When to Start Looking

Many child care centers have waiting lists for interested families, so you should begin your search well in advance of the time you will need care. Infant and toddler care can be especially difficult to find due to high demand and small group sizes, so you may need to begin your search for infant care from the time you learn you are pregnant or scheduled for an adoption. For center-based care, try to visit several centers at least one year before you anticipate needing care. To find out about the availability of care in your area, call or e-mail us at mnelson@acap-me.org.

Many family child care providers do not have a waiting list, and fill openings as they arise, so it is a good idea to start your visits four to six months before you need care. Depending on availability, you might have to wait longer than you had planned, so having a back-up child care arrangement to cover you until a slot opens is important.

Here are some questions to consider and ask during your visit:

• Does the provider have a waiting list?
• How many children are on the waiting list for your child’s age group? How often is the list updated?
• Many providers have a sibling-preference policy; how many siblings are on the list and how will this affect your chances of getting a slot?
• How does the enrollment process work? Is it open or rolling enrollment, or is enrollment done only once a year?
• Is there an application fee for getting on the waiting list?
• Will the provider keep in touch with you as openings occur?

Your Family's Needs

To narrow down your choices of child care settings, think carefully about your child's needs and how they would best be satisfied in various environments. If your child has special needs, your search for child care may be a little more involved, and you'll have several options to consider. Keep all these factors in mind as you look at a variety of child care situations:

• Does she do best in a small group, or in a larger group with a lot of activity and contact with other children?
• Does your child have special scheduling needs, is she toilet trained, does she need lots of room to run around?
• Does your child bond with others easily, or handle separations well?
• Would your child benefit from having one provider or a group of teachers in her daily life?

Your choice of child care will depend not only upon the age and developmental stage of your child, but also on your needs as a family. Think about your schedule, your financial constraints, and the location of your workplace. If you need early drop-off times or late pickups, make sure you ask about the program's hours and late fees. The more flexible your schedule, the more choices you will have.

Location

Some towns have a greater supply of care than others. You can increase the pool of potential providers by including your commute route in your search. You might want your child close to your workplace so that you can get there quickly in an emergency, or be able to drop in and visit during lunchtime. Or perhaps you want your child's caregiver close to home so he doesn't have a long commute at the beginning and end of the day. This is especially important if you use public transportation to get to and from work.

If Your Child Has Special Needs

If you have concerns that your child may be in need of an evaluation, contact your child's pediatrician and your child's teacher or child care provider to assess the situation. After an evaluation has taken place, there are many intervention programs available, and many states enroll children in intervention services at age 3 or younger. Many of these services are in a preschool or school-based environment.

Early Intervention (EI) programs service young children with biological or environmental risk for developmental delay. EI programs usually offer assessment, care coordination, and individual family service planning. They also work to promote the integration of infants and toddlers with special healthcare needs into mainstream programs.

Child Development Services is an intermediate Education Unit responsible for ensuring identification of children with disabilities or at risk of developmental delays, who are ages birth through five and reside in Cumberland County. CDS screens, evaluates and provides the following services for children with disabilities, age birth through five, developmental screenings at their office, evaluations in the area(s) of concern, early intervention services for eligible children, service coordination to support the family and child's progress, transition planning and assistance with public school entry, fami0ly focused approach in serving children with disabilities and their families.  You can contact them at: CDSAroostook@yahoo.com, 122 Academy Street, Presque Isle, Maine (207) 781-8881.

The Americans with Disabilities Act guarantees children with disabilities the opportunity to participate in all activities of community life, including attending child care. But just because child care programs are available to your child doesn't mean that all child care settings will work for you.

You need to look for a setting that suits your child's individual needs, and a provider with whom you are comfortable. Contact us to get a list of providers that have experience caring for children with various disabilities. You can also talk with your Early Intervention provider and other parents to see whom they have used.

Another resource is the Child Care Plus ME project at the University of Maine's Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies.  Their mission is ensure that all infants, preschoolers, and young children have an opportunity to be cared for and educated in high quality, inclusive schools and community child care settings.

If your child has significant medical needs, you should look closely at the setting. Is there a good adult-to-child ratio? Will there always be an adult available to care for your child? Will they take the time necessary to work with your child? If your child has sensory issues, make sure the environment isn't overly stimulating for him. Some children may need a smaller group to thrive, while others will do best with lots of peer interaction. You have to decide which environment will optimize your child's potential and participation.

You need to consider other factors as well, including the provider's communication system. Will you get the kind of in-depth information you're looking for every day? Check into the discipline policy and make sure the center is willing to work within a special behavioral plan, if your child needs one. Ask about the center's rate of staff turnover. If your child requires a consistent routine or has trouble with transitions, you need a center with a stable staff.

If there is a child with special needs in the class, go to the center to observe how the child is included in activities. Bring your child in and see how she is accepted by the other children and the staff. The most important thing is to find a teacher who is willing to learn about your child's needs and is open to making adaptations, if necessary.

In-Home Caregiver Qualifications

Education

Your caregiver should have some basic training in child development. Do you want this person to have a degree, or is hands-on experience more important to you?

Age

Are you comfortable with a young caregiver who may be college-aged, or would you rather have a caregiver who has raised a family of her own first? Au Pairs tend to be young adults looking for a cultural experience.

Experience

The amount of experience these caregivers have had with children can vary greatly. What type of experience are you looking for? Is babysitting experience sufficient, or do you want a caregiver with experience from teaching, student teaching or internships, helping raise siblings or family members, or working in a child care setting?

Personality

Are you looking for someone who is outgoing and friendly, or quiet and reflective? What type of personality best matches your child's personality? If the caregiver will live in your home, you will want to ask her about her living habits such as neatness, daily rhythms, and what her needs are for social interaction or personal time.

Values

What is your caregiver's philosophy on discipline? What are her beliefs about child rearing? Does she have religious beliefs that are compatible with yours? What is her cultural background? Are you open to learning about a culture that may be different than yours?

Referrals from ACAP RDC

FREE SERVICE OFFERRED BY
Request a town(s) listing for appropriate child care providers. The list includes: 

• Provider's name, address, and phone number
• Type of care
• Ages served
• Hours of operation
• Environment

Consumer education materials are also included:

• Child care check list
• Reference questions
• "Choosing Quality Child Care" and "Steps to Choosing Child Care" information sheets are available.
• A resource packet
• No immediate check for child care openings