A Guide to Finding Quality Child Care
Need help finding quality licensed child care for your child? Here are some invaluable resources for finding regulated child care programs in the state of Maryland.
CARE Line - CARE (Child and Adolescent Resources and Education) for Howard County Families is a free service provided by the Howard County Office of Children and Families, with the support of Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services, the Howard County Local Children’s Board, Maryland State Department of Education, Howard County Mental Health Authority and the Governor’s Office for Children. The CARE Line is a resource and referral service to help Howard County families identify needs and link them to agencies, programs and organizations. Needs may vary from finding child care, behavior issues, adolescent concerns, grandparent support and much more. For assistance, call 410-313-2273 during business hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm.
LOCATE: Child Care Resource and Referral - A free, personalized resource and referral counseling service designed to help parents choose a quality child care program that meets their personal needs. This is a free service provided by the Maryland Family Network and is funded by the Maryland State Department of Education. Counseling hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-4:00 pm, call 877-261-0060.
Parents' Guide to Howard County - The 2024 Parents' Guide contains a wealth of additional resources for parents, including a comprehensive listing of child care and preschool programs. Howard County Government and/or any of its employees and/or agents neither endorse nor recommend any service or agency listed in this guide. Screening of these services and/or agencies is the SOLE responsibility of the user of any of these services/agencies.
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Early Care and Education - View current lists of early care and education programs in Maryland that are licensed or approved by the Division of Early Childhood Development (DECD) or accredited by State, regional, or national accreditation organizations.
Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Child Care Scholarship Program - The Child Care Scholarship (CCS) (formerly known as Child Care Subsidy) Program provides financial assistance with child care costs to eligible working families in Maryland.
For more information, call 410-313-2273.