National Resources
Childcare.gov
This website includes a directory for finding child care and guidance on child care options, choosing a provider, and paying for child care.
ChildCare Aware
ChildCare Aware offers a guide to the steps parents need to take to find the right provider. The site also provides a directory of local Child Care and Resource Referral agencies.
HealthyChildren.Org: Choosing a Child Care Center
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a brief guide to selecting a child care center.
Head Start
Head Start helps young children from low-income families prepare to succeed in school through local programs. Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote children's development through services that support early learning, health, and family well-being.
CDC: Early Intervention Programs
"Early intervention" is the term used to describe the services that are available to support babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities.
New York City and State Resources
OCFS Division of Child Care Services
The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) provides a range of resources to help parents with their child care needs, people running child care programs, and anyone with a concern about the health or safety of a child in a program.
Day Care Council of New York
The Day Care Council's resource and referral services include an online database of providers as well as bilingual parent counselors to assist families in their search for child care.
Child Care Resource and Referral
Parent Handouts: Child Care
The Children's Advocacy Project of New York City compiles user-friendly, comprehensive listings of many social service agencies.
Early Intervention/Development Resource List
NYS Community Action Agencies
Some Community Action agencies provide early childhood or after-school programming and/or referral.
New York State Education Department (NYSED) Early Learning
NYSED provides information on preK and nursery school programs, including directories, as well as resources for teaching at home.
Approved Preschool Special Education Programs
New York State Early Intervention Program (EIP)
The New York State EIP offers therapeutic and support services to eligible infants and toddlers with disabilities. To be eligible for services, children must be under 3 years of age and have a confirmed disability or established developmental delay, as defined by the State, in one or more of the following areas of development: physical, cognitive, communication, social-emotional, and/or adaptive.
A Resource to Special Education Support Services
Use this guide to navigate the special education system for children from birth to third grade. It includes an overview of the Early Intervention Program (EIP) and programs and services available to preschool children and school-age students with disabilities in New York State.
Guide