For Parents

How to select Quality Child Care

Parents are and should be especially choosy when selecting a facility where their child will receive care while they are working, attending school or dealing with the daily hustle and bustle of life. But how do you measure the quality of a child care program? This is an important question asked by parents, policy makers, providers and funders.[Read More]

Click here to find an accredited program

Paying for Child Care

Child care costs can represent a substantial percentage of household income. This article explores this dilemma and links a map that displays average child care costs around the nation. [Read More]

Families who make 300% of the federal poverty index qualify for a child care subsidy.

For more information click on one of the links below:

Philadelphia - http://www.philadelphiachildcare.org/index.shtml

Montgomery County - http://ccis.montcopa.org/ccis/site/default.asp

Delaware County - http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/humanservices/childcare.html

Chester County - http://dsf.chesco.org/cyf/cwp/view.asp?A=3&Q=614330

Bucks County - http://www.buckschildcare.com/

Family Friendly Businesses

Does This Sound Like Any Business You Know? With at least 65% of families in need of a safe and nurturing environment for young children while parents are in the workforce, more and more businesses are recognizing the importance of offering family-friendly policies.
There are a range of options that businesses can provide that support the work/family needs of employees.  If you think your employer supports working families’ needs, the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children is looking for your nomination for the 14^th Annual Best Employers for Working Parents Awards for 2008. If you would like to nominate your employer, please click here. Successful work/life programs may include some of the following options, helping the full time employee become more satisfied with the balance of their work and family schedules:

• Alternative Work Schedules
• Child Care Resource & Referral Services
• Maternity Leave Policies
• Onsite/Offsite Child Care Center
• Salary Reduction Plan
• School-Age Child Care
• Sick Child Care
• Voucher or Reimbursement System

Resources and Referrals

Employers can also publicize information about local Child Care Information Services (CCIS) offices that help families looking for regulated ECE and that disperse early care and education subsidy to low-income working families. For information call 1-888-461-KIDS (5437).