All child care centers and family child care homes must be licensed by the State of California Community Care Licensing Division. Licensing is intended to assure minimal standards of health and safety protection for children. Licensing, however, does not guarantee the quality of a child care center or home. You, the parent, are the best judge of whether the child care services provided will meet your childs needs. Parents are strongly encouraged to visit the homes or centers and talk to those who will be involved in their child’s care. 

For more information about choosing quality child care, click here.

Types of Licensed Child Care:   

Family Child Care Homes
Family Child Care is provided in a small group setting in an individual's home. Family child care provides a home-like atmosphere for a child and greater flexibility to match non-traditional schedules.

Center-Based Programs
Child care centers, nursery schools, Head Start programs, parent cooperatives and preschools are center based programs that care for children in groups of twelve or more. These programs vary in the number of hours children are in care, the types of learning environments they offer and the specific goals of the program. 

Accreditation
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) has developed an accreditation process for licensed family child care homes. Accredited providers have demonstrated a commitment to reach beyond minimum licensing requirements and have received professional recognition.  For the names of accredited providers in Irvine, please call the Orange County Child Care Association at 949-857-6003.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) has developed an accreditation system for Early Childhood Program (ages 0-6). It provides a process through which early childhood professionals and families can evaluate and strengthen the child care program and commit to ongoing evaluation and improvement. To see which Irvine centers are accredited; please visit NAEYC online at www.naeyc.org/academy/search/.

Irvine Child Care
For referrals to family child care homes, please contact Children's Home Society at 949-364-6605.


Child Care Center Listings:

Infant/Toddler/Preschool Programs
Infant/Toddler/Preschool Map
School Age Programs
School Age Map
School Age Programs Facilitated by the Irvine Child Care Project
Programs with Specific and/or experience in working with children having special needs