June 30, 1999

Because of recent changes in the way Utah licenses its child care providers, parents may be confused about where to find quality care.

But local day care experts say it can be easy if you know where to look. In today's Family Now report, Ruth Todd explains where to turn for help.

Finding good day care is a concern of many parents in Utah. And local experts say despite weakened day care regulation--you can still find quality care.

In its most recent issue, Working Mother magazine gave Utah a poor rating on its child care.

It cited a bill passed by the 1998 Legislature.

Under the new law, providers can care for up to four children with little training and up to eight children without a full license.

Parents who may feel they can't rely on the state's rules, are looking elsewhere.

One avenue is the Child Care Resource and Referral - a service offering free information about child care to parents.

It trains and keeps lists of quality child care providers, like this one at Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield, which offers child care for its employees and other companies located in the Cottonwood Corporate Center.

The service doesn't match parents with a provider, but gives them a list of licensed facilities in their neighborhoods.

Shauna Lower, of Child Care Resource and Referral, says, "We take in about 60 pieces of material on that child care provider. The times, the days that they provide care, if they have pets in the home, if they have any training with special needs children."

The service says parents should do their own investigation.

Lower suggests, "Go out to the child care providers' home, walk through it, spend an hour or two."

Things to watch for include:

• cleanliness
• safety training
• appropriate activities
• the number of staff per child

Each county in Utah is covered by one of six child care resource and referral services.