Do You Refer Parents To Other Providers?

[GotKids]

I am full but get 2-3 calls a day from my google listing. Parents always ask me when I tell them I am full if I have anyone I would refer them to. I don't know about you guys but my job keeps me pretty busy and we don't do field trips so my only contact with other providers is here. I thought about replying to some CL ads and telling them I am provider looking to find other providers to send kids to when I am full, does that sound creepy?

Would you feel comfortable meeting another provider from CL and letting them see your program so they could send you referrals?

[youretooloud]

Only if I know the person, and I would leave my own child there. If I wouldn't leave my own kids there, I don't refer.

[GotKids]

how do you find these people though. I guess that is the real question. I agree I don't want to give referrals out to people who I wouldn't trust.

[sharlan]

I would be very reluctant to give a referal on someone I don't know. I would give them the number for the local CCR&R, though.

The parents can check the Craig's Lists ads on their own.

[Unregistered]

Networking is great

I think there are many advantages to networking, I have 6 women dcp in my immediate community and we refer back and fourth to each other. It has helped to keep us full, and the parents appreciate that we can help place them. I had a family that needed longer hours because of schedule changes so I set them up with one of the ladies, and I recently picked up a family from another gal who needed to cut back because she had a baby.
Not only that we all call each other when there is a bad parent that skips out, or other problem parents, that way no one else picks up the bad apple. I would try it.

[laundrymom]

I send them to my r&r

[Sugar Magnolia]

I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I tried something like this. I am a center and do not do infants. I was looking for a home provider that did infants that I could refer people to because I also get lots of calls for infant care. I was also looking for a home provider that would, in turn, refer older kids to me when they "aged out" or wanted/needed a preschool program. I THOUGHT it was a good idea, made 3 phone calls and was treated very rudely. One woman hung up on me mid-sentence. One woman was overtly hostile and one was mildly nice but cold and disinterested. If you try this, be prepared for the worst and don't take it personally. Generally, people are competitive and that's ok. I get it. I got their contact info from our local referal service. Fiasco. Disheartening.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I think there are many advantages to networking, I have 6 women dcp in my immediate community and we refer back and fourth to each other. It has helped to keep us full, and the parents appreciate that we can help place them. I had a family that needed longer hours because of schedule changes so I set them up with one of the ladies, and I recently picked up a family from another gal who needed to cut back because she had a baby.
Not only that we all call each other when there is a bad parent that skips out, or other problem parents, that way no one else picks up the bad apple. I would try it.

See...that's the way it SHOULD be! That's so great! Wish I had your network here

[Crazy8]

nope. I will refer them to CCR&R. I had a provider once tell me that we are not allowed to refer to each other - that we have to refer to CCR&R. But she was very competitive and didn't want anyone in town to know there was a single other home daycare besides her.

[MarinaVanessa]

how do you find these people though. I guess that is the real question. I agree I don't want to give referrals out to people who I wouldn't trust.

Yep, networking is great. I joined my local childcare association and take trainings through my local resource and refferal service. I meet childcare providers there all of the time so I always ask them info about their programs. I met a few and always keep a list of their info on hand along with what ages they accept. If I don't have any infant openings for example but I know someone that does I'll refer them to her and vise versa. I don't do school-agers so I refer them to another that I know that specializes in that range. I go as far as to list a daycare on my webpage that does school-age care. It's all about meeting some of them and networking. I always meet providers when I do my CPR recertification too. Don't be shy, but get to know them first OR make sure you let the parent know that you don't know how they run their program.

[e.j.]

I think there are many advantages to networking, I have 6 women dcp in my immediate community and we refer back and fourth to each other. It has helped to keep us full, and the parents appreciate that we can help place them.

I agree. When I lived in another town, 2 of my neighbors also ran home day care businesses. We used to refer parents to each other all the time and as a result, we were all full most of the time.

I'm in a town now where I don't know a lot of other day care providers personally but I keep a list of names and phone #s and give them out to parents who call when I can't accommodate them.

[e.j.]

I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I tried something like this. I am a center and do not do infants. I was looking for a home provider that did infants that I could refer people to because I also get lots of calls for infant care. I was also looking for a home provider that would, in turn, refer older kids to me when they "aged out" or wanted/needed a preschool program. I THOUGHT it was a good idea, made 3 phone calls and was treated very rudely. One woman hung up on me mid-sentence. One woman was overtly hostile and one was mildly nice but cold and disinterested. If you try this, be prepared for the worst and don't take it personally. Generally, people are competitive and that's ok. I get it. I got their contact info from our local referal service. Fiasco. Disheartening.

It's too bad you got this reaction from the providers you called. It could have been a win/win situation for all of you.

There's a preschool center in town that takes older kids. They've refered several families to me who had younger children they wouldn't take. While I tend to keep my kids until they're ready for kindergarten, I'd happily pass on the center's name to any parent who asked for the name of a good preschool.

[mismatchedsocks]

Here, I dont know anyone comfortable enough that I would refer. If something goes wrong I dont want it to refect on me. I do give them the local resource and referral number.

[Sugar Magnolia]

It's too bad you got this reaction from the providers you called. It could have been a win/win situation for all of you.

There's a preschool center in town that takes older kids. They've refered several families to me who had younger children they wouldn't take. While I tend to keep my kids until they're ready for kindergarten, I'd happily pass on the center's name to any parent who asked for the name of a good preschool.

Yeah I agree! Its too bad...I was kind of suprised by the reactions....could have been win/win....I was even offering $100 referal bonus.... Now I just tell infant-seekers to call CCC&R.

[daycare]

When I am full, I give the number to R&R this way I am at least sending them some where they can get references of other daycare providers in the area.

I don't personally know of anyone who does daycare and I would fee strange if I was to refer them to a person I did not know....