FIND CHILD CARE
PROVIDER TRAINING & SUPPORT

High-quality, affordable child care starts here. 

Serving San Mateo County’s children, families, child care providers, and the early childhood community. 

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Child Care

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Paying for Child Care

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Family Child Care Business

TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL

Development

WHAT WE DO

Providing Child Care Resources & Referrals Since 1972 

  • Help families find and select high-quality child care
  • Connect families with resources to help pay for child care 
  • Provide child care providers with education, certifications, 
and support 
  • Advocate for child care and early learning initiatives that help our community thrive 
FOR FAMILIES
FOR PROVIDERS
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Stay up to date

Upcoming Events

MAY 28, 2026

Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Event

EVENT DETAILS
MAY 29, 2026

PEDIATRIC CPR & FIRST AID CLASS

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JUNE 1, 2026

Comunicación con las Familias

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JUNE 5, 2026

CPR/RCP Pediátrica Primeros Auxilios

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JUNE 6, 2026

Seven Steps toward Success: Retirement Planning for Family Child Care Providers

EVENT DETAILS
JUNE 6, 2026

迈向成功的七个步骤：家庭托育提供者的退休规划

EVENT DETAILS
JUNE 9, 2026

LA REGULACIÓN EMOCIONAL EN LA PRIMERA INFANCIA: SALUD MENTAL

EVENT DETAILS
JUNE 9, 2026

EMOTIONAL REGULATION IN THE EARLY YEARS: MENTAL HEALTH

EVENT DETAILS
SEE ALL UPCOMING EVENTS

FOR FAMILIES

Choosing Child Care 

Types of Child Care, Simplified 

Choosing child care is a personal decision—only you can determine what’s right for your child and your family. This clear, unbiased information about the different types of child care and early education can help you choose with confidence. 
The 6 Types Of child care

What to Consider by Age

Children’s needs change as they grow. Let’s walk through what to look for at each age—from infants to preschoolers to school-age kids—so you can decide which child care setting is a good fit for your child’s stage of growth. 
Child care by age

Questions to Ask Care Providers 

Visiting a child care program and talking with the staff can give you a clear sense of how the program runs and whether it’s a fit for your child. Not sure what to talk about? Here are key questions to help you get the conversation started.
questions to ask

Click here for more information or support finding child care.

GET INVOLVED

Support Our Impact

Join the Community

Help ensure children in San Mateo County receive high-quality care and early education by joining the 4Cs network.

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By the Numbers

See a numerical breakdown of 4Cs’ impact—including the number of families supported and workshops held, financial data, and more—in our latest Annual Report.

VIEW 2023 ANNUAL REPORT

Donate

Support our community’s children, families, and care providers by making a tax-deductible donation to 4Cs.

DONATE TO 4Cs

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