Here are some Web sites that parents may find helpful:

Department of Early Education and Care, Massachusetts’ child care licensing authority, has a list of licensed child care programs in all regions of the state: www.eec.state.ma.us.

Community Care for Kids, a Quincy-based agency serving most of the South Shore, refers parents of all incomes to child care programs, and helps low-income parents find assistance. Parents can call or send a Web inquiry about programs in their area: www.communitycareforkids.org

The National Association for the Education of Young Children accredits child care centers, holding them to additional standards beyond state license requirements. Parents can search for accredited programs: www.naeyc.org

The National Association for Family Child Care accredits family or home-based child care programs. Its Web site includes a search for local accredited programs: www.nafcc.org

The National Association for Child Care Research and Referral Agencies promotes quality child care and studies child care trends: www.naccrra.org

Strategies for Children is a Boston organization lobbying for universal pre-school for all 4-year-olds in the Bay State: www.strategiesforchildren.org