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Child protection & child-care resources

County child-protection reporting contacts, emergency guidance and child-care referral, licensing and subsidy resources.

Find child care resourcesFind the right child abuse reporting contact

Before you start

  • For an emergency, follow the cited emergency guidance. Suspected child-abuse reports go to the appropriate county reporting agency, using the number and time/location labels in the official directory.
  • The state directory publisher, mandated-reporter training site, child-care licensing complaint line and child-care subsidy appeal route have separate purposes.
  • Child-care searches and referrals do not confirm an available placement, subsidy, provider license or a full review of an individual facility.

2 guides with reviewed service links · Kern

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County government · Kern

Social Services

Child protection reporting referral

Kern — Read the county child-protection reporting contact and procedure (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Use the county-published reporting contacts and instructions below. Telephone reports, mandated-reporter written follow-up, general enquiries and emergency instructions have different purposes.

Service area: Kern County — local child-protection reporting context. Area details & sources

Kern — county source; retain reporting purpose, time and mandated-reporter qualifiers

Child Abuse Hotline (661) 631-6011 (Countywide) (760) 375-6049 (Ridgecrest) (Report 24 hours per day, 7 days per week) For all emergencies call 911

Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 26, 2026

County of Kern · Kern — How to Report Suspected Child Abuse (opens in a new tab)

Abuse Reporting | Kern County, CA - Department of Human Services — cps-06029-122

Child Abuse Hotline (661) 631-6011 (Countywide) (760) 375-6049 (Ridgecrest) (Report 24 hours per day, 7 days per week) For all emergencies call 911

Saved evidence: f359f5eff511fb25 · Agent source review

Full guide, contact details & sources →
California service directory · Statewide

California CDSS — County Benefits & Family Referrals

Child protection reporting referral · State family-service information and county referrals

Find your county child-protection reporting number (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Use the county-specific CDSS directory and its daytime, after-hours, TDD and location labels. CDSS publishes this directory; the county reporting agency receives the report.

Service area: California statewide information or county-resource referral. Local providers decide eligibility, service availability and intake requirements. Area details & sources

Service availability

Use the child-protection agency for the county relevant to the report.

Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources

California Foster Care Ombudsperson — emergency guidance

For an emergency, call 911.

Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 26, 2026

California Department of Social Services · California family resources — cps-directory (opens in a new tab)

Report Child Abuse — service-cps-directory

Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect

Saved evidence: 5d89909655cea67f · Agent source review

Find mandated-reporter training and reporting materials (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Training and reference materials are separate from making a report. Use the county reporting contact for suspected abuse and the official emergency instructions for emergencies.

Service area: California statewide information or county-resource referral. Local providers decide eligibility, service availability and intake requirements. Area details & sources

Service availability

The linked training site offers general and profession-specific modules; this guide does not establish an individual reporter’s full legal duties.

Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 26, 2026

California Department of Social Services · California family resources — mandated-training (opens in a new tab)

Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training — service-cps-training

Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training

Saved evidence: ff0aa981b9d0ef47 · Agent source review

Find child-care Resource and Referral information (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Read the statewide R&R information and use local child-care counselors. The availability of a directory does not guarantee a child-care placement or subsidy.

Service area: California statewide information or county-resource referral. Local providers decide eligibility, service availability and intake requirements. Area details & sources

CalWORKs Stage Three only

CalWORKs Stage Three depends on available funding; a referral does not confirm a funded slot.

Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources

Emergency Child Care Bridge Program for Foster Children

The foster-care child-care Bridge Program operates in participating counties, not automatically all 58.

Official information checked October 26, 2026 · Details & sources

Source checked October 26, 2026

California Department of Social Services · California family resources — child-care-referrals (opens in a new tab)

Resource and Referral — service-childcare-referrals

Resource and Referral programs provide information to all parents and the community about the availability of child care in their area.

Saved evidence: c2d51bf23d573288 · Agent source review

Search for child care through MyChildCarePlan (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

CDSS links to the live child-care search and support provider. Confirm the provider’s current license, hours, ages, space and fees.

Service area: California statewide information or county-resource referral. Local providers decide eligibility, service availability and intake requirements. Area details & sources

Source checked October 26, 2026

California Department of Social Services · California family resources — child-care-referrals (opens in a new tab)

Resource and Referral — service-childcare-search

MyChildCarePlan.org is a search and support website that offers a customizable child care search tool and live support from local child care counselors to help families make the best child care choices for their children.

Saved evidence: c2d51bf23d573288 · Agent source review

Review official child-care licensing information (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Use the official licensing search for the provider’s inspection information. This guide has not reviewed individual child-care facilities.

Service area: California statewide information or county-resource referral. Local providers decide eligibility, service availability and intake requirements. Area details & sources

Source checked October 26, 2026

California Department of Social Services · California family resources — child-care-parents (opens in a new tab)

Parent Resources — service-childcare-license

If you select a licensed child care provider, we encourage you to visit the Child Care Licensing Facility Search Webpage.

Saved evidence: 762de1a5b5d154d6 · Agent source review

Find child-care subsidy appeal information (opens in a new tab)Official instructions

Follow the parent appeal information and your specific agency notice. Licensing complaints and subsidy appeals are different routes.

Service area: California statewide information or county-resource referral. Local providers decide eligibility, service availability and intake requirements. Area details & sources

Source checked October 26, 2026

California Department of Social Services · California family resources — child-care-parents (opens in a new tab)

Parent Resources — service-childcare-appeals

You have a right to appeal any changes that your agency makes to your child care subsidy.

Saved evidence: 762de1a5b5d154d6 · Agent source review

Full guide, contact details & sources →

Selected agencies, with sources checked individually. See all coverage and sources.