Types of Child Care
Family Choice
Families have a choice on the type of care they can receive. If needed, families can mix and match early educational programs. For example, a child may attend a part-day program and receive wrap around care through a Licensed Center, Family Child Care Home (FCCH), or a family Friend or Neighbor (FNN). Read more about the different choices you have HERE.
Funded programs, or Title 5 or Federal
State preschools, child development centers, Head Start and early Head Start
Location: Care takes place in a commercial facility.
Schedules: Full and part time schedules typically following traditional work hours. School or full year.
Staff Qualifications: College level courses, Child Development Permit and required ongoing training.
Healthy and Safety: Background clearance. CPR, First Aid and Preventative Health Practices certified. Announced and unannounced site inspections from Community Care Licensing.
School Readiness: Required to provide age and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for all children. Uses assessments to gauge child’s abilities. Must document and inform parents of child’s growth and development.
Meals: Required to provide healthy meals and snacks. Menus must meet Food Program nutritional guidelines.
Adult: Child Ratios
STATE FUNDED
1:3 infants (0-18 mos)
1:4 toddlers (18 mos-3 yrs)
1:8 preschoolers (3-5 yrs)
1:14 school age (5-12 yrs)
FEDERALLY FUNDED
1:4 infants (0-18 mos)
1:4 toddlers (18 mos-3 yrs)
1:10 preschoolers (3-5 yrs)
Monitoring: Licensed by State of California, Community Care
Licensing, 619-767-2200, and state or federal auditors.
Family, Friend, Neighbor (Informal Care)
Location: Care takes place in parent’s or caregiver’s home.
Schedules: Availability varies. Family and caregiver arrange time and location of care.
Staff Qualifications: No minimum education, training, or experience is required. May participate in trainings, schooling or other professional development activities.
Healthy and Safety: Select providers who are contracted with a subsidy program may need to complete a background clearance. Not required to be CPR, First Aid and Preventative
Health Practices certified.
School Readiness: Varies. Structured, age appropriate activities that support learning may or may not be offered.
Meals: May or may not provide healthy meals and snacks. Not eligible to participate in the Child Care Food Program.
Adult: Child Ratios
Varies. May only care for one family in order to be legally license exempt.
Monitoring: Not licensed. Monitoring is the responsibility of parent.
Family Child Care Home
Location: Care takes place in the provider’s home.
Schedules: Full and part time schedules. May offer traditional, evening, night, weekend, early morning or overnight care.
Staff Qualifications: No minimum education, training or experience is required. May participate in trainings, schooling or other professional development activities.
Health and Safety: Background clearance. CPR, First Aid and Preventative Health Practices certified. Announced and unannounced site inspections from Community Care Licensing.
School Readiness: Varies. Structured, age appropriate activities that support learning may or may not be offered. Having a group of children allows providers to facilitate age appropriate activities, establish routines and build skills that support school readiness. Not required by licensing.
Meals: May or may not provide healthy meals and snacks. May participate in the Child Care Food Program.
Adult: Child Ratios
Small 1:6 plus 2 school age children; no more than 3 infants
Large 2:12 plus 2 school aged children; no more than 4 infants
Monitoring: Licensed by State of California, Community Care Licensing, 619-767-2200.
Child Care Center (Title 22)
Location: Care takes place in a commercial facility.
Schedules: Full and part time schedules typically following traditional work hours. School or full year.
STAFF QUALIFICATIONS:
Director: 12 units child development and 4 years experience
Teacher: 12 units child development
Teacher Aide: 6 units child development
Health and Safety: Background clearance. CPR, First Aid and Preventative Health Practices certified. Announced and unannounced site inspections from Community Care Licensing.
School Readiness: Varies. Structured, age appropriate activities that support learning may or may not be offered. Having a group of children allows providers to facilitate age
appropriate activities, establish routines and build skills that support school readiness. Not required by licensing.
Meals: May or may not provide healthy meals and snacks. May participate in the Child Care Food Program.
Adult: Child Ratios
1:4 infants (0-24mos)
1:12 preschoolers (2-5yrs)
1:14 school age (5-12yrs)
Monitoring: Licensed by State of California, Community Care Licensing, 619-767-2200.
