Before you fall for a bright classroom on a tour, spend ten minutes with the state's public records. California makes it easier than most states to see exactly how a daycare has been inspected.
California's Department of Social Services, through its Community Care Licensing Division, licenses child care centers and family child care homes and runs a free public search. Look up any program by name, address, or license number to see:
Some programs are exempt from state licensing — for example, some run by a school district or city — and won't appear. A clean record is the minimum standard, not a guarantee of quality or fit. And the search can't tell you how a program will suit your child.
Tammy Gold, LCSW, spent years matching families with nannies before writing Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer (Penguin). Today she works beside families, and their agencies, as a neutral expert: defining the job, interviewing candidates, checking references and setting up the first 30 days.
Tammy spent years as a school-based therapist and has advised families on childcare decisions for two decades. She helps you read the records, plan the tour, and match a program to your child's temperament rather than to its marketing. How to choose a daycare · Questions to ask on a tour · Is my child ready?.
One hour with Tammy before you put down a deposit.
$189
Screening call, reference questions, clinical interview, and trial-day checklist.
Download free ↓Questions first? Text (818) 308-1358 · info@caremapmethod.com
Tammy has no affiliation with, or financial interest in, any child care program. Legal, tax, visa, and licensing questions belong with the appropriate professional or agency.