For Parents
Parent Hot Line Free phone referral service. Helps
families find the right center, home or other child care or early education
option.
If You Need Child Care Call:
216-575-0061 (Local)
1-800-880-0971 (Toll Free)
1-800-75-0750 (TTY)
-OR-
Click
here to do an online search for child care providers Fill
out the information on this form and submit to Starting Point. We will
get back to you with child care referrals in your area.
Good Child Care Book Offers good information on selecting a quality child care program, checklists to use when visiting child care centers, homes or interviewing in-home caregivers.
Quality Child Care Many child care centers are committed to enhancing the quality of care by meeting the standards of various public and nonprofit agencies. Different programs offer credentials for different levels of quality or types of child care.
Child Care Food Program
Facilities that participate in the federally funded Child Care Food
Program meet USDA nutrition requirements for meals and snacks.
Care for Kids, Care for Kids Gold Seal Homes
These credentials go to family child care homes whose caregivers have
passed numerous tests of quality care, are trained in child development
and age-appropriate activities and undergo evaluation.
NAEYC, NAFCC, NAA Accreditation
Child care facilities with accreditation from the National Association
for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Association of
Family Child Care (NAFCC) or National After School Association (NAA)
Accreditation have complied with quality standards that go above and
beyond basic licensing standards.
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
click here.
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 as
well as meet the child care needs of working families. For eligibility
requirements and other information click
here.
Important! Ohio House Bill 11
This legislation, enacted in May 2005, requires child care providers
to tell parents about any death or injury to any child in their care
that required a hospital stay of over 24 hours. Parents can view county
and state child care inspection reports. click
here.
Child Care Information Click on a topic below for
information on these important child care issues:
Checklist - Selecting a Child Care
Center or Home
Checklist - Selecting an In-Home
Caregiver
Child Care Tax Credits
Child Care Subsidies for Working Families
State of Ohio Regulations: Child
Care Centers
Family Child Care Homes: Types,
Enrollment Limits
Cuyahoga County Invest In Children
Program
What You Should Know About Starting
Point
Special Needs Child Care
Starting Point has pulled together an impressive array of services for
special needs children in child care settings. Call if your child has
a disability, health or emotional problems and needs special child care
services.
