PARENTS

WHAT IS A CHILDCARE RESOURCE/REFERRAL AGENCY?


WHAT IS A CHILDCARE RESOURCE/REFERRAL AGENCY? When looking for child care you may come across an organization for your state known as a child care resource and referral agency.  These agencies are often non-profit, state-sponsored organizations (although there are agencies that are partially or entirely privately funded) that help parents find child care.  Usually, you give the agency specific information about your child care needs such as: your address, ages of your children, any special needs, how much you are able to pay, etc. and they will match you with several providers in your area that meet these requirements.  Often, you have to call a number and provide this information over the phone.  However, some resource and referral agencies have an online search as well that will allow you to view a limited number of results.  Using a resource and referral agency can be helpful since they provide you with a list of providers that meet your basic requirements.  Resource and referral agencies often have additional parent resources that may include: information on financial assistance, parenting classes, what to look for when visiting the providers on the list they gave you, etc.  While a resource and referral agency can be a great resource to you, they do have some limitations.  Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1.  Depending on how well staffed the agency is, you may have to wait several days or longer to get the list of providers that match your needs.
2.  Resource and referral agencies often limit the number of providers they are willing to give you.  They may only be willing to give you a list of five or ten providers they think might meet your needs, but no more.  Even the agencies that have an online search often limit the results to 10-20 providers.
3.  They will not do all the work for you.  It is always your responsibility to research the providers that are referred by the agency to determine whether they are high quality providers.  The referral agency will usually just verify that the providers are currently licensed with your state and can meet your child care needs (as far as openings, hours, fees, etc.)  The agency may be able to save you some time, but you should always thoroughly research any providers they refer.
4.  The agency may require a minimal fee for their service.

Search the list below for a link to a resource and referral agency in your state.  Although only one is listed for each state, keep in mind that many states may actually have more than one agency that provides this service.  Also, there may be local child care resource and referral agencies that are affiliated with the broader statewide agency listed.

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA): www.naccrra.org

Alabama: www.familyguidancecenter.org/index.php
 Alaska: www.childcareconnection.org/
 Arizona: www.arizonachildcare.org/
Arkansas:www.dhhs.arkansas.gov/wa_ccli/FacilitySearch.aspx
California: www.rrnetwork.org/
Colorado:www.qualistar.org/parents/ccr.php
Connecticut:www.211childcare.org/
Delaware: www.familyandworkplace.org/families/referrals...
Florida: www.floridajobs.org/earlylearning...
Georgia: www.gaccrra.org/
Hawaii: www.patchhawaii.org/families/families.asp
Idaho: www.idahostars.org/ccrr/
Illinois: www.inccrra.org/
Indiana: www.iaccrr.org/
Iowa: www.dhs.state.ia.us/reports...
Kansas: www.kaccrra.org/
Kentucky: www.kentuckypartnership.org/ccrr/
Louisiana: laccrra.org/locatechildcare/index.html
Maine: www.skcdc.org/f_referrals.html
Maryland: www.mdchildcare.org/mdcfc/network/network.html
Massachusetts:www.masschildcare.org/
Michigan: www.mi4c.org/parent/referrals/
Minnesota: www.mnchildcare.org/
Mississippi: earlychildhood.msstate.edu/r&r/index.htm
Missouri: www.moccrrn.org/
Montana: www.montanachildcare.com/
Nebraska: nrrs.ne.gov/
Nevada: www.childrenscabinet.org/
New Hampshire: www.nhccrr.org/families/index.cfm
New Jersey: www.njaccrra.org/parents.shtml
New Mexico: www.newmexicokids.org/Family/
New York: www.ocfs.state.ny.us/main...
North Carolina: www.childcareresourcesinc...
North Dakota: www.ndchildcare.org/
Ohio: www.occrra.org/
Oklahoma: www.oklahomachildcare.org/
Oregon: www.oregonchildcare.org/ccrr.htm
Pennsylvania: www.pacca.org/parents.aspx
Rhode Island: http://www.optionsforworkingparentsri.org/
South Carolina:www.childcaresc.org/
South Dakota:frn.sdstate.edu/childcare.htm
Tennessee: www.tnccrr.org/
Texas: www.dfps.state.tx.us...
Utah: www.uvsc.edu/ccrr/parents/requestlist.html
Vermont: www.vermontchildcare.org/
Virginia: www.vaccrrn.org/forparents.html
Washington: www.childcarenet.org/
West Virginia: www.wvdhhr.org/choices/for_families.asp
Wisconsin: www.wisconsinccrr.org/
Wyoming: www.childrens-nutrition.com/childcarefinder.htm
District of Columbia: daycareindc.org/