The list of links below of early care and education-related Internet websites is by no means exhaustive, and the brief descriptions provided are intended only to give a general sense of website contents. New websites and content pertinent to child care, child health and safety, and early childhood education are being added to the Internet every day, and we encourage you to explore them. The websites listed here are great starting points, and most provide further links to other helpful child care related websites. Each link opens a website in its own new window.

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Early Care and Education - Related Links

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) - provides in-depth health and development information for children of all ages from prenatal to young adult.
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) (official site) - general information related to family and child health. Specific guidelines on pediatric issues, child safety topics, and disaster planning information, and updates on child health policy issues.
  • American National Red Cross - information on the wide range of Red Cross services, including disaster preparedness and Homeland Security coordination. Disaster preparedness materials can be downloaded in over a dozen foreign languages as well as English.
  • Americans with Disabilities (ADA) (US Department of Justice) - information on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, with a section toward the bottom of the page that addresses child care programs (Note: the section title says "child care centers", but the section also applies to family child care providers).
  • Annotated Code of Maryland (aka the "Maryland Code") - Maryland's body of laws and the statutory basis for the Code of Maryland Regulations. The list of the Code's statutory components (called "articles") are listed alphabetically. Laws pertaining to the regulation of child care are found under Family Law Article, then Title 5, Subtitle 5.
  • Child Care & Early Education Research Connections (CCEERC) - promotes high quality research in child care and early education and the use of that research in policy making. CCEERC offers research and data resources for researchers, policy makers, early childhood practitioners, and others.
  • Clearinghouse for all federal agency child care resources - includes funding sources, information on safety alerts, information and suggestions for program planning and activities, and other information for parents.
  • Early Childhood Gateway - Maryland’s Early Childhood Intervention and Education System of Services, which provides numerous resources for providers and families with young children with disabilities, ages birth through five.
  • KidsHealth - a project of the Nemours Foundation Center for Children’s Health Media. Contains extensive family-oriented health information about children from pre-birth through adolescence, including signs and symptoms of illnesses, child behavior, growth and development, nutrition and fitness, and parenting tips.
  • Lead Poisoning Prevention Program from the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) - established to eliminate childhood lead poisoning. Extensive information on lead risk reduction for parents, homeowners, and tenants.
  • Lice Information from the CDC - information from the CDC on identifying, removing and preventing lice.
  • Maryland Committee for Children (MCC) - resources and information on program management, provider training and professionalism, public policy and advocacy, school readiness initiatives, children with disabilities, and numerous related topics. Comprehensive child care resource and referral information for families and employers.
  • Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) - information on a wide range of family-related and child-related health issues and initiatives. Updates on child immunizations, communicable diseases, and emergency preparedness. Links to numerous State and local health-related programs. The DHMH Community Services Administration, Division of Community Services is responsible for regulating youth camps.
  • Maryland Provider - Maryland State Family Child Care Association (MSFCCA) - contains information on issues pertinent to Maryland providers such as public policy initiatives and legislation updates, provider advocacy, professional development opportunities, MSFCCA events and membership.
  • Maryland State Child Care Association (MSCCA) - promotes the growth and development of professional licensed child care and learning centers in Maryland. Information on regulatory and legislative issues concerning centers, professional development opportunities, MSCCA events and membership.
  • Maryland Division of State Documents (DSD) - records and publishes the official version of the entire Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). Under "What We Do" on the left side of the DSD home page, click on "COMAR Online" to access all 33 COMAR titles (each title usually corresponds to a state government department or agency). Title 13A is reserved for the State Board of Education, under which are located all regulations pertaining to Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) programs, including early care and education and child care licensing.
  • Maryland Judiciary Case Search - provides free public access to the Maryland District Court and Circuit Court Case Management System. District Court criminal, civil, and traffic case records and Circuit Court criminal and civil case records are available. The amount of historical data may vary by jurisdiction.
  • National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - advocates for public policies and funding to support a comprehensive, high-quality early childhood education system, engages in early childhood education research, and works to improve professional practice and working conditions in the early childhood field. The NAEYC website provides a variety of early childhood policy, research, and accreditation resources.
  • National Child Care Information Center (NCCIC) - operated by the federal DHHS Administration for Children and Families. Contains an online library, resource lists, information about early childhood issues, initiatives, and research. Also links to over 200 related sites.
  • National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) - (aka National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities) clearinghouse for information and resources related to disabilities. Database of disability-related agencies, fact-sheets, and other publications.
  • National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) - supports early childhood education initiatives by providing objective, nonpartisan information based on research. NIEER's goal is to produce and communicate the knowledge base required to ensure that every American child can receive a good education at ages three and four. The Institute offers independent research-based advice and technical assistance to four primary groups: policy makers, journalists, researchers, and educators.

  • National Resource Center (NRC) - for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education, located at the University of Colorado Health Science Center in Denver. Contains: The full text of Caring for Our Children - National Health and Safety Performance Standards: Guidelines for Out-of-Home Child Care Programs (2nd Ed., revised 2002) Child care licensing regulations for all 50 states and the District of Columbia Links to a variety of sites dedicated to early care and education and to child health and safety issues
  • NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - information and downloadable brochures in English and Spanish on the "Back to Sleep" campaign and preventing SIDS.
  • Ready At Five - a Maryland-based, public/private partnership that monitors, advocates, and serves as a catalyst for systemic change to improve the care and education of Maryland's young children by exploring and promoting innovative models and practices aimed at improving school readiness.
  • Redleaf National Institute - a nonprofit organization devoted to helping providers with the business aspects of their programs. Contains numerous articles on program management, record-keeping and taxes, developing service contracts, and a wide range of related topics.
  • Sex Offenders Registry of Maryland (SOCEM) - maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. In addition to providing detailed offender information, the site carries "amber alerts" for abducted children, and an information/resource section for parents and educators on preventing and combating youth gangs.
  • Sex Offenders Registry of other states - maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Information on sex offender registrys from other states.
  • The Role of Professional Child Care Providers in Preventing and Responding To Child Abuse and Neglect - (from Child Welfare Information Gateway) a viewable or downloadable manual prepared by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families to help providers understand their roles and responsibilities in preventing and identifying child maltreatment.
  • US Consumer Product Safety Commission - extensive information on product testing, safety recalls, and related topics.
  • US Department of Agriculture’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) - information about the CACFP and resources on child nutrition and related topics. Downloadable child care program meal patterns.