DOUBLE TAP TO ZOOM WITH PHONE OR TABLET Being a Family Child Care Professional Family child care is a special profession for those who love young children. As a profes­ sional family child care provider, you must balance the skills required to care for children with those required to operate your business. Here are some tips to help you do this: • • • • • • Learn the child care regulations for your area, and follow them. Join your local family child care association. Sign up with your local child care resource and referral agency. Join the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). Find good professional advisors (such as a tax professional, insurance agent, and lawyer). Actively participate in training to acquire and improve your professional skills. Additional Resources Redleaf Press and Think Small are two leading national organizations that share the goal of helping your family child care business succeed. Think Small (www.thinksmall.org) can answer your business questions; its website is filled with free handouts, articles, and news- letters. Redleaf Press (www.redleafpress.org; 800-423-8309) publishes resources for family child care and offers the following publications to support your business. For more informa- tion, see www.redleafpress.org. • Starting a family child care business: Family Child Care Business Planning Guide • Promoting your business: Family Child Care Marketing Guide, second edition • Creating contracts and policies: Family Child Care Contracts and Policies, third edition The Redleaf Complete Forms Kit for Family Child Care Providers • Keeping accurate records and filing your taxes: The Redleaf Calendar-Keeper: A Record-Keeping System for Family Child Care Providers Family Child Care Tax Workbook and Organizer Family Child Care Tax Companion • Reducing business risks: Family Child Care Legal and Insurance Guide • Managing your money and planning for retirement: Family Child Care Money Management and Retirement Guide COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL