# Getting help, and sharing with families (childcare.support)

Who to call, free help from CDSS, provider associations, legal help, and things to give parents.
Official information for California child care providers. Each item links to the official page; read it before acting.
Web page: https://childcare.support/getting-help/

## Start here
- Technical Support Program (California Department of Social Services, Resource page): https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/community-care-licensing/child-care-licensing/resources-for-providers/technical-support-program. Non-enforcement help from CDSS for licensees who are struggling to meet licensing requirements, through a referral from your regional office.
- Child Care Advocate Program (California Department of Social Services, Resource page): https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing/child-care-advocates. CDSS's Child Care Advocates, who give licensing information to providers and parents and help coordinate complaints and concerns.
- Community Care Licensing Division Child Care Offices (California Department of Social Services, PDF): https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/Community%20Care%20Licensing%20Division%20Child%20Care%20Offices.pdf. The list of CDSS child care licensing offices, including every regional office, with addresses and phone numbers.
- Child Care Provider Associations (California Department of Social Services, Resource page): https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/community-care-licensing/child-care-licensing/resources-for-providers/child-care-provider-associations. A list of provider associations that advocate for children and families and share resources with licensed homes and centers.
- Legal Assistance (California Department of Social Services, Resource page): https://cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdss-programs/community-care-licensing/child-care-licensing/resources-for-providers/legal-assistance. Where to get legal help: Public Counsel's free legal assistance and low-cost workshops for qualifying providers, and the Child Care Law Center.
- All About Young Children (California Department of Education, Web page): https://allaboutyoungchildren.org/. A website for families on how young children learn: language, feelings and relationships, numbers, and moving their bodies. Also in seven other languages.
- Parent’s Guide to Choosing Child Care (California Department of Social Services, PDF): https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/030119%20Parent's%20Guide%20to%20Choosing%20Child%20Care_Revision%20Safe%20Sleep.pdf?ver=2019-03-28-145656-110. A CDSS guide for parents on choosing child care: licensed and license-exempt options, TrustLine, and signs of quality care.

## Free online courses (CECO)
From California Early Childhood Online, funded by CDSS. A CECO account is needed to take a course.
- Best Practices for Planning Curriculum for Young Children: Family Partnerships and Culture (5 modules/5 hours total; in English, Spanish): https://www.caearlychildhoodonline.org/en_modulecatalog.aspx?moduleId=89. Lessons: Module 1: Introduction; Module 2: Overview of the Guiding Principles for Developing Cultural Competence; Module 3: Understanding the Dimensions of Family Culture; Module 4: Planning with the Dimensions of Family Culture; Module 5: Best Practices in Planning Curriculum for Young ChildrenModule 5: Best Practices in Planning Curriculum for Young Children (intended for Teachers & Administrators)
- Quality Counts California Family Engagement Toolkit (5 modules/15 hours total; in English, Spanish): https://www.caearlychildhoodonline.org/en_modulecatalog.aspx?moduleId=98. Lessons: Module 1 Unit 1: The What, Why, and How of Family Engagement; Module 1 Unit 2: Practice: Building Relationships with Families; Module 1 Unit 3: The How of Family Engagement; Module 2 Unit 1: Use a Strengths-based Approach; Module 2 Unit 2: Listen Actively; Module 2 Unit 3: Take Informed Action; Module 2 Unit 4: Practice: Building Relationships with Families; Module 2 Unit 5: Practice: Starting with Strengths; Module 3  Unit 1: Respect the Family’s Role in the Child’s Development; Module 3 Unit 2: Practice: Respect the Family's Role; Module 3 Unit 3: Practice: Engaging Families; Module 4 Unit 1: Show Cultural Respect; Module 4 Unit 2:  Practice: Show Cultural Respect; Module 4 Unit 3:  Practice: Respect the Family's Role; Module 5 Unit 1: Take a Shared Approach to Family Engagement; Module 5 Unit 2: Strategies for Building Relationships with Providers; Module 5 Unit 3: Listen Actively; Module 5 Unit 4:  Practice: Take a Shared Approach; Module 5 Unit 5: Practice: Starting with Strengths
- Watch Me! Celebrating Milestones and Sharing Concerns - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (4 modules/1 hour CEU available from Center for Disease Control (CDC); in English, Spanish): https://www.caearlychildhoodonline.org/en_modulecatalog.aspx?moduleId=99. Lessons: Module 1: Your Important Role in Monitoring Children's Development; Module 2: Understanding Children’s Developmental Milestones; Module 3: Objective and Engaged Developmental Monitoring; Module 4: How to Talk with Parents about their Child’s Development
- Inclusion Works! (2 modules/4 hours total; in English, Spanish): https://www.caearlychildhoodonline.org/en_modulecatalog.aspx?moduleId=1136. Lessons: Module 1: Inclusion Works! Through Collaboration with Families and Service Providers; Module 2: Inclusion Works through Modifications and Adaptations

## Also on this site

### Webinar notes (5)
- AB 495 Family Preparedness Plan Act: Guidance and Model Policies for Child Care (CDSS Community Care Licensing, 2026-05-18): https://childcare.support/t/ab495-2026-05-18/index.md
- Child Care Provider Webinar, 2026 Q1 (CDSS Community Care Licensing, 2026-03-24): https://childcare.support/t/cdss-2026-q1/index.md
- Child Care Provider Webinar, March 2024 (Q1) (CDSS Community Care Licensing, 2024-03-26): https://childcare.support/t/cdss-2024-q1/index.md
- Tips and Tools to Support Regulatory Compliance (CDSS Community Care Licensing, 2023-12): https://childcare.support/t/cdss-compliance-tips-tools/index.md
- Plan of Correction (CDSS Community Care Licensing, 2023-12): https://childcare.support/t/cdss-plan-of-correction/index.md

### Rules, each checked against its official source (1)
- Regional centers and Early Start services (PIN 26-07-CCP): https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2026/CCP/PIN%2026-07-CCP%20-%20Notification%20of%20Available%20Early%20Start%20Service%20Offered%20Through%20the%20Department%20of%20.pdf. Full rule: https://childcare.support/rules/index.md

### Notices from CDSS (PINs), newest first (9)
- PIN 26-07-CCP (2026): Notification of Available Early Start Service Offered Through the Department of Developmental Services: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2026/CCP/PIN%2026-07-CCP%20-%20Notification%20of%20Available%20Early%20Start%20Service%20Offered%20Through%20the%20Department%20of%20.pdf
- PIN 26-04-CCP (2026): AB 495 Family Preparedness Plan 2025 Child Care Licensing Webinars: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2026/CCP/PIN%20AB%20495%20May%202026_Approved.pdf
- PIN 25-06.1-CCP (2025-05-30): Resources And Guidance To Enable Child Care Licensees To Better Serve California’s Immigrant Population: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2025/CCP/PIN-25-06.1-CCP.pdf
- PIN 24-03-CCLD (2024): Organizational Changes: Child Care Advocate and Technical Support Programs: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2024/CCLD/PIN%2024-03-CCLD.pdf
- PIN 23-10-CCLD (2023): Announcing The Relocation Of Adult And Senior Care, Child Care, And Children’s Residential Regional Offices In Sacramento: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINS/2023/CCLD/PIN-23-10-CCLD.pdf
- PIN 23-09-CCLD (2023): Provider Webinar: Introduction to the Technical Support Program: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINS/2023/CCLD/PIN-23-09-CCLD.pdf
- PIN 23-01-CCP (2023): Announcing Regional Office Changes in the Child Care Licensing Program (CCLP): https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2023/CCP/PIN-23-01-CCP.pdf
- PIN 21-22-CCLD (2021): Care Provider Management Bureau (CPMB) Customer Service Updates And Background Check Information: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/PINs/2021/CCLD/PIN-21-22-CCLD.pdf
- PIN 19-05-CCP (2019): Notification of New Regional Offices Effective April 2019: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/CCP%20PINs/PIN_19-05-CCP_Notification_of_New_Regional_Offices.pdf?ver=2019-04-29-094444-947

## Everything else for this task (16)

### Getting help or support (16)
- California Association for the Education of Young Children (California Association for the Education of Young Children, Web page): https://www.caeyc.org/. The California association for early care and education professionals, with membership, local chapters and a conference. [CDSS links this over http; we link the secure https address]
- California Department of Social Services (California Department of Social Services, Web page): https://cdss.ca.gov/. The CDSS home page.
- California Family Child Care Network (California Family Child Care Network, Web page): https://cfccn.net/. A statewide network for family child care providers, with membership and public policy meetings.
- California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) (California Office of the Small Business Advocate, Web page): https://calosba.ca.gov/. California's small business office: advisors, grants and financing leads, and guides for starting and running a business.
- Californians for Quality Early Learning (CQEL) (Californians for Quality Early Learning, Web page): https://www.caqualityearlylearning.org/. An association offering training, support and advocacy for California child care program leaders. [CDSS links this over http; we link the secure https address]
- Child Care Advocate Program (flyer) (California Department of Social Services, PDF): https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCL/CCAP-Flyer.pdf. A flyer introducing CDSS's Child Care Advocate Program, which helps parents and providers learn about licensed child care.
- Child Care Law Center (Child Care Law Center, Web page): https://childcarelaw.org/. A nonprofit law center focused on child care; its current campaign is fair pay for publicly funded child care providers. [CDSS links this over http; we link the secure https address]
- Child Care Providers United (CCPU) (Child Care Providers United, Web page): https://childcareprovidersunited.org/. An organization that brings California family child care providers together to advocate for their profession.
- ChildCareAdvocatesProgram@dss.ca.gov (California Department of Social Services, Email): mailto:ChildCareAdvocatesProgram@dss.ca.gov. The Child Care Advocates Program's email address, which the CDSS page shows under a label for LA wildfire information. [Described from its label on the CDSS page, not from the destination itself; The CDSS label doesn't match where it goes]
- Childcaretechnicalsupport@dss.ca.gov (California Department of Social Services, Email): mailto:Childcaretechnicalsupport@dss.ca.gov. The Technical Support Program's email address for questions about the program. [Described from its label on the CDSS page, not from the destination itself]
- EveryChild California (EveryChild California, Web page): https://www.everychildca.org/. A statewide membership association for leaders of early learning and care programs for children from birth to 12. [CDSS links this over http; we link the secure https address]
- NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children, Web page): https://www.naeyc.org/. The National Association for the Education of Young Children: memberships for educators and resources for families. [CDSS links this over http; we link the secure https address]
- National Association for Family Child Care (National Association for Family Child Care, Web page): https://www.nafcc.org/. The national association for family child care and other home-based child care providers. [CDSS links this over http; we link the secure https address]
- Public Counsel (Public Counsel, Web page): https://www.publiccounsel.org/. A public interest law firm that gives free legal services or matches clients with volunteer lawyers. [CDSS links this over http; we link the secure https address]
- Technical Support Program: Training, Support, & Resources for Providers (California Department of Social Services, PDF): https://cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/CCLD/CCP%20Documents/TSP%20Brochure.pdf?ver=2022-08-25-103031-823. A brochure on CDSS's Technical Support Program: free help, without citations, to improve your compliance, and how to ask for it.
- Thriving Families CA (TFC) Foundation (Thriving Families CA (TFC) Foundation, Web page): https://www.thrivingfamilies-ca.org/. A statewide association whose members verify and provide child care subsidies for working families and support providers.

Links last checked September 28, 2026. How each one was checked: https://childcare.support/checked/