BBB Tips: How to Find Trustworthy Childcare

Many working parents have to make the difficult decision of who trust with the care of their children during the day. On average, 61 percent of kids under 5 have arrangements for some type of regular childcare.

Childcare providers can be friends, relatives, or licensed professionals who watch a few or many young ones, at a home, school, or in a family or group day care center.

With so many choices, how can you begin to choose what’s right for the little ones in your life?

In the state of Georgia, there are specific requirements that can be found at http://www.daycare.com/georgia/

More important information that is Georgia specific:

Georgia Family Daycare Licensing Requirements and Standards

Georgia Daycare Center Licensing Requirements

Worker Qualifications: Teachers/Lead Caregivers: Must be at least 18 and have HS diploma or GED or 1 year experience.

Georgia Agencies:

Child Care Licensing Agency
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
10 Park Place South, Suite 600
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 657-5562
Toll Free: (888) 4GA-PREK (888-442-7735)
Fax: (404) 657-8936
Georgia Daycare Listings

Child Care Subsidy Agency
Georgia Department of Human Resources
Division of Family and Children Services
Two Peachtree Street, NW, Suite 21-293
Atlanta, GA 30303-3142
Phone: (404) 657-3441
Fax: (404) 657-3489

Head Start - State Collaboration Office
Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
10 Park Place South, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA, 30303
Phone: (404) 651-5335
Fax: (404) 651-7184

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Nutrition Services Division
10 Park Place South, Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 657-1779
Fax: (404) 651-7430

State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
50 Executive Park South, Ste 5015
Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: (404) 479-4174
Toll Free: (800) 466-5681
Fax: (404) 479-4228

Office of Child Support Enforcement
Child Support Enforcement
Department of Human Resources
P.O. Box 38050
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-0450
Phone: (800) 227-7993
Fax: (404) 657-3326

Child Abuse Reporting:

To report suspected child abuse in Georgia, call Child Protective Services (404) 651-9361.

For national child abuse information, call Childhelp®, 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453).

And don’t forget:

Visit bbb.org. You can check to see if BBB has a list of accredited childcare providers. You can also view BBB Business Reviews, including records of complaints and other business information, at bbb.org.

Contact a private organization to aid in your search. Many companies can assist you with your childcare search, and help you through the vetting process, including finding in-home placements.

Ask around. Friends, neighbors, coworkers, and relatives can be good references for reliable childcare providers. You can also check with your child’s pediatrician, play or parent groups, or search in local family magazines for recommendations.

Whatever method you choose, begin looking into options for childcare well before you need it, so you don’t feel rushed into a decision that you may not have fully evaluated. If you’re a parent (or even parent-to-be!) who’s planning on heading back to work, take some time to scope out situations long before you plan to restart your day job.

Once you have a list of potential childcare providers in mind, you can begin to check references, visit facilities, and ask questions to determine if the location, staff, and costs are right for you and your family.