A parent’s guide to finding childcare in Philadelphia

When South Kensington mother Clare Dych found out she was having a baby in fall 2014, she immediately applied to a waitlist for a beloved preschool in her neighborhood. When did she hear back?

Six years and another child later.

“My oldest had already moved on, so we just replied, ‘Hey, put our second kid on the waitlist,’ ” Dych said of receiving the acceptance email. “I almost died laughing.”

Now, her oldest is in first grade and her youngest is enrolled in PHLpreK, the city’s free pre-kindergarten program. But according to Dych, finding the right childcare for your little one is not always easy in Philly.

“You have such a short time from when you have a baby and when you go back to work after maternity leave,” Dych said. “I had 12 weeks, which I was lucky to have — for some people it’s two weeks. It took us until the end of that time frame to find the right place.”

Finding childcare can be filled with headaches. It’s best to start your search the moment you’re expecting a child and ask people in your community for direct referrals. Facebook groups are another valuable resource that can help connect you to childcare from local parents who have gone through the process. Bottom line: Apply as early as possible.

Shaquanda Thomas, whose daughter is heading into kindergarten soon, said this is exactly how she found childcare. With only a week to find a place for her daughter, she posted to Facebook and a close friend suggested a spot where she took her own child. Thomas visited the childcare center, met the director, and took note of cleanliness (no shoes in the childcare center), healthy meals, cameras and security, and most importantly a curriculum that was on par with public schools.

“I thought the experience was going to be rough — I was kind of skeptical. But, [the director] just made me feel so welcome, like I was talking to my grandmother,” Thomas said.

Dych and Thomas both advise that fancier doesn’t always mean better. Visit the childcare provider and get to know the people and place that will help your child grow.

For the purposes of this guide, “childcare” is considered supervised care for children under age 6 during daytime work and school hours. (If it’s after 3 p.m., it’s usually called “after-school care,” and before 8 a.m., it’s “before-school care” — many childcare providers provide both at an additional cost.) Here’s how to find before- or after-school care.

We’ve gathered some helpful resources and advice for finding childcare in Philadelphia. Some programs in the city are free and low-cost; others you may have to pay for. But all the tools and resources here will connect you with childcare programs that meet or exceed state requirements.

There are many childcare providers in Philly to choose from. For kids under 6 years old, there’s day care, preschool, pre-kindergarten (pre-K), childcare centers, and family and group childcare providers, and they’re all different.

There are private (more expensive) or public (free or lower-cost) options. You can also choose how many days a week your child goes to care, which will affect the cost.

Parents in Philadelphia currently pay a little over $1,000 a month on average per child for full-time, full-day preschool and pre-K programs.

Even if you or your child doesn’t have citizenship, you can still apply for childcare programs. There can be restrictions and some providers may ask for more information than others. (For example, you may need to have proof of where you live — like a lease or letter from a landlord.)

Reyna, a Philly mom (who asked that we not use her last name because of her immigration status), went to the Early Learning Resource Center for help. There you will be asked for information like tax documents and proof of residence, but you shouldn’t need a Social Security Number. You may run into issues with accessing city translation services if you need them.

Be patient, Reyna said. “Education is extremely important, especially at that age. At the end of the day, you may not have a million dollars to leave your child, but you can give them a good education now.”

Start by asking people you know and trust for direct referrals if possible — however, if you don’t know where to start, want to know if you’re eligible for financial assistance, or need specialized supports or language services, here are some organizations that can help:

Help with: finding both public and private childcare, finding financial assistance, and in-person help

Formerly known as Child Care Information Services or CCIS, Philly’s Early Learning Resource Center is a one-stop-shop for finding childcare services in the region. Here you can get referrals and apply to any of the childcare programs listed in this guide and also ones that aren’t. You’ll find out if you are eligible for financial assistance or public childcare programs, and get connected with a childcare provider that fits your needs. Call or visit an ELRC below. philadelphiaelrc18.org, 1-888-461-5437.

ELRC Locations (open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.):

Help with: finding both public and private childcare, funding, and online tools

Compass is Pennsylvania’s online database for finding and applying to a variety of different services — including childcare. If you have an idea of what you’re looking for, search for programs by hours, rating, type, languages, and financial assistance options. You can also see if you qualify for financial assistance by using their “Do I Qualify” benefits screening. compass.state.pa.us

Help with: info about local providers, and help in different languages

This local online tool and knowledge database provides parents with a way to find childcare, view school performance data, apply to charter schools, and learn how to navigate the childcare system in Philly. The website can also be viewed in nine different languages, including Spanish, Chinese (simplified), and Arabic. It also has a newsletter, which is great for updates: greatphillyschools.org.

Help with: finding ratings

Keystone STARS is a voluntary rating system that childcare providers join to demonstrate that they meet or exceed state standards. Providers are rated on a scale of one to four stars ranking the level of care they provide in terms of health, safety, and children’s early learning development. You can find Keystone STARS-rated childcare providers on Compass or contact your local ELRC.

Childcare providers should have two policies in place:

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Does the provider acknowledge cultural celebrations? Do they encourage parents to participate in their child’s education? Can they provide examples of students’ work and accomplishments? These questions can give you a better idea of how the provider incorporates different families’ cultures and identities into the classroom.

There are early learning programs in the city that provide support to children with disabilities, including autism, intellectual and developmental disabilities, and behavioral health challenges. Before you enroll your child in these early learning programs, they will need an “early intervention” — an assessment of your child’s needs and skills in order to provide the appropriate support.

Here’s where you can start the process of early intervention:

Help with: behavioral health assessment, early childhood intervention, and referrals to education

Elwyn is a treatment and support service organization with hundreds of years of experience in the Philly region (literally). They provide assessments of adults and children as well as offer treatments, support, and educational services to help people with disabilities succeed.

Call 215-222-8054, Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to speak with an intake coordinator. The call will take 10 minutes and you will schedule an evaluation for your child during that call.

Help with: direct referrals to education in your community

SPK is a state-run resource for parents who have children with a disability. You can receive help getting connected to resources — including childcare, education, and other supports — in the community you live in.

Call 1-800-986-4550, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., or email RA-BFHSKN@pa.gov to get connected to resources.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org.