Taking care of kids is big business in Jacksonville. With more than 400 licensed child care centers in this city, Jacksonville offers plenty of choices, which can make the task of finding the provider that’s right for you seem daunting. Fear not. Jacksonville offers something unique to help demystify your search. It’s called the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, which (among other things) operates a citywide child care resource and referral program. This service will help you find child care that’s right for you and your family.
We’ve included a few of the larger centers in this chapter to get you going. But parents still need to do their homework—visit a number of potential caregivers and check up on them with the Licensing Unit of the State of Florida’s Department of Children and Families at www.state.fl.us/cf_web or (904) 723-2064. The Licensing Unit will tell you whether the child care provider you are checking out has been cited by the state or if there are any client complaints against them.
There’s nothing more agonizing for parents than putting their children in day care. Taking advantage of the city’s resources, however, can make some of those child care choices easier.