For Caregivers

Update Your Information Here!
Now you can update information on your child care program right on this web site. It's an easy way to make sure we have the most current information for our child care hotline and to let you know of important child care developments, training and other opportunities. All you need to do is complete one of the following forms:
• For Pre-School Providers
• For After-School Providers

Training and Professional Development Starting Point offers a wealth of training and professional development opportunities for early child care and education professionals, covering everything from the business of child care to child development, first aid, developmentally appropriate practices, gentle teaching, communicable diseases, building relationships with families and more. We also list trainings by other organizations. See Training Page.

Accreditation An accredited child care center or family child care home measures up to national standards of quality established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the National Association of Family Child Care Homes (NAFCC) or the National After School Association (NAA). That means they are committed to the highest standards of quality child care and have voluntarily submitted to a rigorous examination of their practices, staff and activities. For more information on accreditation, log onto the appropriate website below.
NAEYC-For Centers
NAFCC-For Family Child Care Home Providers
NAA-For After-School Caregivers

Step Up to Quality This is a voluntary quality rating system designed to recognize the efforts of licensed early care and education programs that take incremental steps towards improving quality. For more information, contact Gloria Anderson at Starting Point or Patty Donofrio at ODJFS 216-787-5370, or email or log onto www.occrra.org/stepup.htm

Early Learning Initiative The Early Learning Initiative (ELI) is a collaborative partnership between the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that is designed to provide educational experiences so children will enter kindergarten ready for success in learning. For more information click here. (www.odjfs.state.oh.us/cdc/)

Care For Kids A Starting Point program aimed at fostering quality child care homes. Recruits, certifies, trains and consults with family child care home providers. Promotes quality enhancement. Awards Care for Kids certificates for higher levels of training; seals of Excellence to providers who meet high quality standards. For information on becoming a Care For Kids provider, contact Beverly Williams at Starting Point. This program is part of Cuyahoga County's Invest in Children.

T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Ohio The T.E.A.C.H Early Childhood® (Teacher Education and Compensation Helps) Project was developed to upgrade the level of education of those working with young children by making the educational process affordable, increasing wages, and reducing turnover. The T. E. A. C. H. Early Childhood® Ohio project can help you gain a CDA credential or a college degree, which in turn leads to better earnings and more credibility as an early childhood professional. For information or an application call OCCRRA (Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association) at 614-396-5959 Ext 304 (toll-free at 1-877-574-6978) or click here. This program is part of Cuyahoga County's Invest in Children.

Special Needs Child Care Starting Point offers assistance to child care centers and home providers in caring for children with disabilities, health or emotional problems. Special Needs Child Care is part of the Cuyahoga County's Invest in Children. For information see the booklet entitled Working with Special Needs Children or request a copy.

Start-up Assistance Periodic workshops are available for people interested in opening a child care center. Consultation is also available. (Contact Joyce Bresler)

Capital Loan and Grant Program A limited number of loans or grants are available for centers needing repairs or renovations. (Contact Joyce Bresler)

Job Placement The Job Bank is an excellent resource for early child care and education professionals and centers alike. The centers use it to seek employees and the child care professional can look for jobs in the field. Career counseling is also offered here. (Contact Starting Point)

Recruiting Family Child Care Home Providers If you'd like to find out about becoming a family child care home provider, contact Beverly Williams at Starting Point.

Important! Ohio House Bill 11
This legislation, enacted in May 2005 requires child care providers to tell parents about any death or injury to children in their care that required a hospital stay of over 24 hours. Parents can view county and state child care inspection reports. Click here for Child Care Disclosure form.

First Steps, the Infant and Toddler Initiative (Contact Michelle Jones)

After School Initiative (Contact Annie Lewis-Wolfe)

Other organizations serving the community:
OCCRRA's Infant/Toddler Guideline
Invest in Children