Child Care Link, the regions child care resource & referral (CCR&R), meets a need that no one else does, providing the bridge between parents, child care providers, community leaders, and policy makers. By offering a unique blend of services and planning expertise, Child Care Link helps families and communities ensure that their children arrive at kindergarten ready to succeed.
Child Care Link is the only Quality Assurance Program in the state of Virginia. The Quality Assurance Program is a national, voluntary, quality assurance system for community CCR&R agencies. This program is designed to ensure that families across the country have access to consistent, high quality consumer education and referral services. Quality Assured CCR&Rs voluntarily meet national standards for the delivery of high quality consumer education and referral.
By providing resources, documenting community needs, and creating new ways to meet those needs, Child Care Link brings the voices of children, families, and child care providers to the public. High-quality child care does more than benefit children; it can create positive results for entire families and for communities as a whole. What makes Child Care Link unique is its ability to gather information to better understand family needs. Child Care Link is the major source of information about the local supply, the cost of child care, and is able to track trends about the changing needs of families.
No one has a greater impact on the quality of care than the people who work with children every day. That is why Child Care Link provides ongoing professional development opportunities to child care providers. By supporting accreditation programs, helping create financial incentives for education, and advocating for better compensation for providers, Child Care Link improves the quality of care for all children.
By talking with parents one-on-one, Child Care Specialists gain a unique understanding of the delicate balance of family life, particularly for low-income families. They understand that finding high-quality child care is just a first step to raising happy, healthy children. High-quality child care has many benefits, including preparing children for school. Educating parents about early learning and the components of quality care is also a major part of Child Care Links services.
As in most communities, demand for child care far outstrips supply. Child Care Link provides an entry point to the child care field, helping providers meet licensing requirements. Child Care Link also supports providers by offering technical assistance in diverse topics like health & safety, child development, and sound business practices. Child Care Link works with local and state governments and the private sector to leverage resources for building and maintaining the supply of quality child care.
