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

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Upcoming Events

JULY 14, 2026

LA REGULACIÓN EMOCIONAL EN LA PRIMERA INFANCIA: SALUD MENTAL

EVENT DETAILS

JULY 14, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Donate

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