Home > Family & Home > Family > Childcare > Children & Childcare > Child Care Environment Rating Scales [Image: Child Care] Four environmental rating scales are in use now: (1) Early Childhood Environment, (2) Infant and Toddler Environment, (3) Family Day Care Environment and (4) School-Age Care Environment. (PDF Format Only) Choosing Quality Child Care Checklist [Image: Child Care] One of the most important decisions you have to make as a parent is choosing a child care program. This checklist can assist you in comparing child care options to make the best choice for you and your child. (PDF Format Only) Looking for Child Care? Need Training? [Image: Child Care] Use this state map to locate your contact for assistance or training. (PDF Format Only) Quality Child Care - How do you know if your child is receiving it? [Image: Child Care] 5 Things Parents Can Do to Ensure Quality Care for Their Child (PDF Format Ony)  more articles... The Louisiana Child Care Assistance Program [Image: Child Care] Do you need help paying your child care? The Louisiana Department of Social Services’ Child Care Assistance Program administers services for families eligible for child care assistance in the state. Information on how to apply included. (PDF Format Only) Types of Child Care [Image: Child Care] Finding just the right child care setting for your child can prove to be a difficult task. Being informed can help make your decision a little easier. (PDF Format Only) Helping Children Deal with Disaster Hurricanes have brought crisis into the living rooms of all Americans. Once again, the trauma of such events has struck at the heart of America. Dealing with natural disasters is difficult enough for all to comprehend. The lives of all will be changed forever. It is incredibly more difficult when young people and children are involved and are the victims. Questions & Answers A message board for childcare providers and families seeking childcare. Lesson Plans Help Educators Help Youth To Cope With Hurricanes To help educators and caregivers help youth cope with the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the LSU AgCenter 4-H Youth Development program is reviewing and recommending curriculum materials that emphasize hands-on activities. Age Groups React Differently To Calamity Children's reactions to disaster depend on their age and maturity. Their responses also are affected by how close they are to the event, their level of exposure to it through TV and how they see their parents react. Help Children Cope With Crisis [Image: Help Children Cope With Crisis] Many children and young adults sustained both physical and emotional injuries from tragedies associated with the recent storm and the days that followed. It’s important to help them cope with those issues, says LSU AgCenter family development specialist Dr. Diane Sasser. Malnutrition Impairs U.S. Children’s Health, Behavior Some 13 million children in the United States live in homes with limited access to a sufficient food supply. A new generation of research demonstrates a direct link between inadequate food supply and a poorer overall health status among U.S. children, according to LSU AgCenter food and nutrition expert Dr. Annrose Guarino. Tips for Teachers: Managing Strong Emotional Reactions in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina A large-scale tragedy like Hurricane Katrina can cause strong and deeply-felt reactions in children and adults. Emotional expressions by adults will influence the reactions of children and youth. Teachers can help children deal with their feelings by closely monitoring their own emotional situation and the children in their care as well as modeling healthy coping strategies. Children as Victims of Hurricane Katrina There are both commonalities and unique features in every disaster as it affects families. This handout uses the research on children affected by political violence as a guide to outline how children may be impacted by Hurricane Katrina and to provide recommendations to support children and families. More...