California Resources

Would you like to know more about child care licensing in your state or resources for children with special needs? Do you need to contact someone about child support, health care for your family, or help paying for food or heat? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Click a tab below to find those resources and more in California.

Child Care Resource & Referral Search

Looking for child care? Your local CCR&R agency can help you find options near your home or work.

Find out more about child care in your area. Click on the links below, or contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for one-on-one help.

Child Care Licensing

Your local child care regulatory office

Phone: (916) 654-1541

Provider Complaint Line: 1(844) 538-8766

Website

Inspection Reports

Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

Website

State Child Care Landscape

Basic facts about child care in your area

State Child Care Landscape

California Child Care Information

Information and resources for parents looking for child care in California

Website

Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

Website

Criminal Background Checks

Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

Website

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – Quality Counts California

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.

Website

ECE Shared Resources California

A one-stop location for ECE professionals for policies, forms, regulations, guidance, discounts, and more to save time, reduce costs, and improve quality (Note: typically requires purchase of a subscription or membership)

Website

Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.

Child Protective Services

To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child

Contact Your Local Office

*If county is not known, call ChildHelp at 1(800) 422-4453*

Website

Child Support

Child support application and procedures for your state

Website

Medicaid Eligibility – Medi-Cal

Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

Website

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.

*California’s Children’s Health Insurance Program is included in the Medicaid program.*

Website

California Department of Public Health

State government programs to promote the health of California citizens

Website

California Department of Social Services

State government programs and services for children and families

Website

Mental Health Services Division

State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs

Website

Car Seat Basics

Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

Website

Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.

Child Care Assistance – CalWORKs Child Care

Child care financial assistance program for families who receive or have received CalWORKs cash assistance

Find Your Local Office

Website

Child Care Assistance – Alternative Payment Program

Child care financial assistance program for families not receiving cash assistance

Contact Your Local Office

California Head Start

A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five

Find Your Local WIC Clinic

Website

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – CalWORKs

Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

Website

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps) – CalFresh

Federal nutrition program

Website

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

Website

Utility and Energy Assistance Programs

Additional energy assistance programs in California

Website

Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.

Easterseals of Southern California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

Easterseals Central California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

Easterseals Northern California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

Easterseals Superior California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

The Arc of California

Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

Website

Early Intervention – Early Start

Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

Website

Child Health and Disability Prevention Program

Delivers periodic health assessments and services to low-income children and youth in CA

Website

Respite Care of America™ (RCoA™)

Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) partners with the U. S. Navy to provide Exceptional Family Member Respite Care to eligible families across the U.S. In California, Respite Care of America™ (RCoA™), a subsidiary of CCAoA, facilitates respite care provider administration for EFM Respite Care.

Website

There are currently no organizations listed

Find out more about child care in your area. Click on the links below, or contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for one-on-one help.

Child Care Licensing

Your local child care regulatory office

Phone: (916) 654-1541

Website

Provider Complaint Line: 1(844) 538-8766

Inspection Reports

Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

Website

State Child Care Landscape

Basic facts about child care in your area

State Child Care Landscape

California Child Care Information

Information and resources for parents looking for child care in California

Website

Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

Website

Criminal Background Checks

Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

Website

Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) – Quality Counts California

Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.

Website

ECE Shared Resources California

A one-stop location for ECE professionals for policies, forms, regulations, guidance, discounts, and more to save time, reduce costs, and improve quality (Note: typically requires purchase of a subscription or membership)

Website

Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.

Child Protective Services

To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child

Contact Your Local Office

*If county is not known, call ChildHelp at 1(800) 422-4453*

Website

Child Support

Child support application and procedures for your state

Website

Medicaid Eligibility – Medi-Cal

Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

Website

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.

*California’s Children’s Health Insurance Program is included in the Medicaid program.*

Website

California Department of Public Health

State government programs to promote the health of California citizens

Website

California Department of Social Services

State government programs and services for children and families

Website

Mental Health Services Division

State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs

Website

Car Seat Basics

Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

Website

Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.

Child Care Assistance – CalWORKs Child Care

Child care financial assistance program for families who receive or have received CalWORKs cash assistance

Find Your Local Office

Website

Child Care Assistance – Alternative Payment Program

Child care financial assistance program for families not receiving cash assistance

Contact Your Local Office

California Head Start

A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five

Find Your Local WIC Clinic

Website

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – CalWORKs

Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

Website

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps) – CalFresh

Federal nutrition program

Website

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

Website

Utility and Energy Assistance Programs

Additional energy assistance programs in California

Website

Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.

Easterseals of Southern California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

Easterseals Central California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

Easterseals Northern California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

Easterseals Superior California

Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports

Website

The Arc of California

Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

Website

Early Intervention – Early Start

Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

Website

Child Health and Disability Prevention Program

Delivers periodic health assessments and services to low-income children and youth in CA

Website

Respite Care of America™ (RCoA™)

Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) partners with the U. S. Navy to provide Exceptional Family Member Respite Care to eligible families across the U.S. In California, Respite Care of America™ (RCoA™), a subsidiary of CCAoA, facilitates respite care provider administration for EFM Respite Care.

Website

There are currently no organizations listed

If you find that any of the information above is incorrect, please contact us at info@childcareaware.org.

CCA Logo/Homepage link
Military Families

Military Families