Child Care Resource Development Center
A Resource and Referral Program
Serving Families
The Penquis Child Care Resource Development Center provides information on finding child care that meets the needs of individual families in Penobscot & Piscataquis Counties. We will not make recommendations but we will provide you with information to assist you in making a choice. Penquis RDC maintains a database of child care providers in Penobscot & Piscataquis Counties. Financial assistance to help pay for child care may be available for families who qualify for the child care voucher program or child care subsidies. For more information please call 207-973-3505, email khall@penquis.org or visit the on-line referrals search.
Finding Child Care
Things to look for when you visit the program:
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Is a current license/certificate visible?
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Are the adults and children interacting & enjoying each other?
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Is it cheerful, clean, and safe?
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Is the equipment in good repair?
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Is the outdoor space clean & safe?
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Are children and families greeted when they arrive?
Do you feel comfortable with the caregivers?
Questions to ask when you visit:
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Have the adults been trained to care for children?
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What is the ratio of adults to children?
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How are the children supervised?
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Is there always someone on site trained in CPR & First Aid?
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What is the daily schedule?
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What activities will my child be involved in?
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What will happen if my child becomes ill while at child care?
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Has a background check been completed on all of the adults who have contact with the children?
- How does the program work with parents?
In addition to reading the information on our website, please feel free to call us at (207) 973-3505 to discuss your search with a child care referral specialist.
Child Care Centers
The following Child Care options are available in Maine:
Child Care Centers - Facilities where 13 or more children ages 6 weeks to 13 years may be cared for on a regular or part-time basis. These facilities are required to be licensed by the Maine Department of the Health and Human Services (DHHS) and must meet minimum requirements concerning health and safety. Center staff must have 30 hours of training each year and have up to date CPR and First Aid training. Child Care Centers are inspected bi-annually by a State Fire Marshal and annually by a DHHS Licensing Worker.
Family Child Care Homes - Facilities in which 3 to 12 children, not related to the caregiver, ages 6 weeks to 13 years may receive regular or part-time care. They must meet minimum health and safety requirements, inspected bi-annually by a State Fire Marshal and annually by a DHHS Licensing Worker. Staff must have 12 hours of training each year and have up to date CPR and First Aid training.
Legal Unlicensed Providers (Care for Me) - Homes in which only one or two children, not related to the caregiver, are cared for without a license.
School-Age Child Care- Care provided for children ages 5-16 during non-school hours. It is available in a variety of settings: schools, community centers, Y’s, religious organizations, childcare centers, and family day care homes. These programs must comply with DHHS regulations.
In-Home Care- A relative, friend or someone else that you hired to care for your child in your home. This option is not regulated.
When you have chosen a provider, you can call the state at (207) 287-9300 or 1-800-791-4080 to see if any substantiated complaints have been made toward the provider or program.
Paying for Child Care
Find out more about the cost of care, government assistance, employer-sponsored programs, and tax credits that may be of benefit to you. For more information call Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) at 1-877-680-5866 or 624-7999. Or check the web at http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/ocfs/.
Head Start
Head Start is an early childhood program that provides comprehensive health services, including a broad range of medical, dental, mental health and nutritional services for young children, ages six weeks to five, including children with special needs. These services are reinforced by an organized health education program for staff, parents and children. Early Head Start services are available for children (six weeks up to three years old) through a center based program. Preschool Head Start serves children ages three to five. Families who meet federal income guidelines with children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old are eligible for this program and there is no cost although a family needing full day care while working or going to school may have child care costs.
Head Start believes that the gains made by the child in Head Start must be understood and built upon by the family and the community. To achieve this goal, Head Start provides the involvement of parents and other family members in experiences the child receives. These opportunities give families a richer appreciation for the child’s needs and how to satisfy them.
The educational program provides children with a learning environment and varied experiences which will help them develop socially, intellectually, physically and emotionally in a manner appropriate to their ages and stage of development. The Head Start program for Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Knox Counties is managed by Penquis Child Development. Call 973-3567 for more information.
Tax Information
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit: Helps families pay for child care for children under the age of 13, if the parents are working, or looking for work. Parents who are full-time students can also claim the credit. Qualifying care includes child care centers, family child care homes, and care provided by paid friends or relatives -- as long as the relative is not a dependent of the taxpayer. The size of the credit depends on the number of children in care, your family income, and the amount you paid for child care during the tax year. There are limits on the credit given for one child, and two or more children.
Earned Income Tax Credit: A refundable tax credit for low- and moderate-income families, particularly those with children. The EITC is based on family income and the number of children in the family. Both single- and two-parent families are entitled to the credit, as long as one parent is employed.
Maine Tax Credits
As a Maine resident, you are eligible for a tax credit if you place your child or children in a "quality" child care center or home. This tax credit is available for child care expenses incurred after December 31, 2000. The credit is refundable up to $500. To be considered a "quality" program, a provider must meet certain criteria:
Child care centers must meet one of the following:
· Must be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) or the National School Age Care Alliance (NSACA)
· Must meet Head Start Performance Standards for Programs of Excellence and Quality
Family child care providers must meet one of the following:
Must be accredited by the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) and holds at least one of the following:
· Child Development Associate (CDA)
· An Associates, Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in early childhood education or related degree
In addition, providers MUST HAVE a "Certificate of Quality" issued by the Department of Human Services.
For further information click on: www.state.me.us/revenue/incomeestate/childcare.html
Employer Assistance
Some companies offer a Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) program, which allows employees to set aside up to $5,000 of their pre-tax salary per year to pay for dependent care expenses. There are certain restrictions that apply -- e.g., unspent funds are usually not refundable to the employee. Speak with the benefits coordinator at your workplace for more details on the plan.
Many employers now offer some form of employer-sponsored child care assistance to their employees. Some examples of assistance include
- Matching funds or subsidy programs that are paid for by the employer for employees’ child care needs. This is offered as an employee benefit.
- Work and family resources, offered through the HR department, that may include enhanced CCR&R services in child care, elder care, and work/life issues.
- Employer funding for camp programs for employees’ children during school and summer vacations.
Many employers find that providing on-site child care creates benefits both for the employee, by providing reduced tuition costs and stress-relief, and for the employer, with increased productivity, retention, and hiring incentives.
Accreditation
Child care programs that wish to become accredited must submit to a lengthy process of self-evaluation, parent evaluation, and a validation visit. Accreditation standards are set above and beyond basic licensing standards for programs in the state of Maine. By choosing a program that has received accreditation, your family is eligible for an additional tax credit. Each type of program (center, family child care, and school-age care) has its own accrediting body.
NAEYC Accreditation for Child Care Centers
Child care centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Information about accreditation and to conduct an accredited program search, visit their website at www.naeyc.org.
What is NAEYC Accreditation?
An early childhood program--child care center, preschool, kindergarten, or before- and/or after-school program--voluntarily applied for accreditation by the National Academy of Early Childhood Programs. The program then engaged in an extensive self-study based on the Academy's Criteria for High Quality Early Childhood Program. The accuracy of the program's self-study was verified during a site visit to the program by a team of trained volunteer validators. The validated self-study, including the program director's responses to the validation visit, was reviewed by a 3-member national commission composed of recognized experts in child care and early childhood education, judged to be in substantial compliance with the Academy's Criteria, and granted accreditation for a three-year period.
The early childhood program agreed to act upon the commission's suggestions regarding areas needing improvement and to submit annual written reports documenting improvements and continued compliance.
NAFCC Accreditation for Family Child Care
The National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) sponsors the nationally recognized family child care Accreditation System, designed especially for family child care by hundreds of providers, parents, and other experts during a 4-year, consensus-building process. Accreditation helps providers set and reach quality improvement goals and helps parents and policy-makers identify high-quality family child care.
For more information, or to do an accredited program search, visit NAFCC's website at www.nafcc.org.
NAA Accreditation for School Age Programs
Programs serving school-age children can become accredited by the National AfterSchool Association (NAA). For more information about NAA and accreditation, visit their website at www.naaweb.org.
Resources
DHHS Resource Guide for Families
No matter how hard you try, sometimes it's hard to make ends meet. Here are some programs that may be helpful to your family. We've listed a phone number for most of them, but if you need help finding one of the programs, or if you have any questions about health insurance programs (Medicaid/Cub Care) or TANF benefits (money for low-income families with children), ask your DHS food stamp caseworker to help you.
Taxes:
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
If you or someone in your family works, you may be eligible for a tax credit. The amount you receive depends on how much you earn, how many children you have and it you have other income. The EITC could mean you'll pay less tax, no tax, or even get a refund from the IRS. For more information about the EITC or to find how to get free help with your taxes, call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (TTY/TDD: 1-800-829-4059).
Property Tax or Rent Refund
If your income is very low, you may qualify for a property tax or rent refund. Applications are taken each year between August and the end of January. To get an application, call 624-7894. (TTY: 287-4477)
Child Care:
For more information about low cost (subsidized), quality child care options, call 1-888-917-1100. You will be referred to the Child Care Resource Development Center closest to you.
Food-The W.I.C. Program
If you are pregnant or have a child under the age of 5, the W.I.C. (Women, Infants and Children) Program can help you buy the extra nutritious foods you and your growing child need. To be referred to the program nearest you, call 1-800-437-9300.
Unemployment/Employment:
Unemployment Benefits
If you lost your job or if number of hours you work has been cut, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Apply for benefits at your nearest unemployment office. Call for directions (in the phone book: look under "Maine", then "Labor", then "Unemployment").
CareerCenters
People at the CareerCenter will help you find job leads and possible training opportunities. Each center has no-cost resources to help you apply for jobs (telephone, fax, computers and copiers). For the Center closest to you call 1-888-457-8883. (TTY: 1-800-794-1110)
Maine Center for Women, Work and Community (formerly Displaced Homemakers) The Maine Centers offer workshops and courses in career/life planning, job searches, and starting your own business. To find the one closest to you, call (toll-free) 1-800-442-2092.
Emergency Assistance and Services:
General Assistance
General Assistance is a welfare program run by every city and town. If your income is too low to pay for your basic necessities, General Assistance may help you. If you do not know how to apply, or have questions about how your town or city is handling your application, call DHS at 1-800-442-6003. (TTY:287-6948)
Family Crisis Assistance Program (Emergency Assistance)
This program is run by DHS for low-income households with children under the age of 21. DHS can help pay a security deposit or back rent if that will prevent an eviction or if your present home is unsafe and you need to move. The program can also pay a bill to prevent a utility shut-off or help repair or replace essentials like septic systems and furnaces, if it's necessary to resolve a crisis. Assistance is only available once in a 12-month period, so be sure to apply for everything you need to resolve the crisis! To apply, contact your local DHS office.
Domestic Violence Help
Local organizations across the state provide counseling, emergency shelter and referrals for women affected by domestic abuse. To find the group closest to you, call 1-800-863-9909.
Housing:
There is a limited amount of "subsidized housing" in Maine. This is housing where the landlord or manager is not allowed to charge you rent that's higher than 30% of your income. For more information on how to find and apply, call the Maine State Housing Authority at 1-800-452-4668.
Legal Services:
Pine Tree Legal Assistance
If you are low income, Pine Tree may be able to help you with your legal problem (like problems with government benefits, an eviction, or if you need a protection from abuse order). Pine Tree does not take criminal cases. For more information visit their web site at www.ptla.org or call the office nearest you: Presque Isle (764-4349), Machias (255-8656), Bangor (942-8241), Augusta (622-4731), Lewiston (784-1558), or Portland (774-8211).
Volunteer Lawyers Project
If you meet the income guidelines, the Volunteer Lawyers Project can give you free legal advice and written information. They may also refer you to a private lawyer who may handle your case for free. To get a Helpline appointment call 1-800-442-4293.
Utilities:
Energy Assistance-Community Action Program (CAP) Offices
The CAP offices run the fuel assistance programs (HEAP and ECIP) and provide help with electric bills, insulation and furnace repairs. Receiving HEAP or ECIP may result in more Food Stamps. Many CAP offices also help with a wide variety of services including job training, day care, and housing information. Call the Community Action Program nearest you.
Telephone Assistance:
The Lifeline Service Program allows you or a member of you household a credit each month toward your phone bill. Under this program, if you do not have a telephone, service can be installed. If you or a member of your family receives food stamps (or any of a list of other benefit programs) you should be eligible. To sign up, call your local phone company.
The Daily Parent
The Daily Parent newsletter offers the latest information on child development issues, tips for finding quality child care, and numerous resources for busy parents, as well as child care professionals.
