Community Resources for Finding Childcare 2026

Your community offers many resources for finding childcare and supporting your family. Knowing where to look locally expands your options and connects you to valuable support.

Community resources

Local Resource Types

Government Resources

Local agencies:

County childcare assistance
Health department (licensing info)
Social services
Early intervention programs
Public pre-K information

Community Organizations

Nonprofit resources:

CCR&R agencies
United Way/211
Community foundations
Family resource centers
Parent support organizations

Libraries

Offer:

Information resources
Story times
Parent programs
Community connections
Free programming

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Finding Local Help

211 Service

Dial 211 for:

Childcare resources
Financial assistance
Community programs
Social services
Local connections

CCR&R Agencies

Find locally:

Referral services
Quality information
Financial assistance info
Parent education
Community connections

Local Government

Check with:

County website
City programs
Public pre-K
Assistance programs
Health department

Parent Networks

Parent Groups

Connect through:

Neighborhood groups
Online communities
School connections
Activity-based groups
Cultural communities

What Parents Offer

Other parents provide:

Recommendations
Real experiences
Word of mouth
Support
Tips and tricks

Finding Groups

Look for:

Local Facebook groups
Nextdoor communities
Library parent groups
Activity-based groups
Religious community groups

Workplace Resources

Employer Programs

May offer:

Dependent care FSA
Backup care programs
Childcare benefits
Resource and referral
Flexible scheduling

What to Ask

Check with HR about:

Childcare benefits
FSA programs
Flexible work options
Backup care
Resource programs

Educational Institutions

Local Schools

May offer:

Pre-K programs
Before/after care
Summer programs
Community partnerships
Information

Community Colleges

Sometimes provide:

Campus childcare
Early childhood programs
Lab schools
Resources

Universities

May have:

Faculty/staff childcare
Lab schools
Community access sometimes
Early childhood resources

Religious Communities

Places of Worship

Often offer:

Preschool programs
Childcare ministries
Mother's day out
After-school care
Summer programs

Faith-Based Resources

May provide:

Quality programs
Community connection
Values alignment
Affordable options
Support networks

Local Nonprofits

Family Resource Centers

Offer:

Parent support
Resource information
Programs
Community connections
Education

Child-Focused Organizations

May provide:

Programs and activities
Resource information
Support services
Community connections

Using Libraries

Information Access

Libraries offer:

Parenting resources
Childcare information
Community connection
Free programs
Staff assistance

Programming

Attend:

Story times
Play groups
Parent workshops
Community events
Educational programs

Financial Resources

Local Assistance

Look for:

County childcare subsidies
Sliding scale programs
Scholarship opportunities
Nonprofit assistance
Community support

Application Help

Get help with:

Subsidy applications
Understanding options
Navigating systems
Advocacy

Building Your Network

Making Connections

Strategies:

Attend community events
Join parent groups
Engage at library
Connect with neighbors
Use online communities

Why It Matters

Network provides:

Information sharing
Recommendations
Support
Community
Resources

Key Takeaways

Community offers:

Many resources
Information access
Support networks
Free services
Connections

Look to:

Government resources
Nonprofit organizations
Parent networks
Libraries
Faith communities

Start with:

211 service
Local CCR&R
Library resources
Online communities
Word of mouth

Build connections:

Join parent groups
Attend community events
Use library programs
Connect with neighbors
Engage in community

Don't forget:

Employer resources
Religious community
Schools and colleges
Nonprofit organizations
Government programs

Your community has many resources to support your childcare search and parenting journey. Take advantage of these free and local connections.

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