REFERRAL POLICY

Infant/Child Enrichment Services (ICES) encourages and supports parental choice in the selection of child care services. We believe that all children have the right to adequate and safe care, and that parents are best able to choose the child care that meets their particular family situation. It is the responsibility of ICES to provide accurate information on available child care services in Tuolumne County , and to facilitate parental choices. ICES strongly recommends that before placing a child in care, parents exercise their right and responsibility to review a potential child care provider's licensing history, which is available at the facility. A more complete file, including complaints or violations for licensed programs, is available at DSS Community Care Licensing. Individuals have the right to access any public information in these files by calling DSS Community Care Licensing at (916) 229-4530 in Tuolumne County or (559) 445-5691 in Mariposa County .

1. We will make referrals only to licensed providers (centers and homes) and licensed exempt child care centers.

2. All parents who are given referrals to child care programs will be informed of their right to review a potential child care provider's licensing history at the facility or by calling DSS Community Care Licensing.

3. Information to be kept on file shall be in accordance with the State Department of Education guidelines and will be given to parents or other primary caretakers requesting referrals, with the permission of the provider. Providers' addresses are confidential.

4. We will refer to four or more providers at any one time, except when this is not possible or practical.

5. We will refer to providers based on identified criteria which may include: proximity to parents' home or stated location, age of child, time of day that care is needed, and availability of providers.

6. We will provide current and relevant information about each provider, but will not make specific recommendations or guarantee the quality of providers listed in our files. We are not responsible for making arrangements between parents and providers.

7. We will not discriminate against any individual or group based on race, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, handicap or income.

8. Information received from parents in the course of the inquiry shall remain confidential.

9. Referral services are free to all parents and providers. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday; 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

10. We reserve the right to withhold referrals to providers of child care whom we have not been able to contact for two consecutive months for the purpose of updating their referral file information.

11. We reserve the right not to refer to providers of child care as stipulated in the Complaint Policy.

Briefly, ICES reserves the right not to refer to providers of child care when: