• Child Care
• Summer Camps
• Are you concerned about the welfare of a child at a child care facility?
• State sponsored Preschool Programs
• Immunizations
• What is "high quality" child care?
• What is child care accreditation?
• After School Programs
• Playgroups
• First 5's Free Kit for New Parents
• The MOMS Club of Sunnyvale

Are you looking for child care?

The City’s Youth, Family and Child Care Resources Office provides an information packet for parents who reside or work in Sunnyvale. The packet contains a variety of information about finding and evaluating care for your child, including a general list of contact information for licensed Sunnyvale family child care providers and child care centers. The City does not recommend specific child care programs.

CCHP promotes the overall health and well being of children in California. The agency provides free or low cost information about child care issues ranging from computers and young children to nutrition. The CCHP also serves as a resource for current research, behavorial/mental issues, events, and legislative activities.

4C's - Community Child Care Council of Santa Clara County
2515 N. First Street
San Jose, CA  95131
408-487-0747

The 4C's, Santa Clara County's child care resource and referral agency,  provides a wide array of services to parents, child care providers and the community.

Contact the 4C's to:

• locate licensed child care providers in Sunnyvale and throughout Santa Clara County.
• learn about the 4C's Child Care Subsidy Program for low income families.

Choices for Children
111 N. Market Street
Suite 100
San Jose, CA  95113
408-297-3295

Choices for Children offers a full range of information and support for choosing a child care provider and finding financial assistance.

Contact Choices for Children to:

• learn more about their Child Care Subsidy Program for low income families and their Child Care Food Program.

Programs for Children at the Sunnyvale Public Library
Programs for children ages 3-5 with a parent or caregiver, offered through the Sunnyvale Public Library.

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Are you looking for Summer Camps?

Please visit the Department of Parks and Recreation web site for more information.

Please visit Northwest YMCA for more information.  Highlight "Program" and click "Day Camp" from the drop down menu.

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Are you concerned about the welfare of a child at a child care facility?

If it is a life-threatening problem, call 911; otherwise, contact Community Care Licensing (CCL) at 408-324-2148. CCL will do an inspection of the facility.

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State sponsored Preschool Programs

State Preschools are part-day comprehensive developmental programs for three to five year old children from low-income families. The programs emphasize parent education and encourage parent involvement. In addition to basic preschool education activities, other components include health, nutrition, social services, and staff development. These programs are administered through local educational agencies, colleges, community action agencies, and private non-profit agencies. For more information about State Preschool Programs located in Sunnyvale (at Columbia Middle School & Cherry Chase Elementary), please contact 408-522-8213.

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Immunizations

All children entering public and private schools, child care centers, state preschools, and licensed family child care homes are required to be up-to-date with their immunizations. Immunizations protect children from many harmful and potentially fatal diseases such as measles, whooping cough, hepatitis B, and polio. As the Fall approaches, the wait for back-to-school immunizations become long. Families can avoid the last minute rush by getting their child immunized now. For those children without access to a primary provider, low-cost or free immunizations are available at the Public Health Immunization Program. Call (408) 792-5200 for more information.

Free immunizations are offered at the Columbia Neighborhood Center in Sunnyvale.  Immunizations are given every Tuesday from August 2008 - December 2008 from 12:30 pm - 3:00 pm.
Immunization Flyer - CNC

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What is "high quality" child care?

While each person's definition of "high quality" child care may be slightly different, there are generally accepted best practices within the profession. 

The following are some additional questions that can also help you to evaluate the quality of a center for your own child:

1) Are the children in the child care program happy and comfortable, while engaging in play and other activities? Do you think your child would be happy and comfortable as well?

2) Will your child have adequate supervision? Do the adults have training in early childhood development? Do the adults regularly attend conferences or other professional development activities to learn more about children?

3) Are there toys and materials available for your child's age group? Do teachers and caregivers understand and respect each child's abilities and interests?

4) Does the caregiver/teacher focus on all areas of the child's development (social, emotional, cognitive and physical)? High quality programs help children do much more than learn shapes, numbers and colors. They teach children how to get along with others, to ask lots of questions and to look for answers, and develop their language, thinking and motor skills (drawing, running, etc).

5) Do the caregivers or teachers evaluate their program on a regular basis to make it the best it can be?

6) Are you welcome to observe, make suggestions, and participate in your child's child care program? Does the staff respect cultural differences?

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What is child care accreditation?

Accreditation means that a child care program voluntarily applied for and met the evaluation. Accreditation is granted when the child care provider has met the necessary requirements and modifications of an accrediting agency. 

For more information on accreditation contact:
The National Association for the Education of Young Children   NAEYC
1-800-424-2460
1509 16th St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-1426

NAEYC accredits child care centers, preschools, kindergartens and before/after school programs for infants and children ages zero through third grade.

National Association for Family Child Care  NAFCC
5202 Pinemont Dr.
Salt Lake City, UT 84123
801-269-9338

NAFCC accredits family child care providers.

National School Age Care Alliance  NSACA
1137 Washington St.
Boston, MA 02124
617-298-5012

NSACA promotes national standards of quality school age care for children and youth ages five to fourteen and accredits programs meeting their standards.

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Playgroups?

Las Madres Neighborhood Playgroups is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation.  Las Madres mothers provides a network of neighborhood playgroups for those with children born in the same year. Through Las Madres playgroups, members find friendship, support and helpful information as well as an opportunity for their children to make friends their own age.

Call 408-265-4056 or 1-877-Las Madres for more information.

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First 5's Free Kit for New Parents:

The kit for new parents has been made possible by First 5 California. First 5 California is a partnership of the California Children & Families Commission and the Children and Families County Commissions.

The California Children & Families Commission was established after voters passed Proposition 10 in November 1998, adding a 50 cent-per-pack tax on cigarettes to fund education, health and child care services for expectant parents, and children through the age of five.

To order your free kit, please call 1-800-543-7025. http://www.santaclarakids.org/

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The MOMS Club of Sunnyvale:

This club was created to provide support for full-time and part-time stay-at-home moms and their children.  This club is a place where MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) gather together to share their challenges and joys faced in their everyday lives and educate other moms through their experiences.  Usually the club meets during the day, when mothers need the most support.  For more information visit their website at:

www.svmoms.org

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