Find the perfect child care for you
We provide resources and tools to assist you in your search for a quality program. You can search the database on your own by clicking on the link below or you can call your local PATCH office.
Searching for Child care
Contact your local PATCH office
- Assistance in locating child care providers in an area that meets your family’s needs
- Supplying you with a provider profile, which includes information on hours of operation, ages served, and programs. Referrals are not based on current vacancies providers might have.
- Child Care Providers are licensed by the State Department of Human Services (DHS) and are NOT employees or subcontractors of PATCH. We make no warranties about the quality of child care they provide. We also strongly recommend that you carefully read the provider’s contract BEFORE signing it to avoid any future disputes or miscommunication
- Information about choosing quality child care
- A checklist to assist you while on visits to child care programs: Go to checklist
- Helping your family locate potential child care subsidies and other child care resources
QUALITY CARE GIVES YOUR CHILD WARMTH, LOVE AND GUIDANCE BY A WELL TRAINED, INFORMED, HEALTHY AND EXPERIENCED ADULT.
Research tells us young children, from birth through five years of age, who receive quality early care and education are fundamentally more prepared for their future, specifically school.
Early experiences affect the development of the brain and lay the foundation for intelligence, emotional health and moral development throughout these early childhood years.
Therefore, in order for your child to grow into a happy, well-adjusted adult, he or she must have the opportunity to develop and learn these skills early in life.
Join our Quality Care sessions for help on identifying a quality child care program.
These are held Monday through Thursday
(except the first Thursday of the month) :
Preparing your child
- Talk to your child about the child care setting. Make him or her feel good about it by discussing some of the fun things that might happen there.
- Try to keep major changes in your child’s life to a minimum during this time.
- Spend time with your child at the child care site before you leave. Consider starting your child on a part-time basis.
- Make a special album, or box for your child to take to the site with pictures of family, friends and other things important to your child. Ask the caregiver if bringing a special toy or blanket is alright.
- Talk to your child a few minutes each day about what his/her day was like. What was fun? Tell your child about your day too.
- Develop a special and regular routine for saying goodbye to your child. Routines help children feel safe, and will reassure them that you will return.
- Keep your goodbyes reassuring but short.
- Remember that each child is unique and will handle change differently. Some temporary yet common reactions are crying, acting younger than his/her age, getting stomach aches or headaches, having problems sleeping or complaining. If you treat your child’s reactions with love and respect this transition will go smoothly. Remember these reactions are usually temporary!
Is your Child old enough to enter kindergarten?
Entering kindergarten is an exciting and critical time for your child. This will be the start of their “formal” education, laying the foundation for future learning and thus it should be the best experience possible.
KINDERGARTEN AGE HAS CHANGED! Your child must be 5 on or before July 31 to enter kindergarten.
Although each school’s requirements vary, some of the forms you will need to register your child for junior kindergarten and/or kindergarten include:
- Copy of your child’s Birth Certificate
- Student Enrollment Form (from the school)
- Copy of your child’s Social Security Card
Know your rights
As a parent you have the RIGHTS to ensure your child’s well-being while in the care of a provider. Visit your child and communicate frequently with his or her caregiver. Sharing information about your child’s needs, interests, problems, personality allows both you and your child’s caregiver to provide the best care for your child.
However, if you have any concern about the care your child is receiving, feel free to discuss them with the provider. If you are unable to resolve the issue and want to change child care providers, call PATCH to get referrals for locating a new provider.
You also have the right to check the background of a licensed caregiver for possible complaints. If you have any questions about a specific child care provider, or if you are concerned about the health and welfare of a child in child care, you are encouraged to CALL your nearest State of Hawaii Department of Human Services Child Care Licensing Unit:
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OAHU
808-587-5266 -
MAUI
808-243-5866
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WEST HAWAII
808-327-4755 -
EAST HAWAII
808-959-0669
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KAUAI
808-241-3660