Start Your Search

Are you expecting a new baby or considering a change in child care for your children? 4-C can assist parents, family members, and others supporting families in finding regulated child care for children. 4-C maintains a database of all regulated child care programs within the 4-C eleven county service delivery area (Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Rock, Sauk, and Walworth counties and the Ho-Chunk Nation). Referral Specialists assist parents with their search for early care and education for their children. Information from the referral database provides parents with a current list of regulated child care professionals that allows parents to locate care to meet their specific needs. For other Wisconsin counties, please refer to Supporting Families Together Association. For locations outside of Wisconsin, please refer to Child Care Aware.

Parents playing with with toys on the floor with their toddlers

Obtain a Child Care Referral

If you are in need of child care, please request a child care referral via one of the following methods:

  • Complete an online referral (instant results)

    You may access the online 4-C child care referral database to complete a self-guided child care search and obtain instant search results.

  • Complete a child care referral intake form

    After completing the online form, a 4-C Referral Specialist will follow-up with an email that includes a list of child care referrals based on the search criteria you entered. You should receive this referral within one business day. “4-C” will be part of the sender name.

  • Email a 4-C Referral Specialist

    You may send an email to [email protected], and a 4-C representative will respond to your questions and obtain your child care search criteria. “4-C” will be part of the sender name in the response to your email.

  • Call a 4-C Referral Specialist

    Call a 4-C Referral Specialist at 608-216-7022.

Once you have received results from the referral intake then the next step is choosing child care. We have provided checklists, tips, and questions to help you through this process.

The Next Step: