Childcare & Early Education Resources
If you are starting or running a childcare or early education business, we highly recommend exploring the following resources:
ChildCare VA
ChildCare VA is the Virginia Department of Education website where licensing and regulatory information can be located.
Child Card Subsidy Program provides information on how to become a subsidy provider.
Child Care Aware of Virginia
Child Care Aware® of Virginia is a community-based network of child care and early education specialists that delivers services to families, child care professionals, and communities.
The “Opening a Child Care Business in Virginia” is a step-by-step guide that is easy to follow.
The VA Child Care & ECE Job Hub is a board where employers post job openings and and job seekers can search for employment.
The “Child Care Hiring & Onboarding Guide” helps with resources and tips to assist with every step of the hiring process.
The VA Shared Services Network offers templates, discounts, and additional resources on a subscription basis.
Access an interactive map that displays demographic data related to childcare accessibility by locality.
Ready Regions
Ready Regions SouthWestand Ready Regions Westprovide industry data, support for providers and families, administer the Mixed Delivery Grant, allocate subsidy slots, and oversee the VBQ5 program.
Ready Region SouthWest serves the cities of Bristol, Galax, Norton, and Radford; and the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe.
Ready Region West serves the cities of Buena Vista, Covington, Lexington, Martinsville, Roanoke, and Salem; and the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, Craig,Franklin, Henry, Highland, Patrick, Roanoke, and Rockbridge.
ChildCare.gov
Childcare.gov – Virginia: Understanding and Finding Child Care Resources provides basic information and links for understanding Virginia’s child care licensing requirements, inspections, and more.
The Virginia Department of Education
The Virginia Department of Education is responsible for the child care licensing and the child care subsidy program in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Learn about criteria for the Unified Virginia Quality Birth to Five System (VQB5)program, designed to ensure that all children have quality teaching and learning experiences.
The Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network
The Virginia Infant and Toddler Specialist Network (VA ITSN) equips child care professionals with the skills needed to provide quality early care and education to children ages 0 – 3. Specialists offer free resources for family day home providers and child care centers with infants and toddlers in their care.
Financing
The Virginia Early Childcare Foundation
The Virginia Early Childcare Foundation (VECF)suppports a strategic and sustained focus on the healthy development and school readiness of our youngest children.
Virginia Western Community College – Early Childhood Development Programs
Virginia Western Community College offers a selection of Early Childhood Development programs.
Special Thanks to the Virginia SBDC, Shenandoah Valley and their Childcare Program Resources page for assisting with these resources, and for all they do to help early education business owners across our region.
