Child Care plays a very crucial role in the child’s well-being. Since this is the child’s growing up years, his experiences has great impact in his development as a person. Hence, parents do everything they can in order to avail of the best Child Care facility that fits their child’s need and meets their budget. They need to find a place where to entrust their kids. Fortunately, the Virginia Department of Social Services has guided parents in choosing the type of Child Care that suits their needs.

But before we discuss on the different types of Child Care, parents should consider the following factors:

(source: Virginia Child Care Guide)

• Provider has training in child development and experience in the group care of children;

• Environment is safe, clean and designed to promote learning and growth;

• Provider is nurturing and encourages a variety of learning experiences that are age- and stage-appropriate;

• Health practices are implemented and nutritious meals and snacks are served;

• Program is responsive to the children’s and families’ needs;

• Program solicits family involvement.

Armed with the above guide, you may now follow the suggested steps to start your Child Care hunting journey:

• Check for the List of Child Care providers identified by Virginia Department of Social Services. To check the list, click this site: www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc.cgi.
• Based on the list, conduct environmental scanning on your initial choices. Call and visit the place to assess their facility.
• Evaluate/verify if the staff are trained to handle/facilitate the needs and activities of the children.
• If the first three steps are positively met, bring your child to the place as many times as possible and ask your child if he is comfortable with the place. Even ask the provider/facilitator to talk to your child to check if your child feels at peace with them. Otherwise, go back to step number 2 and try your other choices.

To narrow down your choice, let me give you the different types of Child Care (source – www.dss.virginia.gov/family/child_care.html):

Child Day Center

Child day centers are child day programs offered to (1) two or more children under the age of 13 years in a facility that is not the residence of the provider or of any of the children in care or (2) 13 or more children at any location. During the absence of a parent or guardian, the operator of the child day center has agreed to assume responsibility for the supervision, protection and well-being of children under the age of 13 years for less than a 24-hour period.

Family Day Home
Family day homes provide care for six to 12 children (exclusive of the provider’s own children and any children who reside in the home). The care may be offered for less than 24 hours in the home of the provider or in the home of any of the children in care.

Short-Term Child Day Center

Short-term child day centers are child day centers that operate for part of the year only.

Certified Pre-School
Certified preschools are those operated by private schools that are accredited by any statewide accrediting organization recognized by the Board of Education or a private school or preschool that offers to preschool-aged children a program accredited by organizations as listed in the Code and recognized by the Board of Education to be exempt from licensure. They must meet certain requirements specified in the Code of Virginia.

The information provided by Virginia Department of Social Services on the different types of Child Care only serves as the parents’ guide in their decision. At the end of the day, it all boils down to the child’s well-being and development without compromising his happiness and safety.

Starting a Child Care business entails a lot of hardwork, dedication, perseverance and above all professionalism. Like any other business venture, it requires a lot of preparation and documentation. Fortunately, the Virginia Department of Social Services has provided the Virginians the needed guidance in successfully opening up this type of business. To give you an idea, below are major points a Child Care provider should consider:

• Training Needs – Child Care providers need to show their capability through trainings they and their staff have attended. You need to immerse your staff into the Professional Child Care Training Programs and acquaint them with the needed Emergency Training Programs in cases where the kids encounter problems/hazards (refer to this link: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cc/professionals_resources.cgi).

• Financial Capability – You need to be financially liquid to be able to provide the needed structures/fixtures fit for the type of Child Care facility you will choose. Salaries and wages of your staff is also one of the prime considerations.

• Licensing – Application for Licensing is an important part of a Child Care business. Otherwise, you may end up folding before you could even start. For the application forms, you may refer to this link (http://www.dss.virginia.gov/form/index.cgi).

Below are some regulations to be considered for the different types of Child care facility:

Center-Based Child Day Center

Licensed programs must meet the standards promulgated by the State Board of Social Services. The Virginia Department of Social Services enforces these standards by inspecting centers at least twice a year and investigating complaints.

Religious Exempt Child Day Center

Child care centers operated by religious institutions may be exempt from licensure, per § 63.2-1716 of the Code of Virginia, if the religious institutions submit certain documents to the Virginia Department of Social Services prior to opening the child day center and then annually prior to the expiration date of their exemption.

The Virginia Department of Social Services, Division of Licensing, may send inspectors to these facilities only to confirm that they are in compliance with Code requirements and to investigate complaints.

Certified Preschools

Section 63.2-1717 of the Code of Virginia allows preschool programs operated by private schools that are accredited by a statewide accrediting organization (or another accrediting organization recognized by the Board of Education) to be exempt from licensure.

• Home-based Family Day Homes

The Code of Virginia mandates the licensure of family day homes that provide care for six to twelve children (exclusive of the provider’s own children and any children who reside in the home). The care may be offered in the home of the provider or in the home of any of the children in care.

Licensing standards, which are proposed by the State Board of Social Services and enforced by the Division of Licensing Programs, ensure that the activities, services, and facilities of the family day home are conducive to the welfare of the children in care.

For more clarification on these regulations, refer to this link: (http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/cc/index.cgi).

These are just the initial steps in order for a Child Care provider to start a Child Care business. The real challenge is in the actual handling of the business – where Child Care providers face actual scenarios/problems. As long as there is an open communication between the Child Care providers and the parents, no amount of challenges can break their commitment to provide the utmost care the child needs. At the end of the day, the reward for these type of business is in seeing the children develop their potential with a smile in their faces and a thumbs up from the grateful parents.

There are a number of different child care groups that can be found in Kansas. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment have established may laws and regulations on licensing that is required to perform certain services. The first law to be passed in Kansas was in the year 1919. This license requirement was established to maintain safe and effective environments for children in the childcare setting. The number and type of licenses today require greatly on the number of children in the facility. All facilities no matter what type are required to hold a license of some kind no matter what.

The different types of child care in the state of Kansas today include:

• Licensed day care homes: These centers can have a maximum amount of 10 children who are under the age of 16. This type of center must obtain a license for the home. The person holding the license must be over the age of 18 and complete training in CPR, First Aid and child care training. A criminal history and inspection is required to obtain the license as well.

• Group day care homes: This type of center can have a total of 12 children under the age of 16. This type of center must obtain a license for the home. The person holding the license must be over the age of 18 and complete training in CPR, First Aid and child care training. A criminal history and inspection is required to obtain the license as well. The facility must also be approved for fire safety through the Fire Department.

• Child care centers: This type of center can have 13 or more children from ages two weeks to age 13. They provide education as well as childcare. They can have childcare services for a child for 3 to 24 hours at a time. This type of center must obtain a license for the center. The person holding the license must be over the age of 18. All employees in the establishment must undergo training for recognition of illness, neglect and child abuse and complete training in CPR, First Aid and child care training. A criminal history is required for all employees and inspection of the building is required to obtain the license as well. The facility must also be approved for fire safety through the Fire Department.

• Preschools: This type of facility must have a director employed who has undergone qualified training such as a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. They provide care for up to 13 children and cares for children from 30 months to 6^th grade. This type of facility has all the requirements as child care centers pertaining to the license and employees.

• Head start centers: Head start programs have the same requirements as a preschools and care for children from 2 weeks to age 16.

• School age programs: These types of facilities also require the same as the preschool and offer services to all school age children.

Obtaining a license

There are a number of steps one must go through to obtain a license for a childcare service of any kind. All forms require a license. The cost and procedures are determined on the type of facility that is to be established. Training can be done at any university or college. The training required for CPR and first aid can be obtained through the hospital and most college institutions as well. Prospective owners can go to http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/ to apply for a license and to download a checklist of requirements needed. Owners can also go to http://www.dccda.org/regs.shtml on ratio requirements for child care establishments.

How to Find Childcare Facilities License Information

Parents can go to http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/ and click on “Search for Child Care Facility Compliance Information” to find out about licenses and obligation that has been obtained for their local child care facilities including inspection scoring. All child care facilities in the state of Kansas must be regulated and licensed. Serious charges can be resulted for noncompliance including jail time.