FAQs about Licensing for Child Care Providers

What is licensing? 

The core mission of the Child Care Licensing Program is to ensure the health and safety of children in care. The Child Care Licensing Program strives to provide preventive, protective, and quality services to children in care by ensuring that licensed facilities meet established health and safety standards through monitoring facilities, providing technical assistance, and establishing partnerships with providers, parents, and the child care community. 

The Child Care Licensing Program provides oversight and enforcement for licensed Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Homes throughout the state. All children and families, regardless of age, ethnicity, cultural background, gender, socioeconomic status, or ability, are afforded the same protections under law and regulations for child care facilities. 

 

What is a Facility Number? 

  • A unique set of numbers, some containing nine numbers or less, that is assigned each child care program after it is shown that they have taken all necessary paperwork and education to ensure that they have the skill set and knowledge base to own and operate a child care program. 
  • With this number you are able to verify they that a program is a licensed child care program through the State, trace any citations or information that licensing has on record of their visits to ensure they are meeting licensing guidelines. 

Note

If the license number begins with LE[XX], that program is a license-exempt care provider.

 

What is a Citation:  

  • Documentation that tells the child care provider, currently enrolled families and prospective families that a visit by an employee of the Community Care Licensing Division was done and they have witnessed that certain guidelines were not followed. 
  • Type A:This is the most serious type of violation that means there is an immediate risk to the health, safety or personal rights of those in care. Examples: lack of supervision, lack of fire clearance and access to dangerous chemicals. These citations will ALWAYS be issued even though the violation is fixed immediately.  
  • Type B:This violation is, if not corrected right away, may be a risk to the health, safety, and personal rights of the children in care. Examples: Inaccurate medical records and lack of staff.  

Facility Evaluation Report:  

  • A licensing program analyst comes to the program, whether announced or unannounced, to do an inspection of the premises and ensure they are following state regulations.

License Status:  

  • Pending:The facility is not yet licensed, but an application has been sent in and it currently in the process of licensure.  
  • Licensed:This facility has been licensed by the state.  
  • Revocation Action Pending:The state has filed legal action to revoke the facility’s license. Although, the facility may still remain open during this time. The judge will decide whether it is appealed which would mean that the license will be revoked, probation, or it may also be dismissed.  
  • License Suspended:Facility has been closed due to an imminent risk of harm. The facility will remain closed until a judge has decided otherwise.  
  • Probation:During this time, a facility must meet specific terms and conditions from the judge in order to avoid getting the license revoked. If facility follows, the probation status may be lifted.  

Complaints:  

A licensing program analyst completes an official complaint investigation report to document any allegations the facility receives. This report includes: date of complaint received, findings and outcomes of the investigation. 

Was this article helpful?
0 out of 1 found this helpful