It is one of the most useful free resources in child care, and most parents have never heard of it. Here is what a CCR&R is and exactly how to use one.
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A child care resource and referral agency (CCR&R) is a local or statewide organization that helps families find child care by giving free referrals to licensed providers, and supports those providers with training and resources. Think of it as a free, public-facing front door to your area's child care system.
Its core job is matchmaking, for free. A CCR&R maintains lists of licensed and regulated providers and produces a customized referral based on your child's age, your location, your schedule, and your budget, including whether you need a program that accepts a subsidy. The service is funded through public child care dollars, per the ACF Office of Child Care (2025).
Referrals are only the start. Many agencies also explain your state's quality rating system, walk you through applying for financial help, and hand you checklists for evaluating a program. On the other side of the system, they train providers and offer technical assistance, which is why they know the local landscape so well.
More than a list of phone numbers. A good CCR&R is a guide to the whole decision: who is licensed, what quality looks like, what help exists to pay for it, and how to judge a program once you walk in. The table sums up the typical menu.
| Service | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Customized referrals | A free list of licensed providers matched to your needs |
| Subsidy guidance | Help understanding and applying for child care assistance |
| Quality information | How your state's rating system works and what to look for |
| Evaluation tools | Checklists and questions for tours and interviews |
| Special circumstances | Help finding care for disabilities, odd hours, or infants |
If cost is the sticking point, start with the financial side. Our guide to child care subsidies explains the help a CCR&R can connect you to, and subsidy programs by state shows what your state calls its program.
No, and this is the most important thing to understand. A CCR&R referral is a match to your criteria, not an endorsement, a ranking, or a guarantee of quality. Agencies stay neutral on purpose so families get the full set of options rather than a steered shortlist.
That means the vetting is still on you. Use the agency's list as a starting point, then confirm each program's license, tour in person, and ask hard questions. Our how to choose daycare pillar and daycare near me tools pick up where a referral leaves off.
The honest tradeoff. A CCR&R gives you breadth and neutrality, which is exactly what you want early in a search — and exactly why it will not tell you which daycare is best. You get a list, not a recommendation, and the quality of that list depends on how complete your state's data is. Treat it as a strong first step, not a substitute for touring and checking licensing yourself.
Do I have to qualify for anything? No. Referral services are open to all families regardless of income. Some specific financial-help programs they connect you to do have eligibility rules.
Is this the same as a private daycare-finder site? No. A CCR&R is publicly funded and neutral, and it works from regulated-provider data, per the ACF Office of Child Care (2025). It is not selling listings or leads.
Can providers use a CCR&R too? Yes. Agencies offer providers training, professional development, and business support, which is part of why they understand local supply so well.
A child care resource and referral agency is a free, neutral, publicly funded guide that helps families find licensed care and navigate cost and quality, per the ACF Office of Child Care (2025). It is one of the best first calls in a daycare search — just remember a referral is a starting list, not a recommendation, so the touring and vetting are still yours to do.
The financial help a CCR&R can connect eligible families to.
Read the article → Sibling spokeWhy supply is thin in many areas, and what it means for your search.
Read the article → Pillar guideTurn a referral list into a confident decision.
Read the pillar →Get our free daycare starter kit — the 27-question tour checklist, a cost-comparison worksheet, and what to ask about waitlists. One email, no spam.
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