Licensed Family Child Care

Specifications and Qualifications

 

LICENSE SPECIFICATIONS

There are four types of home child care capacities; each allows for the care of different numbers of ages of children:

Infant/Toddler Home (maximum four children, ages 0-3 years)

Large Child Care Home (maximum 12 children, age 2 years and older, care may be provided to no more than 2 children under 2 if older siblings are in care)

Experienced Family Child Care Provider (capacity and ages of children vary with each provider)

Standard Child Care Home License (maximum 6 children, with no more than 2 under age 2, plus two children before/ after school)

 

The Standard Family Child Care Home license is the most common in Northeast Colorado.  With this type of license…

 

· one adult (age 18 or over) may care for a maximum of 6 children, including the providers own children under the age of 12.

· only 2 of those 6 children may be under the age of 2 years.the child care provider may also care for 2 school-age children before and after school only (this includes   kindergartners and children over age 6.)

· may be approved to care for 3 children under the age of 2 years with no more than 2 under 12 months.

 

The easiest way to be sure that your child’s

caregiver is in compliance with the regulations

is to read his/her license!!

 

The family child care home license should:

 

· state who the licensees are,

· show the licensed address (if the address is wrong the license is invalid,) and

· show numbers and ages of children who may be cared for (if  the number and ages of children in care differ from those stated on the license, the provider is out of compliance with the state regulations).

 

Although a child care home license is considered permanent, the child care provider must submit paperwork to the State every year to keep the license current. A state Licensing Specialist         conducts periodic visits at each licensed child care home. However, safety features which pass the licensing inspection could change between visits; therefore, even in a legally licensed home, it is important  for parents to “inspect” the home for safety.  Information on what parents should look for is  available through Northeast Colorado and Resource and Referral.

 

QUALIFICATIONS FOR A

CHILD CARE HOME LICENSE

 

· All persons living in the home must have a signed medical statement of good health for the six months preceding the application for license.

· the provider must hold a current certificate in Community First Aid and CPR.

· Prior to licensing, the provider must successfully complete an approved medication administration course.

· The provider must take 12 clock hours of training in child development, guidance, business management, and other topics prior to or within 3 months of licensing; he/she must take an additional 15 clock hours of training every year in order to maintain his/her license.

· Training in universal precautions must be taken by provider prior to or within 6 months of licensing and renewed every 3 years.

· No one who has been convicted of incest, child abuse, kidnapping children, unlawful sexual behavior or murder may hold a license to provide child care. Other felony convictions may also prohibit a person from being licensed depending on how recent the crime and on the  judgment of the Colorado Division of Child Care Services.

· All people 18 years of age or older in the home must submit to a Colorado Bureau of Investigation criminal background check.If the person has lived in Colorado for less than two years, an FBI background check is done as well. 

 

Please call your local child care resource and referral if you have any questions concerning the Colorado Division of Child Care Rules and Regulations for Family Child Care Homes.