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For parents
For parents
Find child care
Getting Started
For providers
About us
HOW IT WORKS
Two ways to get your referrals — online or by phone
Access our referral service online or by phone — whichever works best for you. Both options are free and available to all families regardless of income.
Option 1: Search online
Use the online search tool to enter your child care needs and receive a list of licensed providers in your area.
Option 2: Speak with a referral specialist
Prefer to talk to someone? Call us at 626-699-8070, and a friendly referral specialist will take the time to understand your specific situation — your child's age, your location, your schedule, and your family's needs — and help you find options that are a genuine fit.
YOUR NEXT STEPS AFTER RECEIVING REFERRALS
Getting a referral list is just the beginning — here's how to choose well
Once you have your referral list, the real work begins: evaluating each provider to find the one that's truly right for your child. This is your right and your responsibility as a parent — and one of the most important things you can do for your family.
Step 1: Visit and observe
Schedule visits to the providers on your list. Watch how staff interact with children, observe the physical environment, and trust your instincts about how the place feels.
Step 2: Ask the right questions
Interview the provider about their licensing history, staff qualifications, daily schedule, curriculum, discipline policies, and family communication practices. Our Choosing Quality Child Care guide provides a comprehensive list of suggested questions to ask.
Step 3: Review licensing history
You have the right to review any substantiated or inconclusive complaints about a licensed provider. This is public record and is available at the facility or through the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing.
Step 4: Stay engaged after you choose
Once enrolled, maintain regular communication with your child’s caregiver. Staying involved in your child care program supports your child’s growth and keeps you connected to their daily experience.
WHY LICENSED CHILD CARE MATTERS
What 'licensed' actually means — and why it matters
Every provider in our database is licensed by the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing — meaning they meet the state’s minimum standards for health, safety, and educational quality. Licensed providers are subject to regular inspections and can be cited or closed for violations.
A license is a meaningful baseline of accountability. It doesn’t guarantee the quality of care your child will receive, which is why visiting and evaluating before you choose remains essential. But it does mean the provider has agreed to meet California's standards and is subject to ongoing oversight.
As a parent, you also have the right to review any complaint history on file for a provider before you make your decision. We encourage every family to exercise that right.
GETTING STARTED IS EASY
How to use our referral service
From your first search to your child's first day, here's how the process works:
Search or call
Use our online search tool to enter your needs and receive up to 15 referrals to licensed providers in your area — or call 626-699-8070 to speak with a referral specialist.
Visit, evaluate, and choose
Visit the providers on your list, ask questions, and review their licensing history. Our Choosing Child Care guide walks you through exactly what to look for when evaluating providers. The choice is yours.
Stay engaged
Once you have chosen a provider, stay in regular contact with your child’s caregiver — children thrive in child care when their families are actively involved.
Find a Location Near You
Our referral service covers communities across the San Gabriel Valley
Our Resource and Referral Department provides free child care referrals for families in the following communities: Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, El Monte, La Cañada, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Monrovia, Pasadena, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Temple City, and Whittier.
If you're outside this area, call us at 626-699-8070 — we may be able to connect you with another resource and referral agency that serves your community.
