Child Care Services

The child care service industry provides day care for infants and children. Generally the child care establishments offer care for age groups ranging from infancy to preschool, but they may also offer afterschool or summer programs for older children. Additionally, these child care settings may present the option of various educational programs, such as phonics, to the families they serve.

There are two main types of care offered within the child care service industry: Center-based care and family child care.

Formal child care centers may include part and full day preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, as well as day care programs. Family child care services provide care for children in their homes at a cost, and are the biggest group of self-employed persons in the industry.

The child care service industry is also further broken up into the “for-profit” and “non-profit” sectors. For-profit child care services provide care for a set fee, usually based upon the number of children, amount of hours, and additional educational services. Non-profit child care services typically rely on federal funds allotted for the purpose of providing at-risk children with health services, social services, and educational opportunities.

The need for child care has increased across the country in response to changing social and economic conditions, and as such child care services provide many jobs. Providers work both full-time and part-time in center-based care, and are often required to have CPR and First Aid certifications, as well as submit to a background check prior to their employment.