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Welcome Parents!
Welcome to the Santa Barbara Family Care Center's website, a resource for all your child care questions and needs. Our Children's Resource & Referral Program is your primary source of information and support to help you make your selection of child care a smooth process.
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We know that working parents want only the best for their children. Child care can be one of the greatest challenges that you will have in raising your child. We know that you want your children to be safe and have fun while they learn at their child care. Nothing is worst than worrying about your child when you are at your job. |
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At the Children’s Resource & Referral Program, we can help guide you through the challenge of finding a child care arrangement that best suits your needs. We can explain the state licensing regulations, tell you about indicators of quality care and answers your many questions and concerns about child care. Download the Child Care Check List and take it with you when you visit child care providers and facilities. You may contact us directly by telephone or find child care through our online referral service.
Child Care Centers:
Child Care Centers provide care for groups of children in non-residential settings. They may be housed in a school, church, commercial buildings, or community centers. Centers are sometimes referred to as nursery schools, preschools, Head Start programs, and daycare. Centers provide non-medical care and supervision to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and/or school age children for periods of less than 24 hours. They are licensed by the the state of California.
Most centers prefer regular, full-time, enrollment. There is no sick care for children. The program is more structured, with 12 or more children.
In Santa Barbara County there are just a few centers that will accept infants. Parents are placed on waiting lists. Call the Children's Resource & Referral Program for a list of these centers at (805) 962-8988.
Family Child Care Homes:
Family child care is provided in the home of the caregiver. They are either licensed or exempt from licensing. Family child care providers care for up to 14 children or fewer in a family-oriented atmosphere for less than 24 hours.
Licensed Care:
A Family Child Care Home may be licensed as a small family child care, 6 to 8 children, or a large family child care with 12 to 14 children. They are licensed by the Community Care Licensing Division of the state. All adults living in the home must be fingerprinted and pass a criminal record clearance and be free of Tuberculosis.
You may call the Community Care Licensing Division to see if the licensed family child care provider or center has had complaints filed against them. You must call first for an appointment at 805.682.7647.
Community Care License Division
License Exempt Care:
Exempt care means that the provider is not required to be licensed by the state of California. A child care provider is exempt from licensing if they care for the children of one family other than his/her own children. Exempt care also includes nannies, au pairs, family and friends. Parents choosing exempt care should consider doing a background check with the Trustline Registry at 1-800-822-8490.
In-Home Child Care:
Many parents prefer to have their children cared for in their own home. Two sources of in-home care are nannies and au pairs. A nanny is a person who is employed by the family to provide care in the child’s home. They may live in the home or elsewhere. An au pair is a foreign national who comes to this country to experience American life for up to one year. Call us for a listing of nanny/au pair agencies in our area.
Finding Child Care for Children with Special Needs:
Finding a child care program for a child with special needs may take extra time and patience. You might start by calling the state and national agencies responsible for children with special needs to receive local contacts. You can also contact your local school district and early intervention program for resources and assistance. Of course, other families with children with special needs can be a great help to you. The Children's Resource & Referral Program can help you locate a child care provider that has experience and training in Special Needs care. Finally, remember that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibit child care providers from denying services to any child with a disability.
Inclusion Specialist:
The Children's Resource & Referral Program has an Inclusion Specialist whose role is to link families with children having special needs and other developmental disorders to child care providers, the community, and to educational entities that can provide them with appropriate services. Another role of the Inclusion Specialist is to provide training and technical assistance to child care providers as they adjust to include children with special needs into their facility. If you are a parent seeking services for your child with special needs the Inclusion Specialist is available throughout Santa Barbara County and can be reached by phone in the Santa Barbara office or the Santa Maria office. After your initial phone consultation, the Inclusion Specialist will meet with you to gather information on the specific needs of your child and to determine your expectations in a child care provider. You, the Inclusion Specialist, and any other person involved in your child’s care that you choose to include, will select developmentally appropriate goals that are tailored to your child’s needs. Together, your family and the Inclusion Specialist will select a child care provider that suits your expectations and your child’s goals. The Inclusion Specialist is available for follow-up questions or any concern you may have as your child acclimates to his or her new environment.
TrustLine:
Because there are no state or national regulations or standards for in-home care, careful recruiting, interviewing, and reference checks on your part are essential. You can provide your own background check through a statewide program called TrustLine. TrustLine checks for criminal convictions and substantiated child abuse reports. A parent can find out if someone is listed in the registry by calling 800.822.8490 and giving the caregiver’s full name and driver’s license number. Visit the TrustLine website at www.trustline.org
The TrustLine Registry is a database of nannies and babysitters that have cleared criminal background checks. It is the only screening program for in-home caregivers in the state. If you would like your caregiver to be screened through TrustLine, we can assist you. You can also call 1.800.822.8490 to see if your caregiver is already registered with TrustLine.
Financial Assistance to Pay for Child Care:
There are several programs that help parents pay the cost of child care. Alternative Payment Programs, CalWORKs Child Care, and child care centers that have contracts with the California Department of Education, Child Development Division to offer financial assistance to eligible parents. Additionally, programs such as State Preschool, Head Start, Latchkey or School Age Child Care are state funded programs designed to meet the needs of low-income families. Parents can access these programs by applying to the Centralized Eligibility List (CEL) for subsidized care. Click on the Alternative Payment Program link above to learn more about the CEL.
Our Children’s Resource and Referral Program can provide you more information on where to locate these programs.
