Helpful Links

**NEW** Emergency Water Safety Rules for Child Care Programs Visit this website for information about the Emergency Water Safety Rules that went into effect on June 1, 2007.

Maine's Early Childhood Learning Guidelines and Supporting Maine's Infants and Toddlers: Guidelines for Learning and Development Links to the full text for each of these documents.

National Association for the Education of Young Children Come here to check out the latest information on NAEYC's conferences and publications, plus information on accreditation, advocacy, policy issues, and NAEYC membership.

National Child Care Information Center Visit this site to find information on research and initiatives going on in the child care field. This page is also an excellent source for information on each state's ratios, teacher qualifications, demographics, and more.

NACCRRA- The Nation's Network of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies NACCRRA is the national network of community-based child care resource and referral agencies. NACCRRA provides technical consultation and resources to member child care resource and referral agencies. Visit this website to find out more information and discover the benefits of membership.

Maine Roads to Quality MRTQ is Maine's Early Care and Education Career Development Center.  Visit their website for information about joining the Registry, scholarship opportunities, information about accreditation support (NAEYC, NAFCC, and NAA), or to browse statewide training opportunities.

National Association for Family Child Care The mission of NAFCC is to support the profession of family child care and to encourage high-quality care for children. NAFCC promotes high-quality family child care through accreditation, leadership training, technical assistance, public education, and policy initiatives. Visit the website to find out more about this organization.

University of Maine Center for Community Inclusion and Disabilities Studies Visit this website for information about CCIDS' programs, including Child Care Plus ME or the Growing Ideas Tip Sheets.

Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program This program is interested in getting information on lead poisoning, when children should be screened, etc.,  to medical and service providers that work with children under 6 years old.

Language Access for New Americans (LANA) LANA is a collaborative initiative that was launched in 2005 to meet the challenging needs of our Maine communities.  LANA offers a centralized interpreter directory, affordable interpreter training, training services for service providers and businesses, and matching funds for nonprofit organizations.

Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs This is the foremost authority on health and safety best practices in child care settings (both centers and family child care homes).  The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education has made the entirety of this publication available on their website to be downloaded for free, either as a whole or by chapter.

Working Mother Working Mother now has a website. Working Mother deals with issues for working parents.

Zero to Three Zero to Three is a national non-profit charitable organization whose aim is to strengthen and support families, practitioners and communities to promote the healthy development of babies and toddlers. Visit this website to find information and resources for both parents and professionals.

American Academy of Pediatrics Information on this website includes immunization guidelines, current events in pediatrics, and an on-line pediatrician referral service.

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care Some highlights of this website include a study on cost, quality and outcomes, state child care regulations, and national safety standards. An extensive links page with resources on everything from lead poisoning to playground safety is useful for both parents and child care providers.

The Daily Parent The Daily Parent newsletter offers the latest information on child development issues, tips for finding quality child care, and numerous resources for busy parents, as well as child care professionals.

Born to Read is the Maine Humanities Council's early literacy program, created in 1997 to ensure that Maine's youngest children, ages 0-5, are read aloud to daily and begin school excited about books and ready to learn.  Born to Read provides training, books and support to child care providers, volunteers, parents and home visitors throughout the state. Its website offers book lists, training information, and other resources.

Center for Cultural Exchange Maine's connection to worlds of cultural and local artistic diversity.

Link Maine This website helps people coordinate resources and information to promote people partnerships and community programs in our state.

Child Care Source Child Care Source is one-stop-shop for parents and caregivers seeking information about child development, parenting, early learning opportunities and other resources available to them.

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