CHILD CARE

Finding quality child care is one of the biggest challenges parents can face. Here are some resources in metro Atlanta:

REFERRALS

Georgia Department of Human Resources. This state office licenses and regulates child care facilities and day care providers. Office of Regulatory Services, Child Care Licensing Section, 2 Peachtree St. N.W., Suite 32-458, Atlanta 30303-3142. 404-657-5562, fax: 404-657-8936, www.dhr.georgia.gov

Child Care Resource and Referral of Metro Atlanta (formerly Child Care Solutions). Telephone referral service operated from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays (private nonprofit referral service). 50 Executive Park South, Suite 5015, Atlanta 30309. 404-479-4240; fax: 404-479-4166, www.qualitycareforchildren.org

United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Provides information and referral by telephone for child care services throughout the metro area. Main office: 100 Edgewood Ave. N.E., Atlanta 30303. Dial 211 or 404-614-1000, www.unitedwayatl.org

CHILD CARE PROVIDERS WITH MULTIPLE LOCATIONS:

Children's World Learning Centers. www.childrensworld.com

Discovery Point. www.discoverypoint.com

Kids R Kids Learning Centers. 770-279-7777, www.kidsrkids.com

KinderCare. www.kindercare.com

LaPetite Academy. www.lapetite.com

Sheltering Arms Child Development and Family Support. 404-523-2767, www.shelteringarmsforkids.com

YMCA of Metro Atlanta. 404-588-9622 (YMCA Atlanta corporate office), www.ymcaatlanta.org

Locations:

Alpharetta. 770-664-1220.

Ashford-Dunwoody. 770-451-9622.

Bransley Outdoor YMCA (Summer Camp). 770-484-9622.

Buckhead. 404-350-9292.

YMCA Camp High Harbour (Summer Camp in Clayton Georgia). 770-532-2267.

Centennial Place (downtown). 404-724-9622.

Cherokee County. 770-591-5820.

Covington. 770-787-3908.

Decatur. 404-377-0241.

Fayette County. 770-719-9622.

Gwinnett County. 770-963-1313.

Lithonia. 770-484-1625.

Peachtree Corners. 770-246-9622.

South DeKalb. 770-987-3500.

South DeKalb YMCA Child Care Academy. 770-987-4666.

Southeast. 404-373-6561.

Southwest. 404-753-4169.

SENIOR SERVICES

Several organizations offer senior services and care. Among them:

REFERRALS

Georgia Department of Human Resources. This state office regulates long-term care facilities. Division of Aging Services, 2 Peachtree St. N.W., Suite 9-385, Atlanta 30303. 404-657-5258, fax: 404-657-5285, www.dhr.georgia.gov

Atlanta Regional Commission. Operates a telephone service called Aging Connection, available in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties. Aging Connection offers consultation, need assessment, information and referral services to a wide range of aging programs and services. www.agingatlanta.com

For information:

Cherokee. 770-345-5312.

Clayton. 770-603-4050.

Cobb. 770-528-5364.

DeKalb. 770-455-7602.

Douglas. 770-489-3100.

Fayette. 770-461-0813.

Fulton. 404-730-6000.

Gwinnett. 770-822-8850.

Henry. 770-898-7670.

Rockdale. 770-922-4633.

Regionwide. 404-463-3333.

SENIOR CENTERS

CHEROKEE COUNTY

Cherokee County Senior Services and Senior Center. 1001 Univeter Road, Canton. 770-345-5312.

CLAYTON COUNTY

Shelnutt Senior Center. 849 N. Battle Creek Road, Jonesboro. 770-473-5788.

Clayton County Senior Center. 6213 Riverdale Road, Riverdale. 678-479-5505.

COBB COUNTY

Austell Senior Center. 5580 Austell-Powder Springs Road, Austell. 770-819-3200.

East Cobb Senior Center. 3332 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta. 770-509-4900.

C. Freeman Poole Community/Senior Center. 4025 S. Hurt Road, Smyrna. 770-801-3400.

North Cobb Senior Center. 4100 Ga. 293, Acworth. 770-975-7740.

Marietta Senior Center. 32 N. Fairground St., Marietta. 770-528-2515.

Smyrna Senior Center. 884 Church St., Smyrna. 770-801-5345.

West Cobb Senior Center. 4915 Dallas Highway, Powder Springs. 770-528-8200.

Windy Hill Senior Center. 1885 Roswell St., Smyrna. 770-801-5320.

COWETA COUNTY

Tommy Thompson Senior Center. 29 Hospital Road, Newnan. 770-683-8600.

Senoia Senior/Community Center. 300 Howard Road, Senoia. 770-254-3740.

Sargent Senior Center. 2285 W. Ga. 16, Sargent. 770-254-3750.

DEKALB COUNTY

New participants call 770-455-7602 to register with DeKalb Senior Connections.

DeKalb /Atlanta Senior Center. 25 Warren St., Decatur. 404-370-4090

Lithonia Senior Center. 2484 Bruce St., Lithonia. 770-482-0402.

North DeKalb Senior Center. 2248 Johnson Ferry Road. 770-451-6382.

Scottdale Senior Center. 3262 Chapel Road, Scottdale. 404-501-0704.

South DeKalb Senior Center. 1931 Candler Road, Decatur. 404-284-4865.

FAYETTE COUNTY

Fayette Senior Services and Senior Center. 390 Lee St., Fayetteville. 770-461-0813.

The Gathering Place. 203 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City. 770-631-2553.

FORSYTH COUNTY

Forsyth Senior Center. 595 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming. 770-781-2178.

FULTON COUNTY

Alpharetta Neighborhood Senior Center. 13450 Cogburn Road, Alpharetta. 678-297-6140.

Auburn Neighborhood Senior Center. 300 Edgewood Ave., Atlanta. 404-224-3140.

Dorothy Benson Multipurpose/Senior Center. 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Sandy Springs. 404-705-4900.

Bethlehem Neighborhood Senior Center. 87 Thayer Ave. S.E., Atlanta. 404-577-6017.

H.J.C. Bowden Senior Center. 2885 Church St., East Point. 404-762-4821.

Camp Truitt Neighborhood Senior Center. 4320 Herschel Road, College Park. 404-762-4802.

Cosby Neighborhood Senior Center. 355 North Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-876-4031.

Crabapple Senior Center. 12624 Broadwell Road, Alpharetta. 770-751-9397.

Harriett G. Darnell Senior Center. 677 Fairburn Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-699-8580.

Dogwood Neighborhood Senior Center. 1953 Bankhead Highway, Atlanta. 404-792-4964.

Fairburn Neighborhood Senior Center. 109 Milo Fisher St., Fairburn. 770-306-1555.

New Horizons Neighborhood Center. 745 Orr St. N.W., Atlanta. 404-730-7100.

Northside Shepherd Neighborhood Senior Center. 425 10th St., Atlanta. 404-875-0509.

Palmetto Neighborhood Senior Center. 510 Turner Ave., Palmetto. 770-463-4990.

Roswell Neighborhood Senior Center. 1250 Warsaw Road, Roswell. 770-993-1906.

Sandy Springs Neighborhood Senior Center. 6500 Vernon Woods Drive, Atlanta. 404-705-4901.

GWINNETT

Senior Center at Rhodes Jordan Park. 225 Benson St., Lawrenceville. 770-822-5180.

Senior Center at Buford Human Services Center. 2755 Sawnee Ave., Buford. 770-614-2550.

Senior Center at Norcross Human Services Center. 5030 Georgia Belle Court, Norcross. 770-638-5680.

Gwinnett Senior Center. 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. 770-564-4680.

Grayson Senior Center. 485 Grayson Parkway, Grayson. 770-963-8017.

Wayne Odum Senior Center. 2412 Pate St., Snellville. 770-985-3580.

SENIOR ADULT CLUBS|

Sponsored by Gwinnett Parks & Recreation for all senior adults. There is no membership fee for these clubs, which meet monthly for fellowship and covered dish lunches.

Dacula Rainbow Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Dacula Park. 770-614-2060.

Good Age Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Good Age Building in Jones Bridge Park, Norcross. 770-417-2200.

Lawrenceville Funtime Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the first Friday of the month at the Gwinnett Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. 770-564-4680.

Suwanee Goodtimers Club meets at 11 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month at George Pierce Park. 770-614-2060.

Get Up and Go Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Community Center in Rhodes Jordan Park, Lawrenceville. 770-237-5626.

Bogan Gold Wings Club meets at 11 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month at Bogan Park near Buford. 770-614-2060.

Best Friend Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Singleton Road Activity Building, Norcross. 770-417-2200.

Mountain Drifters Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Mountain Park Depot. 770-237-5626.

Evergreen Club meets at 11:30 a.m. the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Mountain Park Depot. 770-237-5626.

HENRY

Heritage Senior Center. 1050 Florence McGarity Blvd., McDonough. 770-954-2037.

Hidden Valley Senior Center. 600 Spraggins Memorial Parkway, Stockbridge. 770-389-7840.

ROCKDALE