Childcare Licensing
From LoveToKnow Baby
Child Care licensing basics are important to understand for both the provider and the customer. Each individual state has legal licensing procedures and regulations, which are managed by a governmental childcare division. For your own states’ requirements contact this division directly or check the National Resource Center’s website which lists each state’s detailed licensing processes. Most communities also have local childcare resource and referral agencies; a quick check with your neighborhood phone book or through the county government office will provide you with contact information.
Child Care Licensing Regulations
The child Care licensing regulations are significant for parents to identify the expectations for their own childcare service and verify that a center is legal. Certain states have stricter regulations than others, which provide families a guideline for how the states requirements may or may not match their own. For childcare providers, the licensing standards are a necessity to determine the law and personal liability. If considering starting a childcare center, whether a large facility or home based, it is important to know your specific state’s regulations.
Accreditation Programs
Beyond just the states’ requirements, an accreditation program can take the governments basic necessities to a higher level. Child care centers that participate in these programs provide a much higher quality of care, but the accreditation procedures are time consuming and costly. Therefore, many excellent child care centers are available that are not accredited. If you are interested in becoming accredited or looking for a superior program, two outstanding agencies are the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association for Family Child Care. When a childcare center voluntarily seeks accreditation it is an indicator that the program is interested in maintaining a standard of excellence. Parents who succeed in finding such programs should consider themselves fortunate.
In general, all 50 state’s licensing requirements set standards for the following basic classifications. For providers and parents, review your own standards and confirm with your state’s to see how they correspond. Childcare providers will need to conform to the basic principles and the majority will also desire to rise above them. Parents should outline their values in the following areas and compare them to their local regulations and the individual standards of the child care services in the region.
Disease and Illness Standards – Setting basic health guidelines for when children are sick and reporting certain illnesses to local health authorities, including vaccinations and medications procedures.
Transportation Guidelines – Particularly important for out of school care when the day care facility transports kids to and from school and for programs that take field trips.
Activity Strategies – Appropriate learning and play activities for the different age groups at the childcare facility.
Basic Safety Requirements - For both indoor and outdoor areas including such restrictions as lead paint to keeping small parts away from babies is relevant.
Securities – Of particular importance is the identification of guardians and drop off and pick up procedures.
Food Service Standards – Everything from the preparation of food to nutrition guidelines.
Adult to Child Ratios – Usually varies by age range of group, more adults are expected per child for the younger ages.
Record Keeping – Including financial, legal and privacy issues.
Staff Training – Anything from education to first aide to background checks.
Potty and Diapering Standards – Of particular interest is the location of bathroom and changing areas, plus sanitary standards.
Grievance Procedures – Includes both client and business, anything from child abuse issues to state legal sanctions for breaking the rules.
Take the time to review your states requirements before you start your search toward providing or finding childcare. Be sure the care service meets or exceeds the legal standards set for the area and your own personal approach to childcare.
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