Welcome Parents!

greyarrow: How can CCCC help me find child care?
Community Connection for Child Care stands on the foundation of Resource and Referral services. CCCC provides the connection between licensed family child care providers and families throughout Kern County.

FREE listings of licensed child care professionals, "how to" information on selecting a child care setting and a variety of enhanced services offered to parents take the worry out of finding a caregiver for our most important resource – children.

Key Benefits

  • Fast Service — You can get referrals in our office, by phone or by using our online Referral Form.
  • Reliable Information — CCCC maintains a database of child care providers and child care programs which is updated routinely.
  • Unlimited Access — You may call/contact the service as often as needed.

Each family will receive a listing of providers (referrals not recommendations) as well as useful information to consider while selecting care.

Please call or visit us at our Bakersfield location:

greyarrow: What types of child care are in Kern County?

greyarrow: What is "quality" child care and why is it so important?
A growing number of studies have shown what most parents intuitively know: that the early years are important and early relationships matter – at home and in child care. Current research details how a child's earliest experiences and relationships affect the way his/her brain is organized. During these crucial early years of life, the brain is forming connections that may determine a lifetime of skills and potentials. Quality care of young children is key. Some of the findings confirm what parents and caregivers already know - that how the children are raised has an enormous impact on their emotional well-being, intellectual level and skills for success.

greyarrow: How do I find quality child care?
Start looking for a quality child care program for your child/ren as far in advance as you can. No matter what type of care you are considering—a child care center or care in someone else’s home—finding the right child care option can take some time. Of course, as a parent, you're constantly putting your child first! When you're interviewing providers, consider your child's point of view.

Think of the questions your child might ask:

Who's going to care for me?
Are there plenty of toys I can reach and enjoy?
Where will I keep my "stuff"?
Is everyone having fun?
What will I do all day?

Be sure to visit every program you are considering. Visit more than once, at different hours of the day. That's the best way to see how the program works. You'll also get a better "feel" for the caregiver's style and daily routines. Remember, quality of care may vary from one program or provider to the next. For this reason, CCCC cannot recommend individual providers or programs. As a parent, you're the one who is truly qualified to judge which care is best for your child!

greyarrow: I want to put my children in a day care and I need to find if the provider has any complaints filed against her. How do I go about finding out this information?
 Licensed family child care homes, centers and preschool programs are licensed by Community Care Licensing. The offices are located in Fresno and Bakersfield and maintain files on all licensed programs. California state law requires a licensed child care facility to make accessible to the public a copy of any licensing report pertaining to the facility that documents a facility visit or a substantiated complaint investigation. In addition, a more complete file regarding a child care licensee may be available at an office of the State Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division. You have the right to access any public information in these files.

As a parent, you have the right to get information about any substantiated or inconclusive complaints about a child care provider that you select for your child. That information is public and you can get it by calling the local licensing office. This telephone number is 559.243.4588. You will need the facility (license) number to request the information and you will only be allowed to access the files of three (3) providers per request.

greyarrow: What if I still can't find care?

greyarrow: Is there help for me to pay for child care?
Some low-income California families qualify to receive financial assistance from the government to help pay for their child care when funding is available. The CEL of Kern County can tell you more about help paying for your child care. The CEL is a "one stop" for families to be placed on the eligibility list for subsidized child care and early education programs in Kern County.

Even if your family is income-eligible, you will not automatically receive help with your child care by submitting an application and CEL staff are unable to determine how long your family will have to wait. While you are waiting for assistance, discuss your financial situation with your provider. Some centers and family child care providers may have tuition discounts, scholarships or free supplies like diapers and formula they can offer you. You can also volunteer your skills (e.g., accounting, gardening, cleaning, etc.) in exchange for a reduced fee.

greyarrow: I am looking for quick answers to tough questions I have about raising young children such as discipline, keeping them active and healthy meal ideas.

greyarrow: We are going to be new parents! What do we need to know about child care right now?

greyarrow: What about using in-home caregivers like nannies, friends or family?

greyarrow: Okay, we found a provider for our child. How can I be certain my child is safe and well cared for?
The work of parents in ensuring a quality child care experience does not stop once a selection has been made. Parents can serve as advocates for their own child and other children by monitoring their child's child care program. The most important way to be certain that your child is safe and well cared for is to become a partner with your child care provider. Continue to review the quality checklists and resources provided on this website. Visiting and participating in events at your child’s provider sends a strong message. It tells your child and your child’s caregiver that you think what your child is doing and learning is important.

greyarrow: My child is having trouble adjusting to her new child care provider

greyarrow: What can I do if my child care provider turns out to have been a poor choice for my child?
Regardless of all of your hard work to locate quality child care, there are many circumstances which may result in an unsatisfactory child care situation for you. You have a responsibility to your child/ren and your family to start again to consider your needs, and pursue the best possible child care arrangement. CCCC Resource & Referral specialists will work with you any number of times to help identify possible providers.

greyarrow: How do I file a complaint about my child's child care provider?
In the event that complaints about a provider in licensed homes or centers arise, CCCC will encourage families to contact Community Care Licensing at 559.243.4588 to make an official complaint and ask for the "officer of the day" to file a complaint. CCCC is not the licensing agency and therefore is not responsible for initiating or effecting corrective action.

To facilitate the process, please have the facility's license number and have details relating to the complaint. Moreover, by law, parents can ask to see a licensed child care center's complaint file, which is considered public record and must be on site.

greyarrow: We are moving out of Kern County. How do I find child care in another part of California?
Child Care Resource and Referral (R&R) agencies like CCCC are located in every county in California and can provide your family with a free list of child care providers in the area you desire.

greyarrow: What is the connection between quality child care and being ready for school?

greyarrow: Did you know...
Community Connection works to increase the quality, availability and affordability of child care and early education services in Kern County. The goals of our programs and services are to support families in raising healthy children and finding quality child care, improve the quality of early care and education programs and increase community investments in early childhood education. How can we help you today?

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