For Parents

For Parents
Choosing child care is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child.

The Child Care HELP!Line can help with choosing quality child care:

Personalized assistance on choosing quality care
Referrals to local child care providers, including preschools, and school age programs
Connections to resources providing financial assistance with the cost of child care
Care options for nontraditional work schedules and children with special needs

Dial 211 to find child care and to find answers to these questions:

How can I choose quality child care?
How can I reach my local child care licensing office?
How can I find out the licensing status of a particular child care facility?
How can I get financial assistance for child care?

Child Care Guide
Click here to print a copy of our Child Care Guide - Helping Parents Select Quality Child Care.

Preschool Booklet
Click here to print a copy of our 2010-2011 Preschool Booklet - a list of Preschool Programs.

Child Care Guide for School Age Children - Summer 2010
Click here to print a copy of our 2010 Summer Guide for School Age Children

PAGES WITH LINKS TO ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Licensing & Regulation/Government

Internal Revenue Service - get information on the Child Care Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit
South Dakota Department of Social Services Parent - provides on-line parent educaitonal resource information
South Dakota Office of Child Care Services - provides descriptions of the different types of child care licensing and registration.

Parenting Support

Parenting Organization A team of professionals at the Girls and Boys Town National Resource and Training Center brings Parenting.org to you. We specialize in training, consulting, and researching parenting practices that will help you and others like you deal with the day-to-day care taking, guidance, and development of your child.
National Association of Mothers' Center Through the online resources women gain knowledge, skills and understanding and that translates into healthier families and communities. Links include parenting resources, publications, support organizations, and recommended reading lists.
National Fatherhood Initiative NFI's mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers. Provides information on educating, equipping and engaging fathers, groups and families.
Parents without Partners Parents Without Partners provides single parents and their children with an opportunity for enhancing personal growth, self-confidence and sensitivity towards others by offering an environment for support, friendship and the exchange of parenting techniques. Online resources are available.

Child Development Links

ChildCare Aware - American' most trusted child care resource provides information on choosing child care. The Daily Parent newsletter also offers the latest information on child care development issues, tips for finding quality child care, and numerous resources for busy parents.
NACCRRA - NACCRRA's Parent Central is the source for resources and information about issues affecting children and families. We invite parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, educators and anyone interested in improving the lives of children to join our online community. Members can receive emails or visit the site to learn about opportunities to get involved by voicing your comments and concerns to decision makers.
Born Learning - a public engagement campaign that helps parents, grandparents and caregivers explore ways to turn everyday moments into fun learning opportunities.
South Dakota Head Start Association - the vision of SDHS is to be a positive voice, a powerful advocate and promoter of quality programs for children and families. Learn more about programs throughout South Dakota by visiting this site.
National Head Start Association - The National Head Start Association is a private not-for-profit membership organization that provides support for the entire Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen services to Head Start children and their families; by providing extensive training and professional development to Head Start staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information, and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.

Child Development Institute - Information on understanding child development; improving your child's behavior and learning ability; childhood disorders; taking care of your new baby; raising successful teens; child and teen health and safety issues; and kids, teens and the media.
Child Welfare League of America - Committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families, and protecting every child from harm.
National Association of the Education of Young Children - promotes excellence in early childhood education by providing information to help families look for a quality child care program, preschool, or school for their children, as well as activities that families can do at home to encourage children's development.
Sioux Falls Area Growing Healthy Initiative - Strategic priorities of Growing Healthy are to build an easily accessible network of information, resources, and the best practices in nutrition, fitness, movement, and health promotion for children and adults in the community.

Disabilities Links

Family Voices of South Dakota - Family Voices of South Dakota is a statewide network that promotes the partnership of families and professionals, while advocating for the involvement of all families caring for children with special needs as decision makers at all levels of health care.
South Dakota Parent Connection - South Dakota Parent Connection, Inc., is a Parent Training and Information Center. We are a non-profit organization formed by parents, educators, and services personnel to provide information and training to parents of children with disabilities or special health care needs throughout the state of South Dakota.
South Dakota Voice for Children - The mission of South Dakota Voices for Children is to improve the lives of children through policy and program advocacy. Our vision is that the needs of all South Dakota children are met, including food, clothing, shelter, health care, nurturing, education and safety within the family and the community.
Center for Disabilities - Center for Disabilities receives core funding from the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD) which is housed within the United States Department of Health and Human Services . The Center for Disabilities four core functions (or focus areas) work together to accomplish its mission. These areas include: academic training, community education, information dissemination, research and evaluation, and disability services.
National Center for Family Support - The training and technical assistance we offer is designed to share knowledge, promote understanding, encourage family self-determination and control, build skills, and facilitate collaborative problem-solving related to family support policy and practice.
Universal Pediatric Services, Inc. - committed to serving medically fragile children by providing highly skilled, pediatric private duty nurses to insure consistent, family centered care in a medically efficacious and cost effective manner.
Children's Care Hospital and School - Children's Care Hospital & School, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the state's only children's hospital. It is a private, non-profit facility licensed by the State of South Dakota.

FEEDBACK
If you have any concerns, suggestions, or complaints about the Child Care HELP!Line, please feel free to contact us.