Where Can I Find Child Care? Preschool? Early Education Programs?
Parents and guardians of young children are often confused about where to find information on programs serving young children, and how they are regulated and organized statewide. Let me try to unscramble some of the information for you and give you some resources to use!
The Great Start to Quality website www.greatstarttoquality.org has a database of all the licensed programs in Michigan – preschools including Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs as well as licensed home programs, childcare centers, and school age care programs. Search at https://stage.worklifesystems.com/parent/4 to locate the programs which meet your criteria.
As with any searchable database, the fewer items you choose as criteria, the greater number of results you will get. You also have the ability to sort programs based on times open or closed, and the name of the program. You can add filters after your search to find programs that offer before school care or take state subsidies. And you can save this information in your profile so you can find your list again in the future!
Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs are subsidized preschool programs for children from 3 through 4 years of age. Priority is given to low-income families, and risk factors are taken into account on the applications. You can find information about enrolling in your local programs at http://www.livingstonesa.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=6155557 To complete an enrollment form for one of these programs, go to http://www.livingstonesa.org/parent___community_resources/early_childhood/start_free_preschool_org
If you are seeking care for children under the age of three, school aged children, or information on preschools that are not subsidized, the Great Start to Quality website is the best place to visit. If you have questions about choosing care, you may call our office at 734-975-1840 extension 6. One of our quality improvement staff will be happy to help guide you in your search! The Great Start to Quality site has resources such as a checklist you can use when evaluating programs, a publication to help you with your search for the best program for your child, and a guide to licensing and resources in Michigan.
We hope you find a terrific place for your child to learn and grow!
-Carolyn Graves, M.A. ,Quality Improvement Specialist
Child Care Network
Great Start to Quality Southeast Resource Center
www.childcarenetwork.org
