Find the Best Care for Your Child
Choosing a childcare provider is a large responsibility for a family.
The SCC R&R Program offers information about childcare availability and options, as well as other resources available in Santa Clara County. Finding childcare that fits your needs will take time but learning about the types of childcare available and what makes a quality childcare program will help your search to be successful. The R&R understands this is an important decision and we want to help you find the best fit for you and your child. We are here to support you and to answer questions that come up before, during, and after the selection process.
Our Santa Clara County Childcare Portal includes more than 2,000 childcare providers. The database includes licensed providers as well as some programs that are exempt from licensing.
There are multiple ways to obtain a childcare referral or to search for childcare providers.
You can access referrals via:
- Online search
Families can visit the county’s FREE Childcare Portal and conduct an online search for childcare providers. Families also have the option of creating a FREE Childcare Portal account so providers can be automatically notified by email to contact the family. An account gives you access to:
- Save your family's information for future childcare in case you would like to send your information to providers in the future
- Automated contact with multiple providers via email
- Search for licensed providers in your area
- Phone or email referrals
If you need additional support you can also contact the SCC R&R Program at 669-212-KIDS (5437) or by emailing childcarescc@sccoe.org to obtain childcare referrals based on your childcare needs.
Referrals are made to licensed family childcare homes, licensed centers, and some legally licensed exempt childcare, if requested. Licensed exempt care refers to childcare provided in a center or home who is legally exempt from obtaining a license to operate a childcare facility. To find out more about the different childcare settings visit our Types of Childcare webpage.
The R&R Staff is happy to discuss childcare options with you, answer questions about choosing quality care, and provide referrals to childcare providers who will meet your needs. To speak to an R&R Program Specialist, please call 669-212-KIDS (5437) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m.
If you are looking for childcare outside of Santa Clara County, please use the state portal at https://mychildcare.ca.gov to search for providers in your area or use the statewide consumer education resource.
Oliver’s Law
Any person who requests a childcare referral has the right to get licensing information about any potential childcare provider. Licensing information must be maintained at all licensed facilities and families have the right to get any public information about a licensed childcare facility’s licensing history. This information can be obtained by contacting the licensed facility directly or by calling the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) at 1-844-538-8766. Families can also access a provider’s history by visiting the Community Care Licensing Division’s website at and entering the provider facility/license number.
The SCC R&R Program believes that parents/guardians know what is best for their family’s childcare needs. As such, parents/guardians are provided multiple childcare referrals that best meet their needs. The R&R Program makes no recommendations about the referrals but encourages parents/guardians to visit each childcare facility, whether home-based or center-based childcare, and make independent inquiries about the providers and programs before making a childcare selection.
CDSS Community Care Licensing -- Complaint Hotline
The Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) at the California Department of Social Services is the agency that monitors the licensed facilities, conducts inspections, documents complaints, and substantiates complaints. If you need to file a complaint about a licensed childcare facility, you can do so by contacting the Community Care Licensing complaint hotline at: 1-844-LET US NO / 1-844-(538-8766).
Childcare Referral and Complaint Policy
If you would like to read the Santa Clara County Childcare Resource and Referral (R&R) Program Referral and Complaint Policy, click here.
Terms and Conditions
If you would like to read the Childcare Portal Terms and Conditions, Confidentiality Agreement, and Privacy Policy, click here.