Parents’ Frequently Asked Questions

The Child Development Resource Center serves families with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children, including transitional kindergarten.

A referral request is filled out by a parent or caregiver who needs help finding child care. When a referral request is filled out, a CDRC specialist will provide the family with at least five to seven child care options to consider. CDRC does not give preferential treatment to any early childhood educator or program. Referrals are given to families according to the area where care is needed, the age of the child(ren), the type of childcare desired, the time-of-day care is needed and known availability. 

The Child Development Resource Center is the one-stop resource for families seeking child care. The Child Development Resource Center’s website has the only comprehensive list of child care facilities in Santa Cruz County. Parents are also encouraged to fill out a referral request to receive customized child care referrals to fit their family’s needs.

For many working families, quality child care is essential but cost prohibitive. Help is available. The Child Development Resource Center can help look at the options to see if your family qualifies for assistance to pay for child care and direct you to agencies that offer subsidized care in Santa Cruz County.

There are options throughout the county, including low- and no-cost preschools, child care centers and licensed family child care homes that serve eligible families. A voucher program also provides assistance to families on an individual basis.

Finding the right care for your child is one of the most important decisions your family can make. Check out the Choosing Child Care Checklist for a step-by-step guide in determining the right child care for you and your family. You can also visit Types of Child Care Options for more information or contact a Child Development Resource Center specialist to guide you through this process. 

You can discover childcare programs near your work or home by using the “Location of Child Care” finder on the Child Development Resource Center website. 

Yes, the Child Development Resource Center has bilingual staff.

The Child Development Resource Center maintains a database of child care availability in Santa Cruz County and can connect you with providers welcoming new children.

Please explore the “Steps to Finding Quality Child Care” to determine the right fit for your family and needs. 

There are options throughout the county, including low- and no-cost preschools, child care centers and licensed family child care homes that serve eligible families. A voucher program also helps families on an individual basis.

Transitional Kindergarten (TK) is being in expanded in California to include all 4-year-olds by the 2025-26 academic year. TK Programs are free and provided by public schools. Contact the Child Development Resource Center for more information or call your local school directly.

Care provided by a friend, relative, neighbor, babysitter or nanny in the child or adult’s home is not licensed, but in-home care providers can register with TrustLine, California’s criminal background check for license-exempt providers.

Please request a child care referral on the Child Development Resource Center website.

Community Care Licensing has a centralized complaint and information bureau, which maintains a complaint hotline that you can call. The phone number is 1-844-538-8766. That’s 1-844-Let-Us-No. Or you can use the email address, letusno@dss.ca.gov.

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education provides guidance on COVID protocols for child care facilities, including guidance on masking, how to handle COVID exposures, testing and quarantine periods.