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Maryland Family Network (MFN) believes that all children are entitled to quality child care and it is the parent’s right to make an informed decision concerning their child care needs. To this end; MFN offers the LOCATE: Child Care Special Needs Service.This service is: Free - funded by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Available to any family who has a child with a special need Available for children from birth through age 21Here are some examples of eligible children: Any child receiving services through the Maryland Infant & Toddlers Program Any child evaluated and receiving services referred by Child Find Any child receiving special education services through a school system Any child with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) Any child terminated from a child care programAny child with special needs or physical disabilities is eligible.This includes (but is not limited to) the following: Food Allergies (severe or life threatening) Asthma (severe or life threatening) Developmental Delays (not meeting milestones) Autism; ADHD; ADD; Aspergers Syndrome Down Syndrome; Learning Disabilities; Brain Injury Seizure Disorder; Cystic Fibrosis; Cerebral Palsy Behavior concerns or problems Speech and language delaysHow does the Special Needs Service help parents to find child care?When a parent contacts LOCATE: Child Care; the LOCATE Specialist will: Discuss the child’s special need or disability Discuss any services or accommodations needed while in child care Discuss location; cost and other factors Refer to child care providers or programs with special needs experience or Refer to child care providers who will to work the with child’s special need Discuss how to find quality child careLOCATE Specialists provide this service with respect for the parent's right and ability to choose the best care for his/her child. Service is provided to callers by trained LOCATE Child Care Referral Specialists who are professionals holding a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education or other related field and who have experience and/or training working with children who have special needs.

Selecting child care is an important decision for you and your child. The quality of care; cost; and convenience of location will have a big impact on your lives. To help make this decision; LOCATE: Child Care will help you find child care that fills your needs. This a free service.

Child Find is a process used to identify Baltimore City children; ages 3 through 20; who may be in need of special education and related services. A Child Find Hotline?443-984-1011?responds to inquiries regarding children; ages 3 through 20; suspected of having a disability. Child Find staff also assist with referrals of children; ages 3 through 20; who are enrolled in public; private; or parochial schools. Flyers; posters; and handouts of Child Find activities are available upon request. The Child Find office plans and participates in presentations to community groups as part of an outreach effort to identify children in need of special education service.

Maryland has a network of 24 Family Support Centers in 14 counties that offer free, educational and health-related services to parents and their children ages birth through three. The Centers provide services designed to:

• Promote the optimal development of young children
• Help adults develop more effective parenting skills and fulfill their aims related to school, employment and family life
• Provide supportive networks among parents in local communities
• Connect parents and children to the agencies and community resources that can help them

The Centers offer a range of services including:

• Quality infant/toddler care and assessment while parents are on site
• Parent education
• Adult education, family literacy and job readiness training programs
• Health education and referral for services
• Home visits for some services
• Peer support
• Service coordination between agencies