Most 
    day centers in the United States are expensive. Working families find it difficult 
    to provide quality childcare to their children due to the rising costs. Fortunately, 
    there are considerable organizations in the United States that assist low 
    income families in affording the kind of the childcare that every American 
    child deserves.  
  These associations offer services to children, 
    their families, and child care providers. They ensure that families find child 
    care options they can afford. Most associations are non-profit. Childcare 
    associations offer a range of services.  
  Some of these include: 
  
    -  Services that provide parents with referrals 
      and resources that are cheap
 
    - Monetary assistance in the form of child 
      care subsidy to families with low income
 
    - Subsidy in food to children who receive 
      child care but cannot afford their own food
 
    - Additional services for children with special 
      needs such as monetary support, and resources
 
    - Counseling as well as consultation with 
      parents and child care providers pertaining to the child's mental as well 
      as physical development
 
    - License preparation, training, and professional 
      support to child care providers
 
   
  Given below are some of the most prominent 
    childcare associations in the United States. 
  
    - National Association of Childcare Professionals 
      (NACCP) (http://www.naccp.org) 
      -One of the leading organizations in America that unites child care professionals 
      to enhance education and credibility.
 
    - National Assoc. for the Education of 
      Young Children (NAEYC) (http://www.naeyc.org) 
      - This organization is dedicated to early childhood education. It provides 
      public policy, child care issues, conferences, and seminars.
 
    - National Association for Family Child 
      Care (NAFF) (http://www.naffc.org) 
      - Provides all kinds of referrals and resources, legal issues, as well as 
      subsidies.
 
    - National Child Care Association (http://www.nccanet.org) 
      - This organization has centers throughout the United States. It provides 
      resources, subsidies as well as educational consultation.
 
    - National Head Start Association (http://www.nhsa.org) 
      - This organization represents children and childcare staff throughout United 
      States.
 
    - National Childcare Information Center 
      (http://www.nccic.org) 
      - NCCIC provides a guide on choosing an early childhood program and information 
      about the US childcare referral agency.
 
   
  Some of the other associations include: 
  
 
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  of this article in whole or in part without written or verbal permission is 
  strictly prohibited. For information about reprinting this article, contact 
  the copyright owner: Vanessa Rasmussen, Ph.D, Starting a Day Care Center, http://www.startingadaycarecenter.com. 
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