Early Care and Education Resources

Local Partnerships

• Center for Family Strengthening – is the designated San Luis Obispo County Child Abuse Prevention Council. The primary purpose of this locally-based non-profit organization is to prevent child abuse and neglect and strengthen families through education and advocacy. 
• Child Care Resource Connection – https://capslo.org/child-care-resource-connection Child Care Resource Connection (CCRC) works to increase access to quality child care and education in San Luis Obispo County and neighboring counties.
• Cuesta College Child Development and Family Studies – https://www.cuesta.edu/academics/divisions/appliedbehaviorsci/earlychildhoodedu/index.html – Cuesta College CDFS introduces child development theory and current research, emphasizes early childhood education best practices, and recognizes children in the context of family and culture. 
• Early Care and Education Planning Council – https://www.sanluischildcare.org/ The Council consists of members who live and/or work within the county and are interested in the mission and vision of the Council. 
• First 5 SLO- https://www.first5slo.org/ First 5 is a proud leader in the collective effort to support young children, both at the state and local levels. First 5 is dedicated to funding programs that serve children from prenatal development through age five and their families. 
• Quality Counts – https://www.sloqualitycounts.org/ Quality Counts San Luis Obispo is part of a statewide system called Quality Counts California, which helps to inform and connect parents and families to high-quality early learning and care programs, and ensures that infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children have quality early learning experiences in their local communities. 
• SLO County Early Learning Centers – https://earlylearningcenters.slocoe.org/

The Early Learning Centers of San Luis Obispo County provide high-quality, no-cost preschool services to families and children ages 3- 5 years old in SLO County. There are Centers in Atascadero, Grover Beach, Nipomo, Oceano, Paso Robles, and San Miguel. 

Parenting

• www.safekids.org – Website of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign is the first and only national non-profit organization dedicated solely to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury – the number one killer of children ages 14 and under.
• http://www.iparentinglife.com/– Contains pregnancy and parenting information, interaction, resources, and lots of product information. Comprehensive information from preconception to young adults.
• http://www.zerotothree.org/ – Billing itself as “The Nation’s Leading Resource on the First Years of Life,” this site emphasizes the importance of childhood development in the early years. Provides in-depth information on how children grow and learn, and how parents can foster their child’s development.
• http://www.positiveparenting.com/ – Positive Parenting is dedicated to providing resources and information to help make parenting more rewarding, effective, and fun!
• http://www.teachingstrategies.com – Building your Baby’s Brain.
• https://sloparents.org/ – Parent Connection of San Luis Obispo County is a web-based family resource center with a current list of parenting classes and parenting support services in SLO County.

Child Care and Early Childhood Development

• http://www.naeyc.org/ – Find out about the National Association for the Education of Young Children, dedicated to early-childhood education. Covers public policy issues and news, conferences, seminars, and products.
• http://www.cwla.org – The Child Welfare League of America is the nation’s oldest and largest membership-based child welfare organization. We are committed to engaging people everywhere in promoting the well-being of children, youth, and their families, and protecting every child from harm.

Policy & Advocacy for Children

• http://www.connectingforkids.org/ – This website offers a place on the Internet for adults-parents, grandparents, educators, policymakers, and others who want to become more active citizens, from volunteering to voting with kids in mind.
• http://www.caichildlaw.org – Website for the Information Clearinghouse on Children, which works to provide and disseminate timely information on children’s issues.
• http://www.zerotothree.org/ – Billing itself as “The Nation’s Leading Resource on the First Years of Life,” this site educates parents on the importance of early childhood development and provides professionals who work to improve the lives of this age group with support services and the latest research.
• http://www.reachoutandread.org/ – Reach Out and Read is a program that promotes early literacy by bringing new books and advice about the importance of reading aloud into the pediatric exam room.