit the centers or homes with your child. If none of the referrals meet your standards or needs, you can call back and obtain new referrals. Criteria for selecting the "best" child care varies from family to family. Ultimately, it must be parents who select the child care option which best suits their family's needs.

Parents should never hesitate to ask questions or visit child care facilities at any time during their search or after they have located care. Parents are their child's best advocate.

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Choosing Quality Child Care

Finding the right care giver is often challenging and takes work. Even though, as parents you are the most important people in your children's life, the relationship your children have with their care giver will also affect how they feel about themselves and the world around them as they grow up. When infants and young children receive warm and responsive care, they feel safe and secure. Positive relationships with caring adults will actually allow your child's brain to grow and develop in the best possible way.

There are many different types of child care, from child care centers and family child care to in-home care. Some care is licensed by the State of California, some is not. Licensing does not assure quality, but it does provide guidelines for health and safety. If you take the time to look carefully, you can find quality care for your child.

When considering a provider:

1. Interview and observe the potential provider with your child.
    - Explore why this care giver wants to care for your child.
    - How does s/he feel about this work?
    - Is this person warm, caring, attentive, and responsive to your child?

2. Ask the potential provider:
    - What do they like to do with children?
    - What are their feelings about discipline?
    - How do they handle naps, eating, toilet training?
    - How they would handle an emergency?

3. Ask a lot of "what if" questions, for example:
    - What if my child cries all day?
    - What if my child refuses to eat?
    - What if my child refuses to nap?

4. Check a potential child care provider's history by calling the Community Care Licensing office at (559) 243-4588. You have the right to access any public information in licensed provider files, including complaint and violations information.

5. Check references and work history.

6. Trust your instincts! Hire someone you like. Hire someone your children like.

7. Once you have found a good provider, be sure to:
    - Communicate regularly and openly about how the child care arrangement is working for you, your child, and your provider.

Remember, good child care is a partnership!

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Finding Help Paying for Child Care

Some Madera County families might qualify to receive financial assistance to help pay for child care. There is a service called a centralized eligibility list (CEL) for subsidized child care. Parents will need to get on the CEL to determine their eligibility for a child care subsidy.

Subsidized child development programs, Head Start programs, and State Preschool programs in Madera County will have access to these names and be able to contact parents when they have openings in their programs.

Parents can add their names to the Centralized Child Care Eligibility List by calling CAP of Madera County Child Care Alternative Payment Program, CEL Information Specialist at 559-661-0779. The Information Specialist will answer any questions and will add their name to the list.

The following is a list of all programs that offer assistance in Madera County:

Countywide:
- The CAPMC Alternative Payment Program and CEL
    Subsidized child care, based on family size and income, 0-13
    Call 661-0779
- PACE: Professional Association for Childhood Education
    Subsidized child care, based on family size and income, 0-13
    Call 1-866-664-0263 or 559-664-0263
- Madera County Office of Education
    After school care at various sites, school-age children
    Call 673-6051
- CAPMC, Head Start
    Call 673-0012

Madera:
- Madera Unified School District, Madera,
    State Preschool, ages 3-5
    Call 675-4500
- Pandas Preschool, Madera,
    State Subsidized preschool, ages 2-5
    Call 674-7873
- Madera Child Development Center, Madera,
    State Preschool, ages 3-5
    Call 674-1972

Oakhurst:
- Sierra Children's Center
    State Subsidized preschool, ages 3-5
    Call 642-1591

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How to Obtain a License for Family Child Care

Are you interested in working with infants and young children in your family home? If you answer "yes", CCR&R can help you get started in the profession of family child care. We offer:
- Assistance in completing the licensing process through the California Dept. of Social Services Community Care Licensing
- Enrollment at no cost on our Referral Database
- Child care Education and Training
- A Toy and Resource Lending Library
- A bi-monthly child care newsletter to keep you informed
- Information about earning college credits toward Family Child Care Accreditation

For information on the complete licensing process, call CCR&R at (559) 675-8469 or (800) 505-0404 and ask for a "Child Care Licensing Packet." In this packet you will find a booklet outlining "10 Easy Steps to Apply for a Family Child Care License" and the forms needed to begin the process.

The first step to obtaining a child care license is to attend a licensing orientation in either Fresno or Merced conducted by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing. After this orientation, you may request an application with all the forms necessary to complete the application process.

In addition to completing the application form, applicants are required to:
- obtain TB skin tests for each adult (18 years or age or older) living and/or work in the home.
- attend 15 hours of training in Pediatric CPR & 1st Aid, and Preventative Health Practices.
- have fingerprint check and child abuse index check for each adult living and/or working in the home.
- have their homes inspected for safety to meet the state health and safety regulations.

CCR&R offers assistance in completing the application forms, obtaining the required classes, and setting up your family child care home. Call (559) 675-8469 or (800) 505-0404 for an appointment to meet with a staff member who will assist you in this process.

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Madera County Community Connections

CCR&R works with many local child care agencies to educate the community and its leaders to understand child care issues and to plan effectively to address child care needs.

Local agencies working with child care issues include (but are not limited to) the following:
Madera County Local Child Care & Development Planning Council
     (559) 673-6051 Ext. 268
    www.maderacoe.k12.ca.us
First 5, Madera County
     (559) 661-5155
    www.first5madera.org
CAPMC / Headstart & Parents Anonymous
     (559)673-9173
     www.maderacap.org/headstart.html
Madera County Child Abuse Prevention Council
     (559)662-1793
Madera Unified School District
     (559)675-4500
Madera Adult School
     (559)675-4425
     www.madera.k-12.ca.us/adultschool

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Parents and Providers Advocate for Children's Issues

There are many opportunities to advocate for children.
- Sign a petition that supports children's issues, and share your concerns with friends and family.
- Register to vote, and vote for candidates who support children's rights.
- Call your elected official. Become informed on issues affecting children.
- Invite an information/resource person to speak to your group.
- Plan an event in support of families or children: family day at the park or a finger painting party.
- Attend a hearing on child care bills.
- Write to your legislator.

Contact the following organizations to find out more about how you can help children through advocacy.
- Parent Voices
     www.parentvoices.org
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
     www.naeyc.org
- Children's Defense Fund
     www.childrensdefense.org
- Stand for Children
     www.stand.org
- California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
     www.rrnetwork.org
- Children Now
     www.childrennow.org
- On the Capitol Doorstep
     www.otcdkids.com

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