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Child Care

A Guide to Government Information

Web version of this guide includes links to web resources.

Search Tips:

Mix and match these terms in searching the library catalog, WestCat , or use them to search journal articles and law reviews via the library's Databases page. You can also use them to search government information sites listed on our Starting Points page - click the tab and pay particular attention to the Top Six.

  • child care
  • Head Start
  • assistance
  • day care
  • child care provider
  • babysitting
  • child care services
  • early childhood education
  • federal aid to early childhood education
  • regulations
  • licensing

Related Topics:
  • poverty
  • welfare
  • child abuse

An important source for many research topics is Congress. Congressional committees and subcommittees hold hearings on a wide variety of controversial and timely subjects. Simply add the word "hearing?" to a search string in WestCat .

Search Engines

Google and StartPage
Use these search engines to search for government information by typing "site:gov" in the search box preceding your search terms:

  • site:gov "child care" or site:mil child care
Federal Government Information
Childcare.gov

This is the website of the Office of Child Care Technical Assistance Network, which includes information on finding or becoming a quality child care provider. Also, statistics by state on children and child care.
https://childcare.gov/

Child Care

Census Bureau webpage providing child care cost and arrangement statistics.
http://www.census.gov/hhes/childcare/index.html

Office of Child Care

This federal agency administers the Child Care and Development Fund and collects statistics on its implementation.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ

Child Care and Development Fund (Benefits.gov)

This federal program provides assistance to low-income families who need child care due to work, training or education.
http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/615

Child Day Care Centers - Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

This federal program helps provide food to day care centers for children in low-income families.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/child-day-care-centers

Child Care Aware

This site, partially funded by the Office of Child Care, has information and resources for parents and providers.
http://www.childcareaware.org/

Child Care Finder

This program shows you what agency serves your area to assist in find child care providers.
http://childcareaware.org/parents-and-guardians/childcarefinder

State Licensing and Regulation Information - National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education

This site provides links to regulations for day care center by state.
http://nrckids.org/index.cfm/resources/state-licensing-and-regulation-information/

Head Start Locator

This site locates providers of Head Start and Early Head Start programs.
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices

Early Childhood Care and Education Programs: Background and Funding

This report delineates the federal programs available to low income families in need of child care and early education.
http://pennyhill.com/jmsfileseller/docs/R40212.pdf

Military Child Care Programs (Military OneSource)

This website helps military families seeking child care.
http://www.militaryonesource.mil/phases-family-life?content_id=267339

Child Care Safety Checklist for Parents & Child Care Providers

This safety checklist includes unsafe items like blind and curtain cords, width of slats on cribs, playground equipment.
Y 3.C 76/3:11-3 C 43/11
http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS121791

Employment Training: Successful Projects Share Common Strategy. (GAO)

One merit of all successful employment training projects was the provision of child care. May 1996
GA 1.13: HEHS-96-108 (fiche)
http://www.gao.gov/assets/230/222508.pdf

Illinois Government Information
Child Care (IDHS)

This web page from the Illinois Department of Human Services links to child care programs and resources available in Illinois.
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29720

Child Care

This webpage from the Illinois Department of Human Services calculates your eligibility to receive child care services available via DHS.
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/applications/ChildCareEligCalc/eligcalc.html

Macomb Information
Resources: Day Care

Day care resources available to the Macomb community.
http://www.wiu.edu/WOW/resourcesDayCare.php

http://www.wiu.edu/libraries/govpubs/guides/childCare.php

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