Photo: Micaela Bedell for Strategies for Children

Looking for child care?

There’s a website for that.

The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) has posted “a geographically-searchable online directory of licensed child care programs” in Massachusetts.

The directory fulfills one of the new requirements of the federal Child Care Development Block Grant program, which is to enhance consumer education by making information clear and accessible to parents.

Searches can be done by zip code, by city, by child age group, or by the name of a child care provider. The search results include a list of providers and a map of their locations. There’s even a “my route” option that searches for child care options along the path of a morning commute.

Click on a provider’s name to see more information, including hours, cost, contact information, and links to program websites.

One important caveat: EEC “does not recommend child care programs.” The directory is an informational tool.

However the online directory can be used alongside EEC’s guide to “Choosing Child Care”, which provides definitions of different child care options, a checklist of things to look for, and a list of questions to ask potential child care providers.

Looking for a program that doesn’t show up in a directory search?

Just call the “EEC regional licensing office for your area to confirm whether the program is licensed by EEC.” EEC can also provide information about “restrictions on a license, non-compliance citations, and sanctions.” The new website will be posting results from program inspection and monitoring visits that occur after October 1, 2019.

Because the directory’s information comes from the state, it has the credibility that parents seek. As the National Center on Parent, Family, and Community Engagement says in a report, a 2016 study found that “82 percent of families reported using search engines or websites to find information related to parenting and early childhood and school-age programs.”

However, only 47 percent of families found this information to be useful. And 58 percent said “the overwhelming amount of information available makes it difficult to trust the quality of the information.”

That’s why providing parents with a reliable overview of their child care choices is crucial, Amy O’Leary, the director of Strategies for Children’s Early Education for All Campaign, says.

“By getting information directly from the Department of Early Education and Care, parents can see what their options are, visit programs, and make informed choices for their children.”