Florida Resources
Would you like to know more about child care licensing in your state or resources for children with special needs? Do you need to contact someone about child support, health care for your family, or help paying for food or heat? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Click a tab below to find those resources and more in Florida.
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Find out more about child care in your area. Click on the links below, or contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) agency for one-on-one help.
Child Care Licensing
Your local child care regulatory office
Phone: Contact your local office
Website Find Your Local OfficeProvider Complaint Line: Contact your local office
Inspection Reports
Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations
WebsiteFlorida Child Care Information
Information and resources for parents looking for child care in Florida
WebsiteChild & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks
WebsiteCriminal Background Checks
Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area
Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
Child care providers earn a rating when they meet quality standards. These ratings can help families choose quality care and can assist child care providers to improve and communicate their quality.
*There is no statewide QRIS in Florida, but multiple counties have established local systems.*
Gold Seal Quality Child Care Program
Voluntary designation that acknowledges child care programs that have gone above minimum licensing requirements to achieve higher standards of quality through accreditation
ECE Shared Resources Florida
A one-stop location for ECE professionals for policies, forms, regulations, guidance, discounts, and more to save time, reduce costs, and improve quality (Note: typically requires purchase of a subscription or membership)
Discover resources that will provide more information regarding local services such as health care and child well-being.
Child Protective Services
To report suspected abuse, maltreatment, or neglect of a child
Phone: 1(800) 962-2873
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) – Florida KidCare
Federal-State health insurance program for children – available to qualifying families who are not eligible for Medicaid. In some states, parents and pregnant women may also be covered.
Florida Department of Health
State government programs to promote the health of Florida citizens
Florida Department of Children and Families
State government programs and services for children and families
Substance Abuse and Mental Health
State government mental health resources that may offer community mental health services (may include individual, family, and marital counseling), behavioral health services, and substance abuse programs
Are you looking for help paying for child care? Buying groceries or diapers? Find out what assistance programs are offered locally.
Child Care Assistance – School Readiness
Child care financial assistance programs
Phone: 1(866) 357-3239 or contact your local CCR&R
Florida Head Start
A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families
Miami-Dade County Head Start
A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families
Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
A program offering supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information to low-income women who are pregnant or have children aged birth to five
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency
Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)
Federal nutrition program
Low Income Energy Assistance Program
Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs
Learn about valuable resources for parents of children with special needs.
Easterseals Florida
Offers special needs resources which may include respite care services and other community supports
The Arc of Florida
Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups
Early Intervention – Florida’s Early Steps System
Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays
Inclusion Warm Line Network
Provides assistance and consultation about including children with disabilities and special health care needs in early care and education
Help Me Grow Florida
Free developmental and behavioral screenings and connection to appropriate resources for children birth through age 8
Kinship/Relative Caregivers Programs
Resources for children in the care of a relative, member of their tribe or clan, godparent, stepparent, or any adult who has a kinship bond with a child
If you find that any of the information above is incorrect, please contact us at info@childcareaware.org.
