Understanding Child Care Options
- Child Care Centers - A Child Care Center (or Day Care Center) is usually located in a commercial building. Centers are larger and enroll more children. Oftentimes, a Child Care Center will group children by age.
- Family Child Care Homes - A family Child Care Home must be in the licensee's own home and reflects a home-like environment. There are small and large Family Child Care Homes.
- Small Family Child Care Homes provide care to no more than 8 children.
- Large Family Child Care Homes provide care to no more than 14 children.
- Nanny Share - A Nanny Share is typically two or more families who employ one nanny to watch their children. The nanny may watch all the children together, or a shared schedule tailored to specific families' needs may result in a split schedule and separate care of the children.
- Au Pairs - An au pair is typically defined as a person who goes abroad to live with a family to learn a language or about a culture in exchange for childcare and a stipend.
Community Resources
Childcare Resources & Databases
- Bananas - BANANAS is a non-profit child care referral and support agency serving diverse families in Northern Alameda County, California. This agency provides free parenting information, workshops, and referrals to family child care, child care centers, preschools, babysitters, in-home caregivers, nannies, and playgroups. We provide subsidized child care for parents in need. We also offer training, workshops, classes, and technical support to caregivers and childcare programs to assure parents a wide selection of quality care.
- Berkeley Parents Network is an interactive parent-to-parent network for the community of parents in the Berkeley area. BPN highlights current childcare and school enrollment openings, parent education classes, and reviews on childcare facilities.
- Child Care Council - The Contra Costa Child Care Council is a private, nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Its mission is to provide leadership to promote and advance quality care and early education. Free or low-cost programs and services are provided which are designed to support and empower parents and childcare providers so that children, families, and communities benefit. Through community-based offices in Richmond, Concord, Antioch, and Brentwood, and the main office in Concord, the Child Care Council provides services, such as:
- Free child care referrals
- Parent education and resources to help families make the best childcare choices
- Financial assistance to low-income working families to make quality childcare services more accessible
- Child health, nutrition, and safety education
- Childcare provider training and development to help them build sustainable businesses and to provide quality, healthy, and age-appropriate care
- Public education and advocacy
- For additional information, call the main office at (925) 676-5442, or the community-based office nearest you.
- Childcare Licensing Program (California Dept. of Social Services) - The Child Care Licensing Program strives to provide preventive, protective, and quality services to children in care by ensuring that licensed facilities meet established health and safety standards through monitoring facilities, providing technical assistance, and establishing partnerships with providers, parents, and the child care community.
- Cultural Care Au Pair - Cultural Care Au Pair's childcare and cultural exchange program offers families affordable childcare customized to their needs with a unique international perspective. Au pairs live with you as members of your family while providing up to 45 hours of childcare each week.
- Child Care Aware - Child Care Aware is a non-profit initiative committed to helping parents find the best information on locating quality child care and childcare resources in their community. They do this by raising visibility for local child care resource and referral agencies nationwide, and by connecting parents with the local agencies best equipped to serve their needs.
Child Abuse Reporting Agencies
Child Welfare Services