Please take a moment to take the Choices for Children Community Services Survey (choose the correct link below)

 

 

 

Our Child Care Resource and Referral Program in El Dorado County offers innovative support and education services to families and providers.  The offices,  located in Cameron Park and South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County provide a broad range of services to enhance children’s lives.

 

Help Finding Child Care – Our resource and referral specialist can provide families with a personalized list of licensed child care centers, preschools, and family child care homes that meets individual needs and circumstances.  Also available are enhanced referrals for special needs children and tips on choosing child care.

 

Resource Center & Toy Lending Library – The resource center offers consumable arts and crafts supplies, the use of a laminator, a die cut machine, and a copier.  These materials and services are provided at cost.  The lending library contains a variety of developmentally appropriate toys and materials for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers that can be borrowed by parents and child care providers for use at home or school.  Also available are books, DVD’s, and videos on a variety of educational and parenting topics.

 

Parenting and Education – Choices for Children offers classes on a wide variety of topics for parents and providers.  All classes are open to the public and topics may include guidance and discipline, infant toddler development, teaching skills through play, understanding temperament, nutrition and more.  Also offered at a variety of community locations are the Positive Parenting Solutions, a parent education series and Play & Learn, a free play group for parents and children.  

 

Provider Information and Support – Free information, materials, and support are available for licensed and unlicensed child care providers and programs.

 

Do You Need Immunization Records? – click here to access the link to the California Dept. of Health. Remember, forms must be printed on blue paper, but do not need to be on card stock.

 

Live Scan Forms? - click here

 

Tax Information? Want information on tax credits for families? In Spanish?

 

 

Family Child Care Licensing - Choices for Children offers classes to support the licensing process to become a licensed Family Child Care Home and ongoing education.  Click Here to access the forms necessary to apply for or maintain a Family Child Care license.  These include a licensing orientation, CPR & First Aid, Mandated Child Abuse Reporting, Business Practices, Creating Environments, and Curriculum. (College Credit is available in South Lake Tahoe) A Family Child Care specialist is also available to assist with the licensing process by providing a pre-licensing support visit and ongoing technical support.  Through the Child Care Initiative Project, licensed Family Home Care providers may also be eligible for free toys and materials.

 

Caring for Kids – Grandparents, relatives, friends, neighbors, nannies, and babysitters have access to information and support through personal visits, Play & Learn play groups, and a Babysitting 411 class for preteens and teens.  Free toys and materials may also be available.

 

Events – Choices for children hosts a number of community events throughout the year to honor and support children and families in El Dorado and Alpine Counties.

 

 

Kids’ Expo – ( Western Slope) A free event for children and families in April to celebrate the Month of the Young Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month. At the El Dorado County Fairgrounds families enjoy hands on activities, performances, and entertainment from over 100 exhibitors. Take a look at some photos from this year's event.

  

Day of The Young Child (South Lake Tahoe) Click Here for more information.

 

Community Gift Tree – A collaboration with other community agencies to provide gifts for children in need during the holidays. (Western Slope). Click here to get details and locations of this year's Community Gift Tree. To find out more information about the Toys for Tots program, click here.

Winter and Spring Celebrations (Alpine County) – Family oriented community gatherings with arts and crafts activities for children and opportunities for families to network and receive information about local events and services.

 

Special Events and Trainings – Choices for Children makes every effort to meet the needs of our geographically diverse communities.  Based on the availability of grant funding, additional classes or events may be held throughout the year.  Past classes have included Inclusion and Special Needs, a children’s concert, and classes in Spanish.  See calendar for current offerings on the Western Slope, South Lake Tahoe, and Alpine County.

 

Community Resource Link - Parent Education and Support Services (Lake Tahoe Basin): With the support of First 5 of El Dorado County and the Lake Tahoe Collaborative, Choices for Children has complied a list of parent education and support services.  Click Here for a listing of agencies and their services.

 

Additional Resource Information -

 

Choices for Children is a United Way Supported Agency.

For more information on United Way, click here.

 

     First 5 of El Dorado County, click here. 

 

El Dorado County Early Care and Education Planning Council, click here.

 

For information on TrustLine (California's background check for in-home child care), click here.

 

A parent-led, parent run grassroots organization fighting to make quality child care accessible and affordable to all families.  Contact Heather Della Ripa, parent organizer for El Dorado County at 530-541-5848 or you may also click here to access the Parent Voices website for additional information.

 

For information on the 2007 California Child Care Portfolio, El Dorado County data, click here.

 

 

Choosing quality child care is an important task that involves knowing your options, finding and interviewing potential child care providers and programs, and choosing a child care provider you can trust to provide the best care for your child. For additional tips on choosing child care, click here.

 

Question the provider in an initial phone interview.  Ask questions about current openings, the child to adult ratio, number of children being cared for, hours care is offered, fees, what children do during the day, type of discipline used, and meals and snacks.  (Providers who participate in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program provide food that meets nutritional requirements.)

 

Understand your options.   There are different types of child care environments available. These include child care centers, licensed family child care homes, preschools, and in home care provided by a license exempt provider such as a family, friend, neighbor, nanny, or babysitter.

 

Ask the provider about their background.    All employees at licensed centers and adults living in family child care homes are required to have a background check and their programs licensing history is available by calling Child Care Licensing at (916) 229-4530. Unlicensed providers can acquire a background check through the trust-line program at 1-800-822-8490.

 

Look at the child care environment when you visit.  Check to see if it is healthy and safe and there is adequate space, interesting toys and materials, engaging activities, and nurturing interactions.

 

Inform yourself about the child care center or child care provider’s policies and procedures.  Find out about rules, fees, holidays and vacations, sick policy, and contracts.

 

Typical day.  Ask the child care provider or center about the daily schedule.  Children thrive in environments that offer a predictable routine that includes a balance of quiet and active periods both indoors and outdoors. 

 

Your instincts should be trusted.  If you are comfortable with a facility or home, chances are your child will be too. You are the best judge of your child’s needs.