For Providers

Welcome Child Care Providers!

At Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County we know how difficult it is for parents to find the right child care provider. We believe that it is our job to increase the choices that parents have. We also believe that it is very important that all child care is of the highest quality.

Child care providers have the responsibility to nurture and keep children safe as well as prepare them for successfully transitioning into school. To help you with this awesome responsibility, Children’s Resource & Referral offers training and technical assistance on a variety of topics.

Obtaining a Child Care License

The first step to becoming a licensed child care provider is to attend the appropriate Licensing Orientation. For Orientation schedule and additional information on Community Care Licensing call: 805.562.0400 or visit their website at: Community Care Licensing Division

To become a Family Child Care Provider, you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Attend a licensing orientation, and pay a fee to attend.
• Have your fingerprints taken for a Child Abuse Index Check for yourself and anyone over the age of 18 in your home, and assistants. Everyone fingerprinted must also sign a statement that they have never been convicted of a crime other than minor traffic violations.
• Have a current tuberculosis clearance, as well as anyone over the age of 18 in the home or present during the time that children will be in care.
• Complete 15 hours of training in Preventative Health Practices, which include Pediatric First Aid and CPR.
• Have a smoke detector and fire extinguisher in the home where child care takes place.
• Submit a licensing application with all required materials.
• Pay an annual fee to maintain a current license.

To start a licensed Child Care Center contact:  Community Care Licensing Division

Child Care Initiative Project

The Child Care Initiative Project is designed to recruit and train family child care providers in order to address the shortage of licensed quality child care in Santa Barbara County. Our staff will support and assist you with the licensing process, evaluate your home environment to ensure that it meets licensing standards.

Participation in the project requires that a potential child care provider must attend a total of 25 training hours. We offer these hours through four modules. The training series includes: the business aspects of child care, tax preparation, and best practices in caring for infants and toddlers. Incentives are offered for completion of required training.

For more information on the CCIP Program call:
Santa Maria: Argelia Perez, Resource Specialist 805.925.4789
Santa Barbara: Ruth Torres, Resource Specialist 805.963.4592

Family Child Care Steps to Quality

Family Child Care Steps to Quality Program & Network is designed to support a provider’s commitment to creating a high quality child care program. Research shows that children thrive in high quality child care. In an effort to increase high quality child care in Santa Barbara County, Children’s Resource & Referral has created this Program to focus on four elements of success: Education of the Provider; High Quality Environments; Strong Business Practices; and Relationships. If you would like more information about Family Child Care Steps to Quality Program & Network please click here. 

NAFCC Accreditation for Providers

National Association for Family Child Care is a process in family child care to indentify exemplary practices by a particular Family Child Care Program. Accreditation is both a status and a process. As a status, accreditation provides public notification that the Program meets standards of quality set forth by an accrediting agency. As a process, accreditation reflects the fact that in achieving recognition by the accrediting agency, the institution or program is committed to self-study and external review in seeking not only to meet standards but to continuously seek ways in which to enhance the quality of the services provided. If you would like more information about how Family Child Care Steps to Quality can support you in the NAFCC Process click here. 

Child Care Food Program

Children's Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County sponsors the CACFP (Child Care Food Program) for Family Child Care Providers. The goal of the Program is to ensure that all children receive nutritious meals and snacks that meet the minimum daily requirements of a balance diet. Through the Program, we can reimburse Family Child Care Providers for meals served to children daily.

We offer educational workshops and resources and we can assist you in planning your menus and setting up the required record keeping.

How To Enroll:
After you have received a Family Child Care License and have begun to care for at least one child, call our office to set up an appointment. Participating in the Child Care Food Program is a good business decision. It can lower your expenses, thus increasing your profits!

Using the web link below, family child care providers participating with our program have the opportunity to maintain all required food program information conveniently on the web using our new Minute Menu provider software program. For more information, please contact our office at 805.349.8018 or our toll free number at 1.800.947.9979.  Click here for our Holiday Calendar.

Minute Menu Provider Sign-In
 

Alternative Payment/CalWORKs Programs

Alternative Payment Programs allow parents to choose the child care program and Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County will pay the provider on the State's behalf. Alternative Payment Programs are popular because parents can choose care that is close to their work or home, and care that meets their individualized need for flexible scheduling.

CalWORKs Program is designed for parents of young children, who receive cash assistance through Santa Barbara County - Department of Social Services. For more information or to ask how you can be an Alternative Payment Child Care Provider call 805.925.7030.

Child Development Lending Library

The Child Development Lending Library is open daily in both the Santa Maria and Santa Barbara office locations. This is a no-cost library, filled with many educational toys, books, videos, and instructional materials that can be borrowed for two weeks at a time. Additionally, we have a laminator and die cut machine available for use. To be a member of the Child Development Lending Library, you must complete a Library Contract.

For images of the Child Development Lending Library click here.

Maintaining Your Child Care License

Training Opportunities
Annual Training Calendar: There are many opportunities and resources to support a Child Care Provider’s ongoing professional development. Children’s Resource & Referral conducts regular workshops/trainings as well as an Annual Child Development Conference.

Health & Safety Requirements & Reimbursements
A licensed child care provider must have current CPR and First Aid Certification that is EMSA approved. For more information on CPR & First Aid classes please contact Children’s Resource & Referral.

Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County can assist child care providers with the cost of obtaining and renewing CPR/Pediatric First Aid and the Health & Safety Certifications. Providers may apply for reimbursement; approval is contingent on funding availability.

To apply simply download the application from the link below, and mail it in with a copy of your receipt(s), a copy of the front and back of your card(s) verifying the class was conducted by an EMSA Certified Instructor. 

Downloadable Health & Safety Reimbursement Application Form click here. 
 

Marketing Your Business
In most instances, child care providers are small businesses. You need to market your business as any other small business in our community. Advertising through the yellow pages of the phone book, local newspaper ads, and radio are all good methods. Business cards and flyers are highly recommended.

When parents are seeking child care through the Resource & Referral Program, we may provide them your Family Child Care Program information.  However, once we give them this information it is up to the parent to make the initial contact with you. Although we will update our Provider Database regularly, it is up to you to keep us up-to-date on available openings or any changes to your Program.

Professional Associations

Santa Barbara Family Child Care Association (SBFCCA)
Santa Maria Association of Family Child Care Providers (SMAFCCP)

Newsletter

Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County publishes a quarterly R&R Newsletter for child care providers. The newsletter is filled with information that will assist you with your business, link you to other support programs and keep you informed about Early Care and Education news! 

Newsletter Archives
Fall 2011