Family Connections
Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles Raising Their Grandchildren, Nieces and Nephews
Kinship Care
Service for Agencies, Schools and Community Groups
Upcoming events and group meetings
Connecting with other Families
INFORMATION FOR MAINE
CHILD CARE
Sometimes child care is needed so you can work. Other times it is needed so you can get time for yourself or others.
What types
of child care are available?
People choose
the type of child care based on availability, need and cost. Here
is a list of possibilities:
- An adult hired to care for the child in your home
- Day care center (usually an all day or after school program)
- Family day care (an individual takes care of the child in her/his home)
- Extracurricular
or recreation activities (while your child is there, you can get a
break, too)
- Nursery school (usually a half day program)
- Baby-sitting co-op (a group of people who take turns helping each other out)
- Grandmother's helper (a young person who plays with the child while you do other things)
- Family (family members to take the child occasionally or regularly)
- Summer day camp or overnight camp
How do I choose
the right child care provider?
Make a list of questions
to help you remember to get all the information you need. Here are
some suggestions of things to consider:
- Staff experience and ratio of staff to children
- Warm, friendly, clean and safe environment
- Good discipline style
- Good supplies (including age appropriate toys)
- Opportunity for active play and quiet play
- Staff enjoy the children and talk to them in an understanding way
- Comfort talking to the person or people who will care for the child
- Ask the person or program for references and check them out
Look for a licensed
day care, nursery school, camp or family day care. If it is a licensed
facility, you can call the licensing division of the Department of Human
Services at 287-5060 and ask if there are
any licensing problems at the facility.
To get a list of licensed facilities in your area, call the Child Care Resource Development Center serving your county. If you are considering unlicensed childcare, ask if they are a member of TrustMe which will confirm background checks for members. (1-866-638-7878).
CAMPS
The Maine Youth Camping Association puts out a booklet of Maine summer camps. Contact them at 581-1350 or www.mainecamps.org. The YMCA, YWCA, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H Club, Maine Conservation Corps, colleges, town recreation departments and many church and private organizations run summer camps. Family Connections may have scholarship information or call directly to Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine (AFFM). AFFM seeks scholarship opportunities for children.
DAY CARE ASSISTANCE
Are there funds
to help me pay for day care?
The state runs
a voucher program to help working parents pay for the child care they
need to work outside the home. This program also helps parents who are
going to school or job training, seeking employment or going to a substance
abuse treatment program. You use the voucher to pay the day care provider
you choose. (The provider must meet certain state standards.) The program
serves children between 6 weeks and 13 years old.
Are there income
limits?
Yes. The limit is 85% of the State median income. Beginning October
1, 2003 this limit is $818.00 per week for a family of three; this amount
increases each year in October. You pay a portion of the cost on a sliding
scale fee payment, based on 2% to 10% of your gross income.
Am I eligible
even if I am not the child's parent?
You may still be
eligible for a voucher if you are not the parent. This program defines
"parent" to include anyone who is standing in as the parent
of a child, maintaining a home for the child, and assuming parental responsibilities.
If a "parent" has guardianship of a child and the child receives
public benefits, (eg. Child only TANF, SSI, MaineCare, etc.), only the child's income is counted when determining eligibility.
How do I find
out if I am eligible?
Contact the Child
Care Resource Development Center serving your county. (see list below)
The center staff will determine if you are eligible. Sometimes there is
a long waiting list (from 6 months to 1 year or more), but some centers have
shorter waiting lists. Filling out the application paperwork will get
you on their waiting lists. You will need to complete the application paperwork to get on the waiting list.
Maine Child Care Resource Development Centers
Androscoggin, Oxford & Frankin Counties
Finders Seekers
Community Concepts, Inc.
PO Box 278, Market Square
South Paris, ME 04281
1-800-543-7008
Aroostook County
ACAP Child Care Express
Aroostook County Action Program, Inc.
PO Box 1116
Presque Isle, ME 04769
1-800-432-7881, 768-3045
(very short waiting list for vouchers)
Cumberland County ( Except Brunswick/Harpswell)
Cumberland County RDC
Child Care Connections
PO Box 10480 307
307 Cumberland Ave.
Portland, ME 04101
1-888-917-1100, 871-7449
Hancock County
Child and Family Opportunities, Inc.
PO Box 1093
Ellsworth, ME 04605
1-800-834-4378, 667-2995
Kennebec & Southern Somerset Counties
Child Care Options
So. Kennebec Child Development Corp.
99 Western Ave.
Augusta, ME 04330
1-800-525-2229, 622-4761
Knox County
Coastal Community Action Program RDC
PO Box 808
7 High Street
Rockland, ME 04881
596-0361
Lincoln & Sagadohoc Counties (incl. Brunswick/Harpswell)
Family Focus Community Service
Bath Brunswick Child Care Services
32 Hennesy Ave.
Brunswick, ME 04011
1-800-675-2413, 725-2413
Northern Somerset, Piscataquis & Penobscot Counties
Penquis Child Care Services
120 Cleveland Street
Bangor, ME 04401
941-2853
Waldo County
Child Care Resources of Waldo County
RR4 Box 4635
Belfast, ME 04915
342-5537
Washington County
Downeast Child Care Resource Development Center
WHCA
PO Box 280
Milbridge, ME 04658
1-800-223-3632, 546-7544
York County
Carelink Resource Development Center
906 Main Street
Sanford, ME 04073
1-866-828-0735, 324-0735