Provider Resources

BizNest at Children’s Council offers many resources for child care providers. For a full range of articles and resources in multiple languages, visit our Online Help Center.

Borrow Books & Toys

Parents and providers can check out educational materials free of charge from our Lending Library at Children’s Council. Our collection includes:

Books for children ages 0-5
An extensive toy and game selection, including puzzles, puppets, blocks, and dramatic play materials
Balls and mats for active play
Items that foster cultural awareness
Materials for and about children with special needs
Materials for and about LGBT families
Curricula, activity guides, and information on child development for child care providers

Many of our materials are also available in other languages. To browse and borrow from our entire selection, click here.

Child Care Policy and Best Practices

California Child Care Resource and Referral Network: The Network advocates for a quality child care system that supports the diversity of families and children in every community in California.

California Department of Education – Early Learning & Support Division: This site offers resources and information for child development contractors, families, and community members regarding child development programs funded by the state.

Community Care Licensing: Community Care Licensing is the state agency responsible for licensing and monitoring family child care homes and child care centers to ensure that they provide safe and healthy environments for children.

ConsumerSafety.org: strives to make information about recalls and safety-related news about drugs, medical devices, food, and consumer products accessible to everyone in a transparent, easily understandable way.

Daycare.com: This site features information on licensing, child care, child development, and business development strategies. Daycare.com also features a forum that allows child care providers to ask questions and exchange ideas.

Early Childhood Education: This site offers insight and advice for anyone considering a career in Early Childhood Education. It can help you understand degree options, salary ranges and job prospects.

Head Start: Head Start and Early Head Start are comprehensive child development programs that serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. These programs have the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.

The National Child Care Information and Technical Assistance Center: This site contains information on topics including opening a child care business, professional development, licensing regulations, and child development and early learning.

Early Edge California: Early Edge California is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to increase access to high-quality preschool for all of California’s children, starting with those who need it most.

TrustLine: This site offers information on becoming cleared by and listed with TrustLine, California’s registry of in-home child care providers.

Children with Special Needs

Support for Families of Children with Disabilities: Offers information, education, and parent-to-parent support free of charge to families and professionals of children with any kind of disability or special health care need in San Francisco.

Child Care Provider Networks

Family Child Care Association of San Francisco: This organization helps its members maintain a high degree of professionalism in the early care and education of young children, and promotes family child care as a vital service to the community.

National Association for the Education of Young Children: The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the nation’s largest organization of early childhood educators and individuals dedicated to improving the quality of programs for children from birth through third grade. The site includes information and resources on public policy, childhood education conferences, and professional development.

Professional Association for Childhood Education: PACE was established in 1955 to fill the legislation, education and development needs of early child care professionals. The organization provides resources and services for early care and education professionals to enhance business management practices through education, networking, and advocacy.

Professional Development and Training

Child Development Training Consortium: CDTC provides services, training, technical assistance and resources to students and professionals working with and for children.

City College of San Francisco: City College of San Francisco offers training and mentoring for child care providers as well as credit courses in Child Development and Family Studies, leading to an AA degree with a major in Child Development.

Commission on Teacher Credentialing: The purpose of the commission is to ensure integrity, relevance and high quality in the preparation, certification and discipline of the educators who serve all of California’s diverse students.

Harvard Education Letter: Harvard Education Letters web page provides informative articles on the education of children from preschool through third grade. The site also includes a comprehensive list of links to additional resources on early education.

PreschoolTeacher.org: Find out how you can make a difference in the lives of young students by becoming a preschool teacher.