EASTERN SHORE Child Care RESOURCE CENTER @ Salisbury University
What We Do About Contact
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EASTERN SHORE Child Care RESOURCE CENTER
@ Salisbury University

Welcome

The Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center (ESCCRC) is a state funded agency that works with child care providers and other early educators, community organizations and families on the Shore to help promote the availability of quality child care services in Somerset, Worcester, Wicomico, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties. We are a member of the Maryland Child Care Resource Network, with funding provided by the Maryland State Department of Education through Maryland Family Network, and Salisbury University.

ESCCRC is under the direction of Dr. Chin Hsiu Chen, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, Department of Early and Elementary Education, Seidel School of Education at Salisbury University. Leslie Sinclair is the Project Director for ESCCRC.

ESCCRC helps early childhood professionals caring for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children by providing high quality training, program resources, technical assistance and coaching. The Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center works with all families and providers on the shore regardless of income.

Our hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You will be able to reach a staff member by calling 410-543-6650.

Support Our Mission

training Training
providers Childcare Providers
resources Resources
families Families
recruitment Become a Provider!
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Training

training

Come, Grow and Learn With Us!

For your security and convenience, we are offering online registration and payment. Click the "Register and Pay online!" button below:

Download the Child Care Chat Newsletter, Summer, 2025 with classes from July-September (PDF):

Call the Resource Center for more information: 410-543-6650

For your security and convenience, we are offering online registration and payment at:

The landing page will show a list of available classes arranged by date. When you’re ready to choose classes you would like to enroll in, click on Login at the top. This is where you’ll create an account if you’re new to the Resource Center. In that case, click on (NEW? Sign Up Here) use your preferred email address, create a password, fill in your contact information, log in and you’re ready to go!

If you have taken classes with the Resource Center before (or we have added your email and contact information in our system), you can skip down to “Forgot my Password” (even though you never had one) and follow the instructions. You will receive a one-time-use, temporary password that you will need to change the next time you log in; the one you create will be your permanent password. Your contact information should appear in your account screen. If needed, you can edit your information.

When you have logged in, choose the classes you want, click “Enroll Now” to add them to your shopping basket and proceed to the secure checkout. You can add/edit your billing address in your account screen (it should match your credit card billing address). You may pay with Visa or Mastercard. You will receive an order confirmation/receipt by email. If you need help, contact ESCCRC@salisbury.edu.

Cancellation Policy

You may cancel your registration by the end of business the day BEFORE a class. In most cases, you will receive a credit toward another class (must be used within the year).

IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO OFFER REFUNDS UNLESS WE INITIATE THE CANCELLATION.

Other Online Training Options

Online classes are available through ProSolutions- Click Here

Maryland Family Network is also providing information on other web-based training in our State through other Resource Centers and additional MSDE approved trainers.

Visit https://www.marylandfamilynetwork.org/for-providers-training/statewide-training-calendar and click on "Google Sheet" link for a list of available training throughout Maryland.

Memberships to ESCCRC

We offer individual memberships. Membership is $30.00 and comes with a $30.00 credit to be used toward training. 

  • Call 410-543-6650 to join or renew now!
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Childcare Providers

providers

We Are Here For You!

Technical Assistance For Child Care Providers

Technical Assistance Coordinators

Contact us for help with:

  • Maryland EXCELS
  • CDA
  • Accreditation Support
  • Marketing your program
  • Room Arrangement
  • Classroom Management
  • Curriculum/Lesson Planning
  • Developing a Parent Handbook

Call 410-543-6650

What is Technical Assistance?

Technical Assistance refers to many different ways that we can help you when it comes to the day to day running of your child care program. We can come right to your location to offer direct observation, consultation, and discussion. We can provide feedback and help with your room arrangement, playground equipment, learning materials, and/or daily schedule to name a few things. Sometimes making a few small changes in one or more of those areas can help improve your environment and behavior in your child care setting in dramatic ways. We can even help with business management or staffing questions. Take advantage of this FREE service and call our office to schedule an appointment time that is convenient for you. There are many reasons that some coaching from a trained professional can help you improve your program or classroom. Sometimes we can give advice over the phone and/or send information via e-mail. Other situations may require more help or a visit at your site. Please talk to us about how we can help address the unique needs of your child care setting.

Some Helpful Links:

MARYLAND EXCELS

CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP

MARYLAND PROGRAM ACCREDITATION

CHILD CARE CAREER AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (CCCPDF)

If you have any questions please call ESCCRC at 410-543-6650.

Training

The ESCCRC is the training hub of the Eastern Shore. All training is approved by the Maryland State Department of Education, and all Trainers are professionals in their field. Training meets requirements by the Office of Child Care (OCC).

  • Pursue a specialty area
  • Prepare for your CDA
  • Move into a new position
  • Focus on Infant & Toddler, or School-age care

More Training Information

Professionalism

  • Moving up in the field is the goal of a professional. The ESCCRC Coaches can assist early childhood educators with EXCELS, the Maryland Credentialing Program, and Accreditation in both center- and home-based programs.
  • Working with colleagues to improve knowledge and teaching strategies, along with deciphering the intricacies of early childhood policies and other issues is a mark of professionalism. Join a Professional Learning Community to network with colleagues.

Coaching/Mentoring

  • Connect with a professional when looking for support. Early Childhood Coaches and Infant & Toddler Specialists can assist with classroom, curriculum, and general program questions. Contact the office at 410-543-6650 for assistance.
  • Are you opening a new child care program? Home- or center-based? Coaches can help you navigate the many steps required by the Office of Child Care, and local agencies.

Professional Learning Communities (PLC)

These are great networking opportunities. Connect with groups of like-minded professionals to learn from one another while delving into topics of interest. Get in touch with the ESCCRC if you are interested in a PLC.

  • Book Club, AKA Where the Wild Books Are
    • Read, review, and learn from discussion of books, and other media materials
  • Director’s Round Table
    • Exchange ideas, share experiences and manage current issues through conversations with other Directors.
  • Family Child Care Educators’ Round Table
    • Explore current trends, teaching strategies and professional opportunities while networking with other early childhood educators who care for children in a home-based environment.
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Families

families

Families Are Us!

Referral Services: Families looking for child care can call the office at 410-543-6650 for assistance. A staff member will assist you with referrals for a child care program that meets your needs.

Resource Navigation: Contact the ESCCRC if you need help identifying resources and navigating their application.

Parent Education: The ESCCRC facilitates parenting classes and can also connect parents with other organizations that do.

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Resources

resources

We Have What You Need!

Links to Useful Resources

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Become a Child Care Provider!

recruitment

Join Us!

Home-based Program

If you are interested in opening a child care program in your home, go to openchildcaretoday.com. There is a program that is designed to meet your individual needs to become a registered program. Fill out the short questionnaire, and someone from this office will contact you.

Find Out If You Are Qualified

To open a center-based child care program, please contact our office at 410-543-6650. A coach is ready to work with you to outline your plan and support you along the way toward licensure.

A Maryland State Department of Education Resource: Division of Early Childhood | Supporting Child Care and Early Learning

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About the Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center (ESCCRC)

The Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center (ESCCRC) is a Maryland grant funded agency that works with child care providers and other early educators, community organizations and families on the Shore to help promote the availability of quality child care services in Somerset, Worcester, Wicomico, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties. We are a member of the Maryland Child Care Resource Network, with funding provided by the Maryland State Department of Education through Maryland Family Network, and Salisbury University.

ESCCRC is under the direction of Dr. Chin-Hsiu Chen, Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education, Department of Early and Elementary Education, Seidel School of Education at Salisbury University and Leslie Sinclair serves as our Project Director.

ESCCRC helps early childhood professionals caring for infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school age children by providing high quality training, program resources, technical assistance and coaching. We work with families and providers on the shore regardless of income.

Hours of Operation M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

  • Hours of Operation are Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • You will be able to reach a staff member by calling 410-543-6650.
  • Please let us know if you have any questions. You can reach Jennifer Hogan, Registrar at esccrc@salisbury.edu or 410-543-6650.
  • Our TA Coordinators, Rosalie Merryweather (Lower Shore) rdmerryweather@salisbury.edu, Lynne Doeler (Upper Shore) lsdoeler@salsibury.edu and Andrea Clymire (Upper Shore) arclymire@salisbury.edu are available to assist you by phone or video conference.
  • Project Director, Leslie Sinclair, can be reached at lasinclair@salisbury.edu. You can also keep up with us on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Get the latest updates from MSDE for Child Care Providers and Parents regarding Maryland's Recovery Plan for Child Care. Go to: earlychildhood.marylandpublicschools.org.

The Maryland State Department of Education also has Frequently Asked Questions that may answer many of your questions!

Our Mission

The ESCCRC elevates the early childhood profession through cohesive professional learning opportunities, advocates for the highest quality learning environments for young children, and supports the unique needs of all families.

Privacy Policy: Salisbury University Privacy Policy

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What We Do

Our services include the following:

Infant and Toddler Program

The Infant/Toddler specialist is happy to assist any family or center program that focuses on providing developmentally appropriate and quality care for infants and children less than three years of age. Contact our Infant and Toddler Specialist for help with your infant and toddler program!

The Infant And Toddler Specialist can help you with:

  • Related trainings on site or at ESCCRC during the evenings, weekends or as needed

  • ITERS (Infant Toddler Environmental Rating Scale)

  • Information on the Social,Emotional development of infants and toddlers

  • Pamphlets, handouts and activity ideas for appropriate care of infants and toddlers

  • Parent Education

  • Services available in all 8 counties on the shore

Training

The Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center offers training opportunities* for child care providers, pre-school teachers, parents and anyone else interested in quality, up-to-date early-childhood/school age information.

  • Training opportunities are available several times per month.
  • Specialized training series are available such as the Infant/Toddler 45 hour preservice and Healthy Beginnings.
  • Our trainings are approved by the Office of Child Care. Certificates granted fulfill both licensing and Maryland Child Care Credential requirements. **
  • Training topics include a variety of interesting topics. All trainings are taught by early childhood educators or experts in a variety of fields key to the child care provider.
  • Trainings can be offered in all eight counties, although most take place in the ESCCRC training rooms at Salisbury University or at Eastern shore Higher Education Center in Wye Mills.
  • Trainings are offered at a low cost.
  • Trainings can be arranged on site.

More Information

Consideration will be made for training requests. Contact the Training Coordinator, Lynne Doeler for more information. lsdoeler@salisbury.edu

*You must register for most trainings that are offered.

**In order to receive credit, you must be present for the entire training.

Contact the Resource Center. Phone 410-543-6650 for more information.

Payment Options

Cash, Check (made out to Salisbury University), Visa or Mastercard
All payments need to be made at registration and prior to classes

Technical Assistance

The Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center provides technical assistance to current or prospective child care providers.

Services include but are not limited to:

  • Assistance with licensing compliance issues.
  • Assistance and support handling children’s typical behavior issues.
  • Room arrangement
  • Assistance to child care providers who have questions regarding providing services for special needs children.
  • Assistance and information on accreditation, Maryland Child Care Credential and Maryland EXCELS program.
  • Assistance and information on applying for available loans or grants for start up, expanding and/or improving the quality of child care.

Services are offered free of charge and can be offered through telephone consultation and/or on site visits.

Contact Rosalie Merryweather (Lower Shore) rdmerryweather@salisbury.edu, Lynne Doeler (Upper Shore) lsdoeler@salisbury.edu, Andrea Clymire (Upper Shore) arclymire@salisbury.edu call 410-543-6650 for more information.

Lending Library and Resource Room

The Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center offers a full lending library for child care providers with materials for infant, toddler, preschool and school-age programs. The Resource Room in Salisbury at the man office is open Monday-Friday 9-5.

Click here for our Resource Center Brochure!

  • Resource Library Books and Kits (children’s books, curriculum books, book kits, etc)-free lending for two weeks
  • Videos, CDs, and CD-ROMs
  • Parachute/Gross Motor Activities
  • Sand/Water Tables
  • Puppets
  • Construction paper
  • Bulletin board paper
  • Foam paper
  • Sponge paper
  • Poster board paper
  • Tempera Paints
  • Laminating machine
  • Binding machine
  • Button Maker
  • Magnet Maker
  • Accu-Cut die cut machine

LOCATE: Childcare

  • LOCATE: Child Care is a free resource and referral service available for parents seeking child care throughout Maryland.

  • Call 1-877-261-0060 Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

  • The LOCATE database includes family child care sites, center-based child care sites, nursery schools, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and Head Start programs, after-school care sites and summer programs.

  • Experienced Family Resource Specialists, trained in early-childhood development, will help parents define their child-care needs and evaluate their options.

The Maryland Family Network and LOCATE: Child Care are committed to assisting parents in finding quality child care.

PARENTS:

LINKS TO LOCATE: CHILD CARE AT THE MARYLAND FAMILY NETWORK:

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS:

TO UPDATE INFORMATION IN THE LOCATE: CHILD CARE DATABASE
  • Clink on the link to update your information online in the LOCATE: Child Care database
https://www.marylandfamilynetwork.org/for-providers/update-your-record
  • Click on the appropriate questionnaire for Family Providers or for Group Programs. This will bring you to the Login page. If you already have a username and password set up, you can enter them there. If you don't already have an account set up, you can do so there, too.
  • Keep your information current to get the best chance of referrals for parents looking for child care. Each time you update, you will be entered into a monthly drawing for an Amazon gift card!

Policy Statements:

Confidentiality Statement

LOCATE: Child Care is a free and confidential service available to any parent searching for regulated child care. The users' names and telephone numbers are collected for follow-up purposes only and are never shared with other individuals or organizations. 

Complaint Policies

File a Program Complaint

If you believe a particular child care program is in violation of State child care licensing laws or regulations, you may file an official complaint against that program. To file a complaint, contact the Regional Licensing Office covering the county where the program is located. 

MCCRN Complaint Policy

As the Statewide Coordinating Entity, MFN will investigate the complaint and act on it appropriately.

Newsletters: Child Care Chat

Current

Archive

Data Collection

Here is the 2025 Demographic Information from the MARYLAND FAMILY NETWORK.

Profiles (for the state and each jurisdiction) that include data on population, income, workforce participation, and child care.

For more information on the Eastern Shore data call 410-543-6650

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For more information on the Eastern Shore data call 410-543-6650

Maryland Child Care Resource Network Complaint Policy

Every member agency of the Maryland Child Care Resource Network strives to provide high quality service to the child care programs and families in their jurisdiction and throughout Maryland. It is our mission to ensure that every interaction with staff at the Child Care Resource Centers is positive and professional.

If you have concerns about an incident or some aspect of service at a Child Care Resource Center, please contact the director/manager directly. Contact information for these individuals can be found here .

If you are not satisfied with the way your concern is handled by the director/manager at the Child Care Resource Center, please contact Maryland Family Network at 410-659-7701 or email us . As the Statewide Coordinating Entity of the Maryland Child Care Resource Network, MFN will investigate the complaint or concern regarding services and take appropriate action.

The Maryland Child Care Resource Network, a program of Maryland Family Network, is a public/private partnership designed to expand and improve child care delivery in Maryland. Maryland Family Network manages the Network and operates as its Statewide Coordinating Entity and receives funding from the Maryland State Department of Education.

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Contact Us

Social Media

Our Staff

Location

The Eastern Shore Child Care Resource Center (ESCCRC)

  • Suite 500, East Campus Complex
    (Wayne and Power Streets)
    Salisbury University
    Salisbury, Maryland 21801
    Phone: 410-543-6650
    Fax: 410-543-6655

Wye Mills Office Information

  • Eastern Shore Higher Education Center
    1000 College Circle, Room # 104 B
    Wye Mills MD, 21679