Child Care and Development Resources
Quick Links to Resource Categories
Associations
Association for the Education of Young Children (AEYC)
National (NAEYC) | (800) 424-2460 | Website
California (CAEYC) | (916) 486-7750 | Website
- World's largest organization working on behalf of young children from birth to 8 years of age, focusing on quality educational and developmental services. Membership is open to all individuals who share a desire to serve and act on behalf of the needs and rights of all young children.
Professional Association for Childhood Education (PACE)
(916) 669-5311
- Established in 1955, PACE is a non-profit membership-based professional association for private child care providers in California. PACE represents its members both at the statewide and national level. Each year, PACE hosts a variety of events including leadership seminars, statewide annual conference, regional trainings and roundtable “hot topic” discussions. Members gain enhanced business practices through education, networking, and advocacy.
Sonoma County Afterschool Network (SCAN)
(707) 467-5156 | mmeyer@mcoe.us
- Promotes the development of quality after school programs throughout Sonoma County and provides workshops and resources to school districts on how to design high quality programs and how best to collaborate with community agencies.
Child Care Facilities
Community Care Licensing Division, Child Care Licensing
(707) 588-5026 | Website
- Licenses, monitors, and registers complaints about Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes.
FirstSchool Design Guide | Website
- FirstSchool, a PreK-3rd partnership housed at FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, published the FirstSchool Design Guide. The Guide is intended to help communities develop optimal indoor and outdoor learning environments for children ages 3 to 8.
Child Care Facility and Development
LIIF Childcare Library of Tools
Child Health and Safety
American Red Cross
(707) 577-7600 | Website
- Offers CPR and first aid classes.
California Childcare Health Program
(415) 502-2825 | Website | Email
- A community-based program of the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing, Department of Family Health Care Nursing. Offers support to child care providers regarding healthy and safe practices in child care settings.
California Children’s Services (CCS)
(707) 565-4500 | Website
- A state program providing financial assistance for specialized medical care and rehabilitation for children under the age of 21 with an eligible handicapping medical condition.
Child Health Disability and Prevention Program
(707) 565-4460 | Website
- Provides complete health assessments for the early detection and prevention of disease and disability for eligible children.
Safe Kids Sonoma County
(707) 525-5300 x3263 | Website
- Provides safety resources for parents and caregivers.
Sonoma County Victim Assistance Center
(707) 565-8250 |
- Provides a variety of services to victims and their families: crisis and emergency assistance, employer/creditor intervention, court support/escort, case status, assistance with victim impact statements, criminal justice system orientation, resource/referral, and emotional support.
Early Intervention
Act Early
(800) 232-4636 | Website
- Provides handouts on development milestones and specific developmental disabilities.
Behavioral Consultation Project
(707) 591-0170 | Website
- Provides free on-site consultations to providers and preschool programs serving children 0 to 5 years old to address behavioral, temperamental, developmental or mental health issues, as well as offering staff trainings and workshops on a variety of topics.
Center for Inclusive Child Care
Website | Email
- A comprehensive resource network for inclusive early childhood, school age programs, and providers, providing resources and online training modules on specific special needs issues.
Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (CHADD)
(301) 306-7070 | Website
- A non-profit organization that serves individuals with AD/HD and their families, providing support for individuals, parents, teachers, and professionals.
Community Alliance for Special Education (CASE)
(415) 431-2285 | Website
- A non-profit organization with trained advocates in special education law, providing consultations about special education rights and services to parents and professionals.
Early Start Program
(707) 569-2000 | Website
Early Start Warmline, (707) 755-5113
- A multi-agency effort by the Department of Developmental Services and the California Department of Education that encourages partnerships between families and professionals, family support, and coordination of services in providing early intervention for families with children 0-3 years of age who have, or are at risk for, disabilities or developmental delays.
Matrix Parent Network & Resource Center
(800) 578-2592 | Website
- Staffed primarily by parents of children with special needs. Provides information, support groups, training, and resources for families with children with special needs.
Sonoma County Office of Education’s Special Education Preschool
(707) 522-3271 | Website
- Provides specialized instructional services for preschoolers with physical, emotional, cognitive, or developmental disabilities.
Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention
(813) 974-2532 | Website
- The Pyramid Model provides free products and resources to help decision-makers, caregivers, and service providers apply the best practices to improve social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities.
General Resources
Child Development Division (CDD), California Department of Education
(916) 322-6233 | Website
- Provides resources and information for child development contractors, families, and community members regarding child development programs funded by the state. Some of CDD's resources are listed below.
- California Early Learning Quality Improvement System (CAEL QIS)
Created through the Bill SB1629 and co-sponsored by Superintendent O'Connell, the CAEL QIS Advisory Committee is a state advisory body that is developing the policy and implementation plan for an Early Learning Quality Improvement System to improve the quality of early education programs. It is also charged with developing an early learning rating scale that includes features that most directly contribute to high quality care and a funding model aligned with the quality rating scale.
- California State Advisory Council on Early Learning and Care (SAC)
Builds on the work of the California Early Learning Quality Improvement System Advisory Committee (CAEL QIS) in helping define the future policy direction for early learning in California.
- Local Child Care and Development Planning Councils (LPC)
Serves as a forum to address the child care needs of all families in the community for all types of child care, both subsidized and non-subsidized.
Children and Families First Commission: First 5 California
(916) 263-1050 | Website
- Funded by a surtax on tobacco products in California (Proposition 10). Committed to providing a community-based system of care and services aimed at supporting and increasing the health and well-being of young children and their families.
ECE Glossaries and Resources
Enrichment Resource List
Enrichment Resources for Childhood Educators & Child Care Providers (pdf)
- This resource document was compiled by the Child Care Planning Council.
First 5 Sonoma County
(707) 522-2020 | Website
- Funds programs and services that promote, support, and improve the early development of children from 0 to 5 years of age and provides small grants to child care homes, centers and preschools who wish to improve the quality of their programs.
Resource List for Child Care Professionals
Resource List for Child Care Professionals (pdf)
- This document provides easy access to valuable child care resources – from health and safety to professional development.
Sonoma County Office of Education: Universal Pre-Kindergarten
What programs are available for my 4 year old under Universal Pre-Kindergarten?
- Please refer to the Family Guide
Zero to Three
Website
- A national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of young children.
Professional Development
California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Competencies
(916) 322-6233 | Website
- The California Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Competencies describe the knowledge, skills and dispositions that early childhood educators need in order to provide high quality care and education to young children and their families.
California Early Childhood Mentor Program
(510) 723-7100
- Provides resources and support to aspiring and experienced teachers and administrators in programs serving children 0 to 5 years old and before- and after-school programs.
- To be a mentor or be mentored, contact SRJC’s Child Development Department, (707) 527-4315 | Website
Careers in Early Care and Education
Sonoma County Careers in Early Care and Education (pdf)
- Are you considering a career path in early care and education? Created through a collaborative effort between Sonoma State University, Santa Rosa Junior College, and the Child Care Planning Council of Sonoma County, this document explains the requirements for positions in early care and education and where you can find the education needed to fulfill those requirements.
Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC)
(415) 289-2300 | Website
- Provides child care providers and preschool teachers with resources and trainings related to early childhood.
Santa Rosa Junior College Tutorial Center
(707) 521-6903 | Website
- Provides free tutors for SRJC students needing assistance with coursework.
Sonoma Quality Counts Pathways Program
(707) 524-2639 | Website
- A stipend incentive program for working child care professionals who wish to continue their ECE education.
WestEd
(415) 565-3000 | Website
- A nonprofit research, development, and service agency striving to enhance and increase education and human development within schools, families, and communities.
Research
Bay Area Council, Early Childhood Education | Website
- Produced the research report, Key to Economic Success: Investment in Early Childhood Programs (pdf), that supports the business case for investment in early education, promoting early education as an efficiency measure that helps avoid potential costs of grade retention, special education, drop-outs, crime engagement, low skills, and low income levels.
Cost, Quality and Outcomes Study | Website
- Research conducted by the National Center for Early Development and Learning and the FPG Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. A study that found that children enrolled in high-quality child care and preschool programs scored higher on both cognitive and social readiness evaluations than their peers in low-quality programs; includes a discussion of policy implications.
The Carolina Abecedarian Project | Website
- A study of the potential benefits of early education for low-income children who received high-quality child care through age five and were monitored at ages 12, 15, and 21. Children who received high-quality care scored higher on cognitive test scores, completed more years of education (including college), and have higher overall academic achievement than those who did not receive care.
Economic Impact of Child Care on Sonoma County
Full Report (pdf) | Executive Summary (pdf)
- The Child Care Planning Council and the Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs) commissioned the National Economic Development & Law Center in Oakland to produce a study assessing the economic impact of child care in Sonoma County.
- The report found that child care is a $91 million industry in Sonoma County that employs 2,412 people. Our community reaps $7 for every $1 invested in child care, yet our current supply of child care will not meet the growing need without partnerships between businesses, government, and the child care industry.
- Every political leader, developer, and owner of a business – small or large – should take a close look at this study. Research has shown that reliable child care affects a company’s bottom line through increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower turnover. Employers can help by allowing employees to work part-time or flex their hours, or job share. They can also set up systems that allow employees to put pre-tax dollars into tax-free accounts to pay for child care. Employers benefit from employees having dependable quality child care. Parents can bring the ideas and information from the Economic Impact Report to their employer’s attention. Child care providers have the opportunity to inform the parents they serve and any business partners they work with about the impact of child care on Sonoma County’s economy.
Insight Center for Community Economic Development | Website
- A national research, consulting, and legal organization dedicated to increasing the status and self-sufficiency of low-income families through community and economic development programs, supporting programs that address a wide range of topics, including early care and education, workforce development, and community investment.
National Institute for Early Education Research | Website
- Supports early childhood education initiatives by providing objective, nonpartisan information based on research.
Resource and Referral Agencies
California Child Care Resource and Referral Network
(415) 882-0234 | Website
- Links the 61 R&R agencies in each county in California. Provides planning tools and resources to help providers, parents, and communities address child care issues. Sponsors programs such as the California Child Care Portfolio, the Child Care Initiative Project (recruiting, training, and retaining providers), the TrustLine Registry (background checks for license-exempt providers), and Parent Voices (parent leadership development program).
Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs)
(707) 544-3077 | Website
- Provides resources, referrals and support services for families and child care providers in Sonoma County.
River to Coast Children’s Services (RCCS)
(707) 869-3613 | Website
- Provides resources, referrals, and support services for families and child care providers in west Sonoma County.
