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 6th 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.