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3.04.2024

Finding Quality Child Care

Step 1: Call Your Local Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) Agency. A CCR&R Specialist will ask a variety of questions to help locate care that best meets you and your child’s needs. You will then get a list of licensed providers based on the information you provide. The CCR&R Specialist can also answer questions about licensing, financial assistance options, Nevada’s Quality Rating and Improvement System, and other community resources. 

Choosing a provider that is right for your child can take some time. Many times providers have waiting lists, especially for infants. Your child should not be left alone with a provider until you can interview the caregiver(s) and visit the home or facility. Talking to many providers and visiting several programs will help you feel confident when making your decision. This takes time.

See “Resources” below to find your local CCR&R agency.

Step 2: Visit Providers and Ask Questions. Make sure you visit the child care options you are considering. When visiting providers, use the quality checklist (see “Resources” below) and ask several questions! Find out how the environment feels to you and get references whenever possible. After visiting the provider take notes about your experience and keep them with your checklist.

Step 3: Check Licensing History. You will want to call child care licensing or visit their website to see if there have been any substantiated complaints against any of the providers you are considering. See “Resources” below for the website and contact information.

Once you have visited providers, made notes on your checklist and checked licensing, you are ready to make a decision! Remember to trust your instincts and choose a provider and setting that you, and your child, feel comfortable with.

Step 4: Create a Back-Up Plan. One of the biggest problems working parents have is finding care when children are sick or when regular child care arrangements break down. The very best time to think about back-up care is when you are first making your regular child care plans. See “Resources” below for the Child Care Back-Up Planner that can help you create a back-up plan.

Step 5: Stay Involved. Research shows that children have higher school achievement when they have families who stay involved in their care and education. Visiting and working with your child’s provider sends a strong message to your provider and child, “My child’s education, development, and safety is important to me!”

Resources:

• Child Care Provider Search Portal

Use the portal to search for licensed care in Nevada.  This search portal finds licensed child care providers that are close to your home, work or any other location you choose. Information includes the quality star level for each provider (see Quality Rating Improvement System/QRIS below).

• Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies

• Southern Nevada – Las Vegas Urban League, Child Care Connection Program
• Email: [email protected] 
• Phone: 702-473-9400 or 855-4UL-KIDS (toll free)
  
  
• Northern & Rural Nevada – The Children’s Cabinet
• Online Referral Form: https://www.childrenscabinet.org/self-referral-form-2/
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 775-856-6200

• Quality Checklist

• Online checklist
• Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) - Child care quality ratings are how states measure and improve child care program quality. States use these ratings to share information about the quality of programs in a way that is helpful and understandable. Nevada’s Silver State QRIS program provides star ratings

• Child Care Licensing 

• Child Care Back-Up Planner - You are going to put a lot of planning and effort into finding the best possible care for your child, but even the best child care arrangements don’t always run like clockwork. Your child or child care provider may get sick. Schools close for vacations, holidays, trainings or even severe weather. You may need to work over time or take a work-related trip. Whatever the reason there will be times you need back-up child care. Use this guide to help you plan.
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Content Source: The Children’s Cabinet – Finding Child Care: https://www.childrenscabinet.org/who-we-serve/i-am-a-parent/finding-child-care/