Provider Updates

As we are starting out the New Year, I wanted to pass along a little information on how we administer the referrals database. Our database has over 1,400 active providers: LLEP homes, licensed and exempt centers, licensed home providers, and unlicensed registered ministries. Most of our information comes from the state list of providers and CCDF eligible LLEP's. There are a some of you out there who are not on any list other than ours and we appreciate that! What differenciates Child Care Answers from other referral services is that we are free for parents and providers. We are required by our funders to update this database twice a year. That is why I call every six months. If for some reason we are unable to update your record, meaning I have tried to contact you at least three times, then the record is marked as "No Intake" and "No Referrals". We do our best to make sure you are aware that it is time to update, by calling you, emailing you (if we have your address), and if all else fails we send out a letter. Once a record is marked as "No Intake" and "No Referrals" the child care will not be included on any referral lists, either online or from call ins. We will still attempt to updat the record on a regular basis.

If you think that your business is NOT receiving referrals from us, please email me and let me know, I will look up your information and get back to you. If you would like to update your record in our database click this link and fill out the form.

Back to Work

Many of us are returning to work today, for a few days at the least. If you are a parent and need temporary care - because your child care provider is closed this week for vacation or another reason, please give our referral specialists, Vicky or Cathy a call. We have a list of providers that specialize in temporary or emergency care, just for times like these! If you have to work New Year's Day and need someone who is open Holidays, we can find that too.

Cathy or Vicky can be reached at 631-4643.

Have a safe, happy and prosperous New Year!!

Peanut Allergies; Information Needed

At Child Care Answers, many families have concerns and issues that cannot be addressed through our traditional child care referral process. Families of children with special needs are offered the opportunity for what we call an ENHANCED REFERRAL. These families are searching for care, where the traditional questions we promote as indicators of quality early childhood education and care are not enough to address their concerns. As Inclusion Specialist, I am available to assist families of children with special needs and providers who are caring for children with special needs answer those more indepth questions and concerns.

Recently a family called Child Care Answers looking for child care for a youngster with a severe peanut allergy. The child’s doctor had recommended a completely peanut free facility; as this child has complete anaphylactic (ceases breathing due to constriction of airway, often very fast… and very serious) reactions to peanut exposure. Currently our database does not give us the ability to record this data or search by this criteria. SO, I am starting a new “speciality” list that will be available to parents who have this specific need. Child Care Answers will continue to leave the final selection of child care to the family, and will continue to assist parents to decide what quality indicators are important to them, and we will never endorse or recommend any particular type of care or specific care provider. However, just as we maintain lists of coop preschools and Title XX locations separate from our main database for families who specifically request that information, I think given the increase in peanut and tree nut allergies it is to everyone’s benefit to keep a specialist listing for this as well.

Do you maintain peanut free classrooms? Is your facility completely peanut free? Please let me know. Email or call with your site information and I will add you to the specialist list.

Peanut Allergies DID YOU KNOW? (From The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network)
Some Hidden Sources of Peanuts
Artificial nuts can be peanuts that have been deflavored and reflavored with a nut, such as pecan or walnut. Mandelonas are peanuts soaked in almond flavoring.
Arachis oil is peanut oil.
African, Chinese, Indonesian, Mexican, Thai, and Vietnamese dishes often contain peanuts or are contaminated with peanuts during the preparation process. Additionally, foods sold in bakeries and ice cream shops are often in contact with peanuts.
Many brands of sunflower seeds are produced on equipment shared with peanuts.

For more information on peanut and other food allergies please visit www.foodallergy.org


If you have questions about caring for a child with a severe food allergy or are a parent of a child with a sever food allergy and have questions about location care, please do not hesitate to contact me at Child Care Answers.