Connecticut 2-1-1 Childcare
Connecticut 2-1-1 Child Care is a free, confidential, and statewide service which helps match the requests of parents and child care providers with programs.
Available Monday – Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Dial 211 or 1-800-505-100 or go to www.211childcare.org.
Parent resources on their website include:
- Children’s Growth and Development
- IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
- Social and Emotional Supports
- Licensing
- What Does Quality Look Like?
- What Are The Most Common Types of Accreditation?
- Quality Checklists
- – Infant & Toddler Quality Checklist
- – Preschool Quality Checklist
- – School Age Quality Checklist
- Health and Safety Checklist For Homes with Young Children
- Selecting a Provider*
- Site Visit Checklist
- Phone Pre-Screening Tool
- Preparing Your Child For Child Care
- Tips For a Successful Child Care Arrangement
- Finding a Nanny or a Babysitter
- – Interview Questions for Nanny or Babysitter
- – Hiring a Nanny or Babysitter
- – Reference Check for Nanny or Babysitter
- – Criminal Police Check
- – Department of Motor Vehicles Background Check
- – Becoming the Employer of a Nanny or Babysitter
- Summer Camps*
- Out of School Time Care
*Note that licenses are required for preschools, family and center child care providers. Licenses are also required for day and overnight vacation or summer programs that meet at least 3 days a week over a meal period. When researching childcare programs you can access inspection and investigation results via the Connecticut 2-1-1 Childcare page. Via their search function you can limit by type of program, age of child and location. You can also look up specific programs. Once you select a program from the search results list you will see a link that says “View Inspection and Complaint History.” The State inspectors are very thorough and providers may be in violation of the regulations for a variety of reasons ranging from dust in the vents or a stained ceiling tile, to missing signatures or forms, to serious health or safety concerns. Be sure to ask any provider you are considering to discuss any inspection issues you are concerned about.
Connecticut 2-1-1 Childcare also offers resources for early childcare professionals:
- Provider Orientation Schedule and Registration
- Provider Training and Registration
- – Provider Orientation Registration
- – Quality Improvement System (QIS) Provider Training
- Children’s Growth and Development
- Opening a Child Care Center
- – Child Care Center Licensing Regulations
- – How Do I Get Started?
- – Business Financing
- Steps to Starting a Family Child Care Business
- – Starting a Family Child Care Business (English)
- – Starting a Family Child Care Business (Spanish)
- – Child Care Agreement Between Provider and Parent
- – Sample Family Child Care Agreement
- – Family Child Care Career Support Project
- Professional Associations
- – Early Childhood Directors’ Group
- – Statewide Family Child Care Associations
- – Professional Recognition
- CPR
- First Aid
- Administration of Medication
- Child and Adult Care Food Programs
- Emergency Preparedness
