Gwinnett County’s children deserve the best of care, and they get it. Quality, nurturing and educational childcare and after school programs abound in Gwinnett to serve our most valuable resource.
Licensed Care Services
Parents in Gwinnett County can choose from more than 200 licensed childcare centers that meet state and federal requirements for staffing, activities, safety practices, health, nutrition and physical environments. The directors and childcare providers in these centers are under regular review for their care and performance. Additionally, more than 590 family providers are licensed to care for children in their Gwinnett County homes.
Some childcare providers offer more than traditional daycare services to infants, toddlers and preschoolers and have branched out to offer Pre-K programs, after-school programs and summer day camps for older children. Georgia’s Pre-K Program is available to all families regardless of their income. Educational experiences in the areas of language and literacy, math concepts, science, music, arts, physical development, and social and emotional development must be provided for at least 6.5 hours a day, five days a week, for 180 days a year.
Basic Requirements
Georgia childcare providers must adhere to basic requirements for admission and enrollment, administration and staff requirements, record keeping and reporting, health and safety, indoor and outdoor activities, food and nutrition and other areas of operation. Georgia requires childcare centers to meet basic staff-child ratios and restricts the number of children permitted within one group or class based on the age of the children. Regulations governing childcare in Georgia can be accessed via the Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s Web site www.decal.state.ga.us/osrhome.html.
In addition to meeting the state’s basic standards for all childcare facilities, centers receiving state Pre-K dollars must also meet the programming and curriculum standards articulated by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning. For further information, contact Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning at 404-656-5957 or 888-442-7735 or visit www.decal.state.ga.us
Your Childcare Search
Searching for childcare in Gwinnett County can be accomplished in a number of ways. Several quality childcare providers are members of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and are listed in the Chamber’s Membership Directory or on the Chamber Web site www.gwinnettchamber.org.
Quality Care for Children offers a referral service where parent counselors are available to help metro Atlanta parents find quality childcare. Call 404-479-4240. Quality Care for Children also offers a free online childcare search. More than 4,000 childcare programs are included in the database, including family childcare homes, childcare centers, summer camps, Head Start, after school programs, and Georgia’s Pre-K programs. To access the online search, visit www.qualitycareforchildren.org.
Additional Resources:
Child Care Aware
800-424-2246
www.childcareaware.org
Georgia Child Care Association
770-414-1677
www.georgiachildcare.org
Daycare Resource Connection
www.daycareresource.com
Georgia Department of Human Resources (DHR)/Office of Regulatory Services
404-657-5700
www.ors.dhr.georgia.gov
Gwinnett Family Child Care Association
678-473-9690
www.gfcca.com
Gwinnett Helpline
770-995-3339
Childcare Assistance
The Georgia Business Expansion Support Act (BEST) offers employers who provide or sponsor childcare services an income tax credit of up to 50% of the employer’s direct cost. The credit cannot be more than 50% of the taxpayer’s total state income tax liability for that taxable year. However, any credit not used in any taxable year may be carried forward for five years from the close of the taxable year in which the costs were incurred.
Childcare assistance is available to low-income families in Gwinnett County through the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS). The Childcare and Parent Services Program (CAPS) pays a portion of the childcare expenses for low-income families who need childcare to work, attend high school or participate in job training. Applicants interview with a case manager at the DFCS office when there are funds available to serve new families. For more information, call 678-518-5500.
Children from low-income families may be eligible to attend Head Start or Early Head Start programs. Gwinnett County is served by Ninth District Opportunity, Inc. Head Start. Call 770-532-3191 or visit the Web site at www.ndo.org.
Quality Care for Children, through its emergency childcare program, can pay for childcare for families in a temporary crisis situation for up to two weeks. For more information, call 404-479-4240.
