Finding & Choosing
Child Care
PATCH is Hawaii’s statewide child care resource and referral agency
working to improve the quality and availability of child care in Hawaii.
PATCH manages a database of child care provicers and programs. The
child care provider listing is constantly being updated in an effort to
provide accurate timely information to families.
DO YOU NEED HELP TO FIND AND CHOOSE CHILD CARE?
CALL YOUR LOCAL PATCH OFFICE TODAY.
Our Referral Specialists are available to help with
your questions and concerns such As:
- Assistance in locating child care providers in an area that meets your family’s needs.
- Supplying you with a provider profile, which includes information on hours of operation, ages served, and programs. Referrals are not based on current vacancies providers might have.
- The provider profiles are referrals, we do not rate or recommend any child care programs as the State of Hawaii regulates child care providers.
- Information about quality child care.
- A checklist to assist you while on visits to child care programs.
- Helping your family locate potential child care subsidies and other child care resources
Checklist for choosing child care
Use this handy checklist to take with you on visits
Child Care Providers are licensed by the State Department of Human Services (DHS)
and are NOT employees or subcontractors of PATCH. We make no warranties about
the quality of child care they provide. We also strongly recommend that you carefully
read the provider’s contract BEFORE signing it to avoid any future disputes or
miscommunication.
Choosing Child Care
Choosing a child care provider that’s right for your child can only be done
by you. The things at stake are priceless: your child’s happiness and well-
being, and your peace of mind. After all, when you buy a car, you shop
around, compare quality and price, ask questions, and talk to people to
get references and valuable feedback.
As you begin your search for quality care, consider the following:
- Does the provider love doing things together with your child?
- Does the provider have toys and activities that match your child’s age?
- Does the provider talk and read to your child every day?
- Does the provider praise your child’s accomplishments?
- Does he or she know how to guide your child and use discipline appropriately
- Is the setting safe yet interesting where children are not bored?
- Does the provider continuously communicate with you about your child?
- Is the number of children to adults fairly small, especially for infants?
Want to know how to choose quality
child care
Considering values and ideals
Selecting a caregiver that has values and ideals like yours will create a
setting that will be familiar and secure for your child. It is important and
helpful for you to know what values and parenting style you have.
Consider your feelings about the following:
Become Aware
Your child care choice is an important consumer decision. You need inforamtion to
make a well-chosen option in child care. read parenting publications and ask trusted
firends and co-workers for references on child care providers and programs.
Interview, visit and observe
Interview a few caregivers over the phone. Ask about current vacancies,
hours of operation, staff-to-child ratios, age range of children in care,
fees and what they include, the learning opportunities offered, and
whether the provider is a licensed child care provider.
Visit, observe and evaluate the providers you felt most comfortable with
during the phone interview. Bring your child along to meet the provider
and explore the home or site. Your child’s first impressions are just as
important as yours. You should feel comfortable asking questions or
raising concerns. Providers should be willing and eager to share all
aspects of your child’s progress with you. You have the right to visit or call
at any time during the program’s operation.
Make Decision
Review the information you were able to gather from visits to facilities,
interviews, and reference checks. ALWAYS check references before
making your decision. Remember – choosing a child care provider that’s
right for you and your child can only be done by you. Do a “cost-benefit”
analysis. A high fee doesn’t always mean excellent care, nor a low fee
poor care. Keep looking until you find a match between money and
quality.
Consider your overall impression of the quality of care your child will be
able to receive. If needed, schedule additional visits or follow-up phone
calls to get all the information you need to make a final choice.
Once you’ve decided, contact the program, to sign up your child. You
probably will be asked to fill out paperwork and pay a deposit to save
your child’s space. When you’ve determined your child’s “first day” you
can start preparing him or her for the transition.
Keep in mind that once you and your child start with a provider, you
should continually monitor you and your child’s satisfaction. If concerns
arise, try to work with your provider. Although consistency and the bond
that is developed with a provider is very important to young children, it is
okay to change provider if needed.