Find childcare

Overview

The government offers search tools and resources to help you explore childcare options in your area. Depending on your childcare preferences and needs, consider contacting local organizations that support Indigenous and newcomer families, or people with disabilities, to find more options. It may also be helpful to ask friends, family, colleagues and neighbours for referrals.

Search results will include the following information about each childcare program or agency:

• name, address and phone number
• capacity and enrolment
• extended or overnight care services offered
• 18 months of non-compliance history

To find individual family day homes, contact family day home agencies directly. See the list of licensed family day home agencies, or use the Childcare Lookup Tool to find a licensed agency that operates in your area.

Childcare Connect

Childcare Connect is a free helpline you can call to:

• learn about childcare options in your area (for example, daycares, preschools, family day homes and out-of-school care)
• understand the difference between licensed and unlicensed childcare to make an informed decision
• get help finding a licensed program that fits your family’s needs
• ask questions about your provider’s optional services and fees
• check if an unlicensed provider has received a stop order in the past 24 months
• report incidents, concerns or complaints related to a childcare program (learn more about how to file a report)
• ask any other childcare-related questions

Additional resources

To help you make informed choices, the government offers additional information about childcare providers under Quality, safety and compliance. You can find several important resources there, including:

• Early Childhood Educator Lookup Tool – check the certification level and status of educators working in licensed childcare programs, including family day homes.
• Unlicensed Child Care Stop Order Lookup Tool – see whether an unlicensed provider has been issued a legal directive to stop providing care, called a ‘stop order’, due to non-compliance with provincial regulations.
• Administrative Penalty Lookup Tool – check whether a licence holder, early childhood educator or unlicensed childcare provider has been issued an administrative penalty for non-compliance with provincial regulations.
• Public notices – current list of childcare programs ordered to close, issued a probationary licence or affected by public health orders.
• Public health inspection reports – recent inspections and any violations noted for facility and home-based childcare programs, conducted by Alberta Health Services.

Related

• Childcare Lookup Tool
• Lookup tools
• Public notices
• Quality, safety and compliance
• Contact us – For parents and families