Provider Technical Assistance Toolkit

OCAEYC has created a technical assistance toolkit, or collection of resources, for child care providers to use to learn about business issues in the field of early education and identify approaches for addressing them. This collection of resources has been partially translated into Spanish.

Esta colección de recursos ha sido parcialmente traducida al español.

Resources for Early Educators and Families

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Visit this website to learn more about NAEYC's work, read professional journals and research about child development and early education, or to discover professional development opportunities.

Early Childhood OC: Partnering for Thriving Communities

Visit this website to learn about Orange County’s Early Childhood Policy Framework, access the Orange County Child Care Database, and connect with resources for families, agencies and organizations, and policy and advocacy.

Orange County Child Care and Development Planning Council

Visit this website to explore resources for families, child care providers, and the community. Resources include links to professional development programs, business expansion, and more. Sign up for the community email list.

First 5 Orange County Children and Families Commission

Visit this website to learn about the Orange County 2019-2024 Strategic Plan, Early Development Index (EDI) data, policy briefs and statistics, and to access Kid Builders which are activities you can share with families.

Orange County Department of Education (OCDE)

Visit this website to learn about education in Orange County, locate schools and programs, or view a calendar of upcoming trainings and events.

QualityStart OC

Visit this website to learn about Quality Rating Improvement Systems (QRIS) in Orange County. Discover resources, learn how to participate in the QualityStart OC Network, and access a calendar of professional development opportunities.

Children's Home Society of California (CHS)

Visit the CHS website to request help in paying for child care, find licensed child care, and access free workshops and educational resources including links to research and news, a blog, podcasts, Parent Newsletters, Child Care Provider Newsletters, Online Presentations, and Family Education Program (FEP) brochures, distance learning activities, and COVID-19 resources. The website is also available in Spanish, and FEP materials are available in multiple languages.

Start Well: Mental Health Consultation for Early Care and Education in Orange County

Start Well is a program dedicated to building the social-emotional skills of young children, ages birth to eight. The program’s Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants build supportive, collaborative relationships with Early Care and Education (ECE) providers in family child care homes and center-based programs, providing information and guidance through a six step consultation process. Visit the website to learn more.

Community Care Licensing (CCL)

CCL is the department of social services that distributes and monitors child care licenses. Visit their website to learn how to get a license, review laws and regulations, Quarterly Updates, Provider Information Notices (PINs), and discover health and safety resources. Sign up to receive alerts and notifications.

Child Care Law Center

Visit this website to learn about laws related to child care businesses and find legal assistance. The website has information for both parents and child care providers. Their Know the Law series is available in multiple languages. Sign up to receive public policy updates.

Help Me Grow Orange County

Visit the Help Me Grow website to connect families with developmental screenings and services for children. Help Me Grow also has an online Child Care Tool Kit and a Parent Newsletter to help families understand their child's development and access services, and they offer Developmental Screening Training for professionals. Join their Community Listserve to learn about events, trainings, and new resources.

Pretend City Children's Museum

Pretend City is an interactive child-sized city where children can explore community roles, develop creativity, socialize, and practice developmental skills. Visit their website to learn more about the museum and the many educational programs and family events they offer.

Head Start Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC)

Visit this website to learn more about child development, early education, family engagement, teaching practices, health and safety, community outreach, and more. You can also access free professional development.

Birth Injury Justice Center

This website offers information about birth injuries such as brain damage, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and more. They also provide information and links to legal assistance, support groups, adaptive equipment, and other resources. You can also reach them by phone at (855) 937-0116.

KidsHealth from Nemours

The KidsHealth website has a wide variety of information on health, safety, nutrition, child development, parenting, and healthy lifestyles. You can select to view the site as a parent, child, teen, or educator. Content is written for the age level of the viewer by medical professionals in English and Spanish.

Safe to Sleep Campaign

Visit this website to discover how to promote safe sleep for infants. There are free flyer and pamphlet downloads in English and Spanish, videos and more. Please be advised that if you are a licensed child care provider you are required to follow the new safe sleep regulations from Community Care Licensing.

The Period of PURPLE Crying

The acronym PURPLE is used to describe specific characteristics of an infant's inconsolable crying. This can occur any time within an infant's first four months of development and is a common concern for parents who are at a loss as to how they can comfort their infant. Learn more about the period of PURPLE crying on their website.

Healthy Children: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Parenting Website

Find information about child development, health, safety, parenting, and locate a pediatrician on this website. Most of the content has been translated to Spanish and there is an option to listen to a recording of the articles or read them. There is also an interactive symptom checker.

Reach Out and Read: Orange County Chapter

Reach Out and Read (ROR) is a national program that supports pediatricians in reaching out to families to encourage literacy through the use of book distributions, information about literacy development, and other resources. Visit their website to find tips and resources for literacy development to share with families, or to discover ways you can help support their work.

All About Young Children: Information for Families on Children's Early Development

The All about Young Children website offers research-based information and videos about how children ages newborn to five years old grow, develop, and learn. There is also guidance for how parents can support their child's learning. The information is available in eight languages.

Understood

The Understood website provides a wide range of resources and support for parents and educators working with children who have special needs. Discover how children think and learn differently, how you can support their learning in school, community events, and use their interactive tool Through Your Child's Eyes to better understand your child's learning challenges. The website is available in English and Spanish.

California for All Kids

The California for All Kids website contains the Early Learning and Care Playbook with support and guidance for child care providers and families during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Find resources for opening/reopening child care, financial assistance, emotional support and crisis intervention, health, safety, and more! The website is available in English and Spanish.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Developmental Milestones

The CDC offers child development milestone videos and checklists that can be printed for parents in English and Spanish, as well as a free Milestone Tracker App. You can also find health and safety information on the CDC Homepage.

California's Map to Inclusion and Belonging: Making Access Possible

This website was created to offer statewide resources and training designed to make inclusive child care available to all providers and parents in California. You can discover resources by subject or by county, view research and reports, access PowerPoint presentations for training, and much more!

Modifying Your Backyard for Special Needs Children

Read this article to learn about how you can make your backyard or playground space more inclusive for children with special needs.

Cerebral Palsy Guidance

Visit this website to find information about cerebral palsy, including financial assistance options and raising a child with cerebral palsy.

Cerebral Palsy Guide

Cerebral Palsy Guide provides free educational materials, financial options, and support to help those affected by this condition. Visit the website to access a live chat feature and resources such as information about Cerebral Palsy (CP), treatment, legal resources, and their blog. You can also reach them by phone at (866) 641-0867.

Physical, Mental, and Skin Health for Kids and Teens

The DERM REVIEW website offers information and links to resources regarding the physical, mental, nutritional, and skin health of children and adolescents.

Family Child Care at Its Best

Family Child Care at Its Best offers free online workshops geared for family child care and family/friend/neighbor providers. You can request to "host" an online workshop through their website, where you can also learn more about topics and languages available.