Start a Child Care Center or Child Care Business
To open a family child care home, licensed center, or convert a facility for child care use:
Market Your Child Care Business AND Obtain Additional Resources
Children's Home Society of California's (CHS) Resource and Referral (RR) Department connects parents, child care providers, and the community to a wide range of resources that strengthen families and support the healthy development of children. All CHS services are free of charge. CHS is pleased to invite your child care facility to join the R&R database.
Your referral file will include significant information regarding the services that you provide, including: hours of operation, fees, current openings, ages of children served, special eligibility requirements and other significant program information. Records are updated quarterly to ensure that information provided to families seeking referrals is accurate and complete.
If you would like to become a part of CHS' R&R database you will need to submit a copy of your official state child care license, signed Rate Request form, and a completed R&R intake form. When completing the R&R intake form, please be sure to indicate all special needs experience that you or your staff have or would be open to learning more about. The purpose of requesting this information is to help parents find child care programs that are welcoming to children with special needs. To request the Rate Request and R&R intake forms please contact the CHS Kidcare Hotline at 714-543-2273 or 949-364-6605 or to learn more about CHS R&R program please, click here.
Improve Inclusive Practice in Your Program
The QualityStart OC Inclusion Pathway for Directors and Teachers, and resource page include self-study resources to support better services for children with disabilities or developmental delays.
Apply for a Child Development Permit
To apply for, renew, or upgrade a Child Development Permit
Increase Child Care Quality through Accreditation
Classes, Conferences, Trainings and Workshops for Professional Growth in Early Care and Education
Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children (OCAEYC) -- Organization for professional in early care and education, OCAEYC is dedicated to supporting professionals in their work with children, birth through eight, to advocate high standards and improved working conditions in programs for young children, and to improve public understanding of issues affecting children and families.
- Services for Early Education and Development (SEED) -- Promotes the professional growth of early childhood educators to support children's academic and social-emotional success.
- California Preschool Instructional Network (CPIN) -- Provides professional development and technical support to early care and education teachers and administrators to ensure children are ready for school.
- Quality Start OC -- Provides resources and professional development opportunities for the enhancement of quality early care and education in Orange County.
- Preschool Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) -- Model of professional development in areas of language acquisition and literacy promoting English language acquisition, academic achievement, and cross-cultural skills.
- Orange County community colleges and universities offering coursework in Early Care and Education