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IN
CANADA
Unlike the U.S., Canada does not have a national system
for resource and referral services. "The point of
access for many parents", says Peter Ashmore, of Westcoast
Child Care Resource Centre in Vancouver, "is through
the provincial Ministry of Social Services, Health
Units, or whichever office is involved with licensing
and subsidy."
Ashmore
notes that the Yellow Pages is the logical place to
look for resource and referral services, but points
out that these services are often disguised as Community
Information Services because they do so much more
for parents than just resource and referral.
IN
THE UNITED STATES
In
the United States, where there are approximately eight
million children in some form of child care (compared
to three million in Canada), The National Association
of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, has
some 400 local community-based members. There are
also State-wide CCR&R Networks.
Child
Care Aware
Child Care Aware™ is a NACCRRA program funded through
a cooperative agreement with the Child Care Bureau,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Child
Care Aware was created by NACCRRA in 1988 with support
from the Dayton Hudson Foundation and the Dayton Hudson
Family of Stores. The national, toll free parent information
hotline was first established in 1992.
Since
then, Child Care Aware has become a steady national
resource, consistently used in print media, parenting
books and publications, television programs, and national
public awareness campaigns on child care and related
early childhood services and programs. All of Child
Care Aware's information distribution channels (print,
phone, web, email) are bilingual in English and Spanish.
Today, new parents know the number and start their
search for child care by calling 1.800.424.2246.
NACCRRA is a membership organization of almost 700
community-based child care resource and referral (CCR&R)
programs from every state in the United States, some
provinces in Canada, and in Great Britain. NACCRRA's
mission is to provide vision, leadership, and support
to community child care resource and referral and
to promote national policies and partnerships committed
to the development and learning of all children.
Quality
child care can make a big difference in your child's
life, as it gives your child ahead start on a strong
mind, body and spirit. Begin your search with your
local resource and referral agency. They know a lot
about local choices, and can save you a lot of time.
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