Finding Quality Child Care

Looking for Child Care?

Looking for Quality Child Care?

The Child Care Resource & Referral agency for Summit and Lake counties is Early Childhood Options. Early Childhood Options is a non-profit agency. We provide child care referrals and consumer education materials to parents, providers and community members at no charge. Please call us at 970-513-1170 x305 with any questions and/or stop by the office.

Early Childhood Options is located at 330 Fiedler Ave, Suite 209 & 210 in Dillon. We are just across the street from CMC, right behind Summit Thrift and Treasure. ECO is open Monday -Friday, 9:00 am -5:00 pm. We look forward to hearing from you!

EARLY CHILDHOOD OPTIONS (ECO) is not a child care provider and does not recommend child care providers. The names of child care and preschool providers provided by our agency should be considered referrals only, not recommendations. ECO cannot assure the quality of any child care or preschool program referred in this process. All information collected in the referral process will be kept confidential. Any problems with and/or complaints about EARLY CHILDHOOD OPTIONS (ECO) staff and/or services should be reported to the ECO Executive Director. Any problems with and/or complaints about the ECO Executive Director should be reported to the ECO Board Co-Chairs.

Scroll down for information about:

Finding Child Care
What are your Choices?
Licensing Information
Why Quality Matters
Questions or Concerns about a Provider

Finding Child Care--5 Steps

1. Start Early

Start looking as far in advance as you can. No matter what type of care you are considering—a child care center or care in someone else’s home—finding the right child care option can take some time.

2. Make a Call

Begin your search by calling your local experts—your child care resource and referral (CCR&R) center. CCR&Rs can give you the facts about childcare, and a list of child care options in your area that may meet your needs. In Summit and Lake Counties the CCR&R is Early Childhood Options.

Questions to ask you CCR&R include:

• What are the licensing requirements in my area?

• How can I get information about complaints and licensing violations?

• Are there any child care financial assistance programs that my family qualifies for?

Call 1-800-424-2246 to find the CCR&R center in your area. In Summit and Lake County, call Elizabeth at 970-513-1170 x305.

3. Visit and Ask Questions

Make sure you visit the childcare options you are considering. Find out about these key indicators of quality:

Adult to Child Ratio: Ask how many children there are for each adult. The fewer the children for each adult, the better for your child. You want your child to get plenty of attention. The younger your child, the more important this is. Babies need an adult to child ratio of no more than 1:3 (one adult for three infants), while four-year-olds can do well with a ratio of 1:10 (one adult for ten children).

Group Size: Find out how many children are in the group. The smaller the group, the better. Imagine a group of 25 two-year olds with five adults, compared to a group of 10 with two adults. Both groups have the same adult to child ratio. Which would be calmer and safer? Which would be more like a family?

Caregiver Qualifications: Ask about the caregivers’ training and education. Caregivers with degrees and/or special training in working with children will be better able to help your child learn. Are the caregivers involved in activities to improve their skills? Do they attend classes and workshops?

Staff Training & Turn-over : Find out what educational background the provider has. Ask what kind of continuing education they participate in. Check how long caregivers have been at the center or providing care in their homes. It's best if child stay with the same caregiver at least a year. Caregivers who come and go make it hard on your child. Getting used to new caregivers takes time and energy that could be spent on learning new things.

Accreditation: Find out if the child care provider has been accredited by a national organization. Providers that are accredited have met voluntary standards for child care that are higher than most state licensing requirements. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) are the two largest organizations that accredit child care programs.

Family Involvement: Ask what opportunities you will have to be involved in your child's early education. How will the provider communicate regularly with you to let you know how your child is progressing? What volunteer opportunities are available? Can you just stop by and visit?

4. Make a Choice

Think about what you saw at each visit, and make the best choice for your child and family.

5. Stay Involved

The work isn't over when you find good care for your child. You and your child’s caregiver are partners now.

Here are some ways to be involved:

• Have parent-caregiver meetings regularly, and ask questions.

• Offer to volunteer time when needed, like participating in clean up days or fixing broken toys.

• Be there for your child’s birthday party.

• Visit your child at child care and read a book aloud.

• Join in special events, like field trips, Career Day, or other holidays.

Even if you can’t get time off from work during the day, you can still check in at drop-off and pick-up times. Ask the caregiver how things are going, and how your child is doing.

Visiting and participating in events at your child’s provider sends a strong message. It tells your child and your child’s caregiver that you think what your child is doing and learning is important.

Find out more about efforts in your community to improve the quality of child care. Is your caregiver involved in these activities? How can you get involved? For more information, contact Early Childhood Options at 970-513-1170 x305.

What are my Choices?

Child Care Centers & Preschools

What is it? Care is provided in a setting similar to school where there may be many classrooms, and children are usually grouped by age. Child Care Centers and Preschools are regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care.

Pros

Last minute closures due to provider illness is unlikely
Frequently offers a child development or preschool curriculum
Facility is inspected for health, safety and fire code compliance

Cons

High turnover of staff can be common
Some children may not adapt well to large group settings
Usually does not have flexible hours

Family Home Child Care

What is it? Your child is cared for in a home (not a relative's) that has been licensed by the state to provide child care. Family Home Child Care is regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care, and must meet different licensing requirements depending on the type of facility.

Pros

Allows you to choose the individula who will care for your child
Smaller group of children in a home-like environment
May offer flexible hours
May include a child development or preschool curriculum

Cons

When a home provide is sick or on vacation other plans for care may need to be made
A single adult is usually alone with a group of children

School Age Child Care

Care for school-age children, before and after school, on holidays and during the summer, may be offered by family homes, child care ceners and schools. School Age Child Care is regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Child Care.

Pros

May be located in the school your child attends
May offer field trips or assistance with the child's homework

Cons

Children are usually of different ages and have very different interests which may not always be met

Licensing Information

The state of Colorado licenses child care facilities to reduce risks and make sure each facility is complying with basic health and safety standards. This license does not guarantee quality but does make sure the provider has met specific requirements, including staff training and background checks.

Background checks

Applicants, owners, employees, and residents of licensed child care facilities must submit fingerprints to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for a criminal record check, and their names must be checked against the Central Registry of Child Protection.

Inspections

Prior to the original license being issued, and at least every two years thereafter; all child care facilities except family child care homes must be inspected and obtain an approving inspection report. Homes are bisited on a "risk-based, variable-visit schedule" after the initial inspection.

These reports can be obtained from the local department of health, the State Department of Public Helath and Environment, and from the local fire department. These reports must be maintained at the facility and be availavle for review upon request.

All licensed child care programs must make the following information available at your request:

1. Current License

License Types-Center or Home Providers

Permanent: Most common; on-going license
Provisional: Issued to new facilities if a minor licensing issue exists
Probationary: Issued when a serious copliance issue exists that could compromise a child's health or safety

License Types-Family Providers

	School Age Children	Children under ageof 2	Max # of Children
6+2 License	2	2	8
3 under 2 License	0	3	6
Infant/Toddler License	0	3 (under 1 year)	4
Large Family Home License	up to 12	2	12 (with 2 providers present)
Experienced Child Care Provider			range from 7-9 (may options included on this license)

2. Last inspection date and findings

3. The maximum number of children assigned to each room or home

4. The adult-to-child ratio for each room or home

Staff Training and Education Requirements

Child Care Centers and Preschools

The lead teacher and Director must have set amount and a combination of work experience and college course work
First Aid, CPR, Medication Administration training and Universal Precautions
Additional minimum of 9 hours per year of training for all staff

Family Home Child Care

Set amount of education or the approved training to obtain a license, with more training to obtain a license, with more training required to care for infants and toddlers
First Aid, CPR, Medication Administration training and Universal Precautions
Additional minimum of 9 hours per year of training for all staff

School Age Child Care

The lead teacher and Director must have set amount and a combination of work experience and college course work
First Aid, CPR, Medication Administration training and Universal Precautions

Provider Files

To make an informed decision, you are encouraged to obtain information from the state Division of Child Care. You can review these documents in person, by email, fax or regular mail. To review by email, fax or mail you will need to have the name of the program, address, phone number, or license number, and you will be required to provide your name and phone number.

Each file includes: license history, number of children allowed to be cared for, information on past complaints, information on past inspections, and any restrictions to the license.

To obtain provider files contact:

Division of Child Care

Colorado Dept of Human Services

1575 Sherman St, 1st Floor

Denver, CO 80203

303-866-5958 or 1-800-799-5876

visit http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/childcare/

to view licensing histories of childcare facilities online

Questions and/or Concerns about a Provider

If you have questions regarding the licensing status or a provider or program, the Colorado Division of Child Care in Denver keeps files of all licensed providers, including complaints and violations. These files are open to the public. Call 1-800-799-5876 to request a copy of the files. Additionally, if you have concerns about a provider please contact the proper licensing agent. Reports about non-licensed child care providers should also be directed towards the following persons:

Grand County

home child care providers Sharon Kelley, 970-879-1948

child care centers & school age programs Sharon Kelley, 970-879-1948

Lake County

home child care providers Katie Falsetto, 719-395-2980

child care centers & school age programs Katie Falsetto, 719-395-2980

Summit County

licensed home child care providers Breann Vanden Brink, 970-668-9186

child care centers & school age programs Sharon Kelley, 970-879-1948

Helpful Links:

Child Care Aware
www.childcareaware.org

Qualistar Early Learning
www.qualistar.org

National Child Care Bureau
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/ccb/relsites/states/states.htm

Colorado Child Care Bureau
http://www.cdhs.state.co.us/childcare

Colorado Department of Education Early Childhood
http://www.cde.state.co.us/earlychildhoodconnections/early.htm

The Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Development
http://www.researchtopractice.info/)