Requirements
The Secretary shall ensure that the hotline and Web site meet the following requirements:
(A) Referral to local child care providers
(A)Referral to local child care providers#
The Web site shall be hosted by “childcare.gov”. The Web site shall enable a child care consumer to enter a zip code and obtain a referral to local child care providers described in subparagraph (B) within a specified search radius.
(B)Information#
The Web site shall provide to consumers, directly or through linkages to State databases, at a minimum—
(i) a localized list of all eligible child care providers, differentiating between licensed and license-exempt providers;
(ii) any provider-specific information from a Quality Rating and Improvement System or information about other quality indicators, to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable;
(iii) any other provider-specific information about compliance with licensing, and health and safety requirements to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable;
(iv) referrals to local resource and referral organizations from which consumers can find more information about child care providers; and
(v) State information about child care subsidy programs and other financial supports available to families.
(B)(i)#
a localized list of all eligible child care providers, differentiating between licensed and license-exempt providers;
(B)(ii)#
any provider-specific information from a Quality Rating and Improvement System or information about other quality indicators, to the extent the information is publicly available and to the extent practicable;
(C)Nationwide capacity#
The Web site and hotline shall have the capacity to help families in every State and community in the Nation.
(D)Information at all hours#
The Web site shall provide, to parents and families, access to information about child care services 24 hours a day.
(E)Services in different languages#
The Web site and hotline shall ensure the widest possible access to services for families who speak languages other than English.
(F)High-quality consumer education and referral#
The Web site and hotline shall ensure that families have access to easy-to-understand child care consumer education and referral services.