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Parenting
Opportunities & Challenges
Being a parent is exciting and full of joyful opportunities. It can also be challenging! And, of course, children don’t come with instructions. While we do not have all the answers, we can assist you and help make the challenging times a little easier.
As your child’s needs change with age, use this website and information in the resources to help you care for your child.
Licensed Child Care Programs
All child care in Maryland is regulated by the Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care’s (OCC), Licensing Branch. The Maryland Family Network (MFN) helps Maryland’s young children and their families by providing Family Support and Child Care Resource Centers and by doing advocacy work in Annapolis and Washington. MFN also offers LOCATE: Child Care Service, which enables families to find child care either via telephone or online. LOCATE can also be used to find programs specifically geared toward children with special needs and Spanish-speaking families.
Program Monitoring and Inspections
All regulated and licensed child care programs receive an annual inspection to prove the provider meets Maryland’s requirements for health and safety to help protect your child from injury and illness. Visit the Office of Child Care's online child care licensing inspection results site – www.CheckCCMD.org! The site offers detailed compliance findings from child care licensing inspections conducted since January 2011. The site may also be used to find licensed child care programs and providers, and to link to a wide variety of information about early care and education in Maryland.
File a Complaint
When you choose regulated child care, you have several rights which are protected under Maryland law. You may file a complaint with the Office of Child Care if you believe that the provider or teacher is violating child care regulations. Any complaint you make about the child care facility or the care being provided there (whether it involves your child or not) will be promptly investigated. Your complaint may be filed verbally or in writing with the the Regional Licensing Office covering the county where the program is located.
Parenting
Healthy Beginnings
The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Division of Early Childhood (DEC) supports the healthy growth and development of children in Maryland throughout their early years, from the prenatal period through age 8.
The Healthy Beginnings calendar is full of helpful information and resources for new parents, including information about developmental milestones, as well as programs and services that support both parents and their young children.
Parenting Articles
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New Child Care Portals for Families and Providers
Child Care Portals The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has recently introduced new online portals for both Child Care Scholarship families and providers, which are designed to enhance and simplify various processes related to the Child Care Scholarship (CCS) program. Here’s a summary of the key information provided in…
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Maryland Expands Child Care Scholarship Program to Provide Affordable Child Care to More Families
New Rate Changes and Reimbursement Rates Benefit Families and Providers The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) announced today the expansion of its Child Care Scholarship Program’s eligibility requirements and value to support more parents in paying for the high cost of child care. MSDE has raised the income requirements…
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Tips for Choosing Quality
Are you looking for child care? If so, this short video series from Maryland EXCELS is for you. Learn about the most important how-tos for choosing a quality early education program in Maryland. Then you’ll be ready to select the right program for your child through the Maryland EXCELS…
Resources
- LOCATE: Child Care – A free and confidential referral service that will help you find the best child care for your family.
- Money4ChildCare.com – The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) Program provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families in Maryland.
- Fatherhood.gov – A site for fathers looking for tips, hints, and even deals for dads and kids.
- ChildWelfare.gov – promotes the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families by connecting child welfare, adoption, and related professionals as well as the public to information, resources, and tools covering topics on child welfare, child abuse and neglect, out-of-home care, adoption, and more.
- CDC.gov – the nation’s health protection agency, working 24/7 to protect America from health and safety threats, both foreign and domestic. CDC increases the health security of our nation.
- MarylandFamiliesEngage.org – A MSDE site packed with activities and resources for parents and child care providers.
Maryland Messenger
Our monthly e-newsletter provides parenting and child development information for parents and caregivers of Maryland’s youngest learners.
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Ediciones en español: febrero septiembre octubre noviembre diciembre enero 2022
