CU CARES: Childcare Answers, Resources & Educational Services

1. Childcare Centers and Preschools
   • What is a childcare center? In a childcare center or preschool, care is provided in a setting similar to a school or kindergarten. Children are usually grouped by age, and there may be several classrooms. Each classroom typically has a teacher or group leader with work experience and training in child development. Childcare Centers are regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Childcare.
   • Pros and Cons of a childcare center: Last minute closures due to illness of the provider or emergency are unlikely; programs usually offer a child development or preschool curriculum; contract is with an organization and not an individual; regulations define the group size and adult/child ratio. High turnover in staff is common; some children may not adapt well to large group settings; infant/toddler care may not be offered.
   • Childcare centers and preschools can be found through local childcare resource and referral agencies, yellow pages, networking and newspaper ads.



2. Cooperative Childcare Groups
   • What is a co-op? A childcare cooperative (or co-op) consists of a number of families in a community who decide to share childcare among themselves without the exchange of money. Members share responsibilities of record-keeping and providing and using childcare services. Childcare co-ops are usually for occasional care only.
   • Setting up co-ops: Co-ops usually begin with a few families who have children of similar ages, who decide to share childcare. Co-ops can be as small as 5 or as large as 50 or more families. To begin a co-op, a planning meeting should be held. Considerations for the planning meeting might include: membership, organization, how to arrange care, and general guidelines for how the co-op should work. It is important to always keep the needs of the children in mind.
   • For more information about starting up a childcare co-op, look for the article titled “Childcare Cooperatives” by Lesia Oesterreich on the National Network for Childcare website.
     
     
     
3. In-Home Care
   • What is in-home care? In-home care refers to the hiring of someone to work in your home to take care of your child. You are responsible for setting the hours, responsibilities, and compensation. Examples of in-home care providers include a nanny, babysitter, or au pair. Training and education is typically determined by the individual or agency (e.g. nanny agency). There is no statewide standard and in-home care is unregulated in Colorado.
   • Pros and Cons of in-home care: It can be convenient and flexible. It can be expensive; offers fewer opportunities for children to socialize with others; you, as the employer, are responsible for background checks, social security, income and other applicable taxes; when the provider is sick, other arrangements must be made; trained and experienced providers are in short supply.
   • In-home care providers can be found through personal networking, advertisements, employment agencies or nanny schools.



4. Home-based Childcare Centers
   • What is a home-based childcare center? A home-based childcare center (sometimes referred to as family childcare) is an arrangement where your child is cared for in someone else’s (not a relative) home. Home-based childcare providers must obtain a license from the Department of Human Services that includes training and First Aid/CPR. Home-based centers are regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Childcare, and caregivers must meet different licensing requirements for infant/toddler home, large childcare home, or regular license.
   • Pros and Cons of home-based childcare: There is usually a small group of multi-aged children; allows the flexibility of hiring a specific individual to care for your child; may offer evening, weekend and respite care; offers a home environment; may include a child development or preschool curriculum. A single adult is usually alone with a group of children; when the provider is sick or on vacation, other childcare arrangements must be made; there are sometimes unlicensed homes.
   • Home-based childcare providers can be found through local childcare resource and referral agencies, networking, local family childcare associations, and newspaper ads.



5. School-age Childcare
   • What is school-age childcare? School-age childcare offers care for school-age children before and after school hours, on non-school days during the school year, and during the summer. It may be offered by family childcare, childcare centers, public and private schools, community recreation programs, YMCAs, and others. School-age childcare is generally provided for children through age 12 and is regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division of Childcare.
   • Pros and Cons of school-age childcare: It may be conveniently located at the school and offer care during summer and non-school days; many programs transport children to and from school; regulations define the group size and adult/child ratio.
   • School-age childcare can be found through local childcare resource and referral agencies, the child’s school, yellow pages, networking and newspaper ads.

• To download the Childcare Resource Guide as a PDF file, click here.