LOCATE: Child Care

Selecting child care is an important decision for you and your child. The quality of care, cost, and convenience of location will have a big impact on your lives. To help you make this decision, resource and referral services are available through LOCATE: Child Care, a free service that will help you find child care to fill your needs.

What is LOCATE: Child Care?

LOCATE: Child Care is a free, computerized resource and referral database that contains information on all regulated child care in the state of Maryland. Parents can obtain referrals to regulated child care available in their neighborhoods or near their workplaces. These include:

Family child care, Center-based care facilities, Private kindergartens, Private nursery schools, Head Start programs, School age programs, Summer camps and programs

LOCATE: Child Care is publicly funded and operated by Maryland Committee for Children through a network of 12 non-profit child care resource centers called the Maryland Child Care Resource Network.

How does LOCATE: Child Care help parents find child care?

When a parent contacts LOCATE for child care information, the LOCATE counselor will:

• Discuss the parent’s child care preferences such as type of care, location, cost and other pertinent variables
• Explain the type of child care available
• Provide guidelines for quality child care
• Search LOCATE's database and provide parents with a list of child care options
• Provide current information on early childhood education and best child care practices
• Link the caller to other resources such as the state subsidy program, Purchase of Care.

LOCATE counselors provide this service with respect to the parent’s right and ability to choose the best care for his/her child. Service is provided to callers by trained LOCATE counselors who are professionals holding a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in early childhood education or other related field.

What are the steps to finding quality child care?

• Call LOCATE: Child Care at your local child care resource center for child care options.
• Call referrals for a telephone interview.
• Visit at least 3 programs. take your child with you and observe the facility, the caregiver, and the other children.
• Decide on child care arrangements that seem the best for you and your child.
• Take steps to establish a good relationship with the child care provider.
• Call LOCATE: Child Care for more information, guidance or more referrals, if needed.

LOCATE Frequently Asked Questions:

What is LOCATE: Child Care? LOCATE: Child Care is a computerized resource of all licensed child care options in Baltimore County. In addition to child care referrals, we offer information to help parents make the best decision possible for their child. During a call to LOCATE, we will discuss the different types of child care, the licensing process, steps to screening and identifying quality child care and checking references.

Why is it difficult to get through to the LOCATE: Child Care counselors sometimes?  Each     conversation LOCATE: Child Care counselors have with families lasts about 20 minutes because  we  exchange much important information.  There are only a few counselors available to answer the phones.  At times we are limited by staff meetings, and time off.  During busy times, such as the beginning of the school year, or on Mondays, you may have to call us repeatedly. 

Why do the LOCATE: Child Care counselors ask parents so many questions before they give referrals?   The LOCATE: Child Care counselors need detailed information to narrow down the thousands of referrals we have to the ones that match parents’ desires.  Some of the questions we ask in order to connect eligible families to social service benefits.  Also, LOCATE: Child Care counselors collect demographic information to better advocate for families and child care.