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

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.legis.state.ga.us/Departments/DHR

Child Care Resource and Referral of Metro Atlanta (formerly Child Care Solutions). Telephone referral service operated Mondays-Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (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.

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.

YMCA of Metro Atlanta. 404-588-9622 (YMCA Atlanta corporate office). Locations:

• Alpharetta: 770-664-1220

• Ashford-Dunwoody: 770-451-9622

• Buckhead: 404-350-9292

• Cherokee County: 770-591-5820

• Covington: 770-787-3908

• Decatur: 404-377-0241

• Downtown Atlanta: 404-724-9622

• Fayette County: 770-719-9622

• Gwinnett County: 770-963-1313

• Lithonia: 770-484-1625

• Peachtree Corners: 770-246-9622

• South DeKalb: 770-987-3500

• East Lake: 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.legis.state.ga.us

/Departments/DHR/

Atlanta Regional Commission. Operates a telephone service called Aging Connection, available in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Henry, Gwinnett and Rockdale counties. Aging Connection offers consultation, need assessment, information and referral services to a wide range of aging programs and services. 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. 770-528-5364

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

Kennesaw Senior Center. 2753 Watts Drive, Kennesaw. 770-528-5353

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

DeKalb /Atlanta Senior Center. 25 Warren St., Decatur. 770-455-7602

Lithonia Senior Center. 2484 Bruce St., Lithonia. 770-455-7602

North DeKalb Senior Center. 2248 Johnson Ferry Road. 770-455-7602

South DeKalb Senior Center. 1931 Candler Road, Decatur. 770-455-7602

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 St., Cumming. 770-781-2178

FULTON COUNTY

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

Auburn Neighborhood Senior Center. 300 Auburn 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 St. S.E., Atlanta. 404-577-6017

HJC 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. 2322 Pate St., Snellville. 770-985-3580

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