BEGINNING THE CHILD CARE SEARCH

The childcare search and emotions involved are definitely discussed in the groups.

Most parents find that they experience a high degree of anxiety about a "stranger" taking care of their baby. People imagine a faceless person holding their baby. Once you meet some of the wonderful people who offer childcare and see them lovingly holding your baby, you may begin to feel more optimistic. The first phone call is often the hardest.

Here are a few resources to help you get started.

Bananas
5232 Claremont Avenue
Oakland
510-658-0381
A central clearing house for childcare information and referral for Alameda County. They offer a workshop on how to find infant childcare, including discussion of the different options. They have lots of names of people looking for work, interview questions and contracts. They list shares.
Bananas Handouts on Childcare

Childcare Links

Childcare Solutions
3020 El Cerrito Plaza #202, El Cerrito
(510) 233-2342
mathamelgoza@sbcglobal.net

Contra Costa Children's Council
510-233-KIDS (5437)
Childcare referral in West Contra Costa

Craigs List Childcare / Kids / School Postings

Bay Area Sitters

EuAupair Au Pair Program

Neighborhood Parents Network
877-648-KIDS (5437) ext 81
info@npnonline.org
The monthly newsletter usually has a page of recommendations for sitters, nannies, family daycare and shares. Recommendations come from other parents.

Sitter City-Bringing Parents and College Sitters Together

UCB Parents
The above link will take you to an online site, where you can sign up for their newsletter. Parents frequently post available childcare people who they recommend personally.

UCB Parents Network Recommendations for Finding Childcare

UCB Parents Site: Advise on Childcare

Placing Your Own Newspaper Ad

Many people put an ad in these weekly newspapers for in home care. You can look over other ads to get ideas about how to specify your needs. You might reiterate your specific criteria on your message machine and urge people to only leave a message if they meet your basic criteria. Initial phone interviews can narrow the field for some in- person interviews. Some people check references before an interview, others afterwards. Remember that communication with people where English is their second language can often be better in person than by phone.

___Hills Newspaper Group
___(The Berkeley Voice, Montclarion, Journal)
___510-339-8777

___East Bay Express
___classifieds@eastbayexpress.com
___510-540-7500

Agencies
(this list does not entail a recommendation)

Alyce Desrosiers
LCSW
415-331-NANI
alyce@alycedes.com
Childcare Consultant: A Personalized Nanny Placement Service
Psychotherapist/Consultant
Finding Right Caregiver for Children Workshops and Individual Consultation

Alyce Desrosiers

AuPair Care-Cultural Exchange

Au Pair-Live In Help

Bay Area 2nd Mom Nannies
510-595-1535

Bay Area Sitters Unlimited
510-582-4248

Bay Super Sitters
650-576-3296
aboutsupersitters@hotmail.com

Be In Our Care Agency-Nannies
510-339-3380

Caregivers International Institute of the East Bay
510-451-2846 X 309

Core Group
ktcoregrp@hotmail.com
415-567-0568

English Action Center
Childcare Training Program and Placement
meyian@hotmail.com
510-234-5110

In-House Staffing at Aunt Ann's
in-housestaffing@auntanns.com
415- 749-3650

Live-In Child Care
Au Pair USA
1800-AU-PAIR

Moms Away
Lorraine Sykes
510-559-9195
momsaway@silcon.com

Nannies 4 Families Inc.
1-877-88-Nanny

Nanny Connection
925-957-0358
robin@nannyconnection.com

Nannies Limited
925-803-1040
nannieslimited@hotmail.com

The Nanny Network
1-888-NANNYNET

The Nanny Network, Inc.

Town and Country Resources
(Nannies, Baby Nurses, Personal Assistants, Housekeepers, Household Managers, etc)
info@tander.com

Trustline
415-882-0234; 800-822-8490
"Trustline is a background check conducted by the California Department of Social Services. Child Care providers not required to be licensed (baby-sitters and nannies) can submit their fingerprints and an application, along with a one-time fee of $124 to the California Department of Social Services. This includes a check of criminal records through the FBI. If nothing disqualifying comes up on either the California Criminal History System or the California Child Abuse Central Index or via the FBI, the individual is listed as "cleared" on Trustline. Parents can call the toll-free 800 number to check on the status of a child care provider or to find out about application procedures."

International Security Pre Employment Check

UC Students
800-999-8725

Essays on Childcare

The Nanny Brigade

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