CHILDCARE AWARE
Child Care Aware is a non-profit initiative committed to helping parents find the best information on locating quality child care and child care resources in their community. They do this by raising visibility for local child care resource and referral agencies nationwide, and by connecting parents with the local agencies best equipped to serve their needs. You can find their website at www.childcareaware.org or reach then at (800)424-2246.
Texas Department of Family & Protective Services (TDFPS)
• Regulates all child-care operations and child-placing agencies to protect the health, safety, and well-being of children in care, largely by reducing the risk of injury, abuse, and communicable disease.
• Establishes and monitor operations and agencies for compliance with minimum standards of care.
• Informs parents and the public about child care and about the histories of specific homes, child-care operations, and child-placing operations in complying with minimum standards of care.
• Provides technical assistance to providers on meeting minimum standards of care.
TDFPS website www.tdprs.state.tx.us will allow you to search for childcare centers, Childcare Licensing minimum standards in Texas, and will list the visits TDFPS have conducted at the child care centers and information of each center.
Texas Attorney General
The Office of the Attorney General provides services for parents who wish to obtain or provide support for their children. Information pertaining to child support may be found in www.oag.state.tx.us/cs/index.shtml The office will provide the following services:
Locating the absent parent
Establishing paternity
Establishing and enforcing child support orders
Establishing and enforcing medical support orders
Reviewing and adjusting child support payments
Collecting and distributing child support payments
The Office of the Attorney General provides parents with a full range of child support services at no cost. The services are required by federal law and funded by the federal government and the State of Texas.
Below you will find some of the information you can find on their website:
Check Payment/Case Status
Apply for Services
Get a Customer Identification Number (CIN)
Help find an absent parent
Access & Visitation Directory
Forms
Frequently asked questions
Child Support Evaders
Helpful websites
File a complaint
Provide new employment information
Obtain pay history (if you are an attorney)
For more information about child support services, please call the Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division at 1-800-252-8014 or contact the child support office nearest you.
Brownsville (956) 546-5591
Harlingen (956) 423-3690
2-1-1 Finding help in Texas
You can select to search by "Service Need" such as Child Care, Rent Assistance, Electric Bill, Food Pantry, Housing or Financial Assistance. You will be provided with a list of resource types for this need.
You can also select to search by "Program/Agency Name" such as Red Cross, CASA or United Way. You will be provided a list of resource providers using the specified name. You can visit their website at: www.211texas.org/211/search.do .
You may also receive this information by simply dialing 2-1-1, it is free, easy-to-remember phone number connecting callers with health and human services in their area. Knowledgeable staff will speak with you and answer your questions. You can call for assistance seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
WIC — Women, Infants and Children Program
WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy. Nutrition education and counseling, nutritious foods, and help accessing health care are provided to low-income women, infants, and children through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program, popularly known as WIC.
For information on how to apply for WIC
Call (toll free): (800) 942-3678 or visit their website:
WWW.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/default.shtm
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