The Early Learning Coalition of Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee Counties, Inc. (ELCIRMO) supports potential and current providers. We are available to offer information about starting a new child care business and enhancing your program. We are also eager to assist providers with questions about the VPK and School Readiness programs. Please contact our Provider Services at 772-220-1220 Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CCR&R for Providers
Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) is a free service that links parents to early learning programs and other agencies in the community. CCR&R maintains a database of all legally operating early learning programs in Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties.
We refer to over 160 child care centers and family child care homes in three counties in addition to Head Starts, RCMA, CCCR, after-school programs, summer camps, and Au-Pair programs. Child Care Specialists provide useful information to take the guesswork out of choosing child care by:
- providing information on different types of care including Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) programs and customized referrals
- educating parents about early learning and the components of quality care
- reviewing information on state licensing requirements
- helping parents find choices in care for children with special needs
- informing eligible parents about the availability of child care subsidies
ELCIRMO strives to increase the quality of child care. In order to achieve this goal, each county has a Quality Specialist who offers each provider technical assistance and trainings. To access the DCF child care training information center call 1-888-352-2842 or visit www.myflorida.com/childcare/training.
CCR&R obtains a list of all regulated providers in the three counties from the licensing office. A coordinator contacts each provider to collect detailed information from the program. Once the program is added to the database, we can start referring families whose child care needs match the services offered by providers.
The “matching” process for referrals begins when a parent calls our office for assistance in finding child care. A Family Services Specialist then collects basic demographic information from the parent. During this interview, the Family Services Specialist enters the family’s child care needs into the database where it is matched with the providers who most closely meet those needs. An unbiased, computer generated referral list is sent to the family along with a parent packet of information to help the family with the search, including the licensing website where clients can review and check a provider’s record and inspection report on the internet at https://caressearch.myflfamilies.com/PublicSearch.
“There are no charges/fees associated with a provider listing in the Resource & Referral Database or for referrals to your program. If you are asked to provide a payment for a referral or listing in the Resource & Referral database, please call Division of Early Learning Resource & Referral Network at 1-866-357-3239.”
School Readiness Providers & CLASS Program Assessment
House Bill 1091 requires a Program Assessment to be conducted on all providers wishing to contract as a School Readiness program. This applies to both existing providers who will be renewing their contract, as well as new providers interested in applying for the first time.
To receive a Program Assessment, providers must register all their instructors and classrooms into Florida’s Division of Early Learning Program Assessment system. You will not be eligible to participate in the School Readiness Program if you do not complete the registration process. To register, please visit https://portal-qps.floridaearlylearning.com/. You will need your DEL Provider ID number and your Department of Children and Families’ License or License Exempt number to register.
SR Attendance on the Provider Portal
- School Readiness attendance is ready to be processed in the portal. Click here for more instructions.
- Potential Data Issues on the attendance roster. Click here for more information.
VPK Attendance on the Portal
Update: VPK Final Reimbursement Reports are available in the portal.
The Early Learning Coalition and the Division of Early Learning are pleased to announce that the VPK Attendance feature of the DEL Provider Portal is now available and operational. Click to access Rule 6M-8.305, Florida Administrative Code.
For your convenience a step-by-step guidance on how to properly process your VPK attendance is available. Click here to access it. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your Reimbursement Data Specialist for assistance.
Helpful Links
Division of Early Learning (OEL)
Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Licensing Website
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY)
United Way of Florida Success By Six
Child Abuse Registry or 1-800-96-ABUSE
