Florida Resources

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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.

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 Office

Provider Complaint Line: Contact your local office

Inspection Reports

Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

Website

State Child Care Landscape

Basic facts about child care in your area

State Child Care Landscape

Florida Child Care Information

Information and resources for parents looking for child care in Florida

Website

Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

Website

Criminal Background Checks

Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

Website

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.*

Find Your Local Office

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

Website

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)

Website

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

Website

Child Support

Child support application and procedures for your state

Website

Medicaid Eligibility

Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

Website

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.

Website

Florida Department of Health

State government programs to promote the health of Florida citizens

Website

Florida COVID-19 Website

General information about COVID-19 in your state 

Website

Florida Department of Children and Families

State government programs and services for children and families

Website

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

Website

Car Seat Basics

Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

Website

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

Website

Find Your Local CCR&R Office

Florida Head Start

A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

Miami-Dade County Head Start

A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

Website

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

Website

Find Your Local WIC Clinic

Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)

Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

Website

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)

Federal nutrition program

Website

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

Website

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

Website

The Arc of Florida

Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

Website

Early Intervention – Early Steps

Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

Website

Inclusion Warm Line Network

Provides assistance and consultation about including children with disabilities and special health care needs in early care and education

Contact Your Local CCR&R Office

Help Me Grow Florida

Free developmental and behavioral screenings and connection to appropriate resources for children birth through age 8

Website

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

Website

  • Child Care

    Find out about the ins and outs of child care in your area. What is required to become a provider in your area? What requirements are there for a background check? Does your state offer any quality improvement programs?

    Child Care Licensing

    Your local child care regulatory office

    Phone: Contact your local office

    Website Find Your Local Office

    Phone: Contact your local office

    Inspection Reports

    Find out what programs in your area are in compliance with licensing regulations

    Website

    State Child Care Landscape

    Basic facts about child care in your area

    State Child Care Landscape

    Florida Child Care Information

    Information and resources for parents looking for child care in Florida

    Website

    Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

    Reimburses child care providers for healthy meals and snacks

    Website

    Criminal Background Checks

    Understanding criminal background checks requirements in your area

    Website

    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.*

    Find Your Local Office

    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

    Website

    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)

    Website

  • Health and Social Services

    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

    Website

    Child Support

    Child support application and procedures for your state

    Website

    Medicaid Eligibility

    Federal-State health insurance program for low-income individuals

    Website

    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.

    Website

    Florida Department of Health

    State government programs to promote the health of Florida citizens

    Website

    Florida COVID-19 Website

    General information about COVID-19 in your state 

    Website

    Florida Department of Children and Families

    State government programs and services for children and families

    Website

    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

    Website

    Car Seat Basics

    Information on car seat regulations and inspection services

    Website

  • Financial Assistance

    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

    Website

    Find Your Local CCR&R Office

    Florida Head Start

    A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

    Find Your Local Head Start/Early Head Start

    Miami-Dade County Head Start

    A federal program that promotes the school readiness of children ages birth to five from low-income families

    Website

    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

    Website

    Find Your Local WIC Clinic

    Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)

    Cash assistance designed to help low-income families achieve self-sufficiency

    Website

    Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps)

    Federal nutrition program

    Website

    Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

    Helps low income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs

    Website

  • Children with Special 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

    Website

    The Arc of Florida

    Offers special needs services that may include respite care, advocacy, training, and support groups

    Website

    Early Intervention – Early Steps

    Early intervention services for infants and toddlers at risk for developmental delays

    Website

    Inclusion Warm Line Network

    Provides assistance and consultation about including children with disabilities and special health care needs in early care and education

    Contact Your Local CCR&R Office

    Help Me Grow Florida

    Free developmental and behavioral screenings and connection to appropriate resources for children birth through age 8

    Website

  • 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

    Website

If you find that any of the information above is incorrect, please contact us at info@childcareaware.org.

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