Resources for Child Care Providers

Helpful Links

• Administration for Children and Families: A federal agency funding state, local, and tribal organizations to provide programs for children and families
• Center for the Child Care Workforce: Works to improve the quality of child care services by upgrading the wages, benefits, training opportunities, and working conditions for child care teachers and family child care providers
• Child Care Aware: Is committed to helping parents locate quality child care and child care resources in their community by connecting them with the local agencies best equipped to serve their needs
• Child Care Partnership Project: Provides information on creating and maintaining public / private partnerships to increase and improve child care throughout the country
• Children’s Defense Fund: Child advocacy organization that works to ensure children a safe and healthy life
• Council for Professional Recognition: Home of the Child Development Associate (CDA) National Credentialing Program, and related professional improvement opportunities that contribute to the field of early childhood education
• Children’s Learning Institute: The mission of the Children’s Learning Institute (CLI) is to create a quality learning environment for all children through classroom curriculum, teacher mentoring, clinical programs, and applied research. Our goal is to make sure every child is equipped to learn and able to excel. Programs housed at CLI include The Center for Improving the Readiness of Children for Learning and Education (CIRCLE) CDA Training, Play and Learning Strategies (PAL),and the Texas Head Start State Collaboration Office, Texas School Ready (TSR),
• Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center: Offered by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Head Start
• Every Texan: Formerly the Center for Public Policy Priorities, Every Texan is a policy research organization that works to influence the economic and social conditions of individuals, families, and communities
• Head Start Information and Publication Center: Source for Head Start publications, including Program Performance Standards, Information Memorandums, and more
• Healthy Child Care Texas: Information for early care and education providers to obtain help through consultation and technical assistance to increase their response to the health and safety needs of children
• National After School Association: A leading voice of the after-school profession dedicated to the development, education, and care of children and youth during their out-of-school hours
• National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC): Devoted to assuring the provision of high-quality early childhood programs for young children
• National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC): Focuses on providing technical assistance to family child care associations by developing leadership, professionalism, addressing issues of diversity, and promoting quality through NAFCC’s Family Child Care accreditation
• National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI): Improves and protects the quality of life of African-American children and families
• National Child Care Association (NCCA): A professional trade association focused exclusively on the needs of licensed, private childhood care and education programs and is the only organization representing the specific interests of the licensed, private community
• National Network for Child Care (NNCC): Networks with committed individuals around the country to bring you practical information and resources that will be useful to you in your everyday work with children
• National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care: Provides child care licensure regulations for each state as well as health and safety tips, and other resources
• National School-Age Care Alliance (NSACA): Promotes quality school-age care and encourages before- and after-school programs to seek accreditation through their organization
• Parent Companion: A guide for Texas parents and caregivers of children with diagnosed or suspected disabilities from birth through 5 years of age.
• Parents Action for Children: Public awareness campaign to make early childhood development a top priority for our nation educating parents and professionals about new discoveries in brain development research
• Prevent Child Abuse Texas: The leading organization working to prevent the abuse and neglect of our state’s children
• Texans Care for Children: Provides information for advocates and policymakers about the well-being of children
• Texas Association for Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (TACCRRA): Works to promote the partnership, improvement, and preservation of quality child care resource and referral services
• Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TAEYC): Is an affiliate of NAEYC and is committed to excellence in early childhood education
• Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition (TECEC): The mission of the Texas Early Childhood Education Coalition is to build a system of quality early care and education that prepares children in Texas for success in their education and life
• Texas Child Care Solutions: The purpose of TCCS is to provide parents access to accurate and consistent information to assist them in making informed choices to meet their child care needs.
• Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS): Administers state and federal human services programs that benefit low-income families and children, victims of domestic violence, and people who are elderly or have disabilities
• Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS): Government agency that manages community-based programs that prevent delinquency, ill-treatment, and exploitation of children, the elderly, and disabled adults
• U.S. Bureau of the Census: Offers useful child care data, i.e, child care costs and use of various child care arrangements
• USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program: Provides nutritious meals and snacks to infants, young children, and impaired adults in day care
• Welfare Information Network: Clearinghouse for information, policy analysis, and technical assistance on welfare reform, including child care benefits
• Zero to Three: Promotes the healthy development of our nation’s infants and toddlers by supporting and strengthening families, communities, and those who work on their behalf