HOW DO I START MY FAMILY CHILD CARE? WHERE DO I BEGIN?

STEP 3
Call DCF (Department of children and Families) at (407) 245-0470. Ask for a registered/ licensed packet. This will include a fingerprint card for everyone in the household who is 18 years or older, and a delinquency check form for all household member ages 12 years through 17 years. All this paperwork MUST be returned to DCF. Process will take about 3-4 months.

STEP 4
Attend all the sessions for your thirty-hour class. Your certificate for attending the class will arrive at your home about 5 weeks after you have completed/finish the class. Make a copy of this certificate and give this copy to DCF.

STEP 5
If you are going to be a licensed Family Child Care, you need to call DCF for the 1st licensing visit. The 2nd visit from DCF will be with in the year, and will be unscheduled/ unannounced.

STEP 6
If you wish to be on the Information and Referral list for your area, you MUST bring in the registration letter or licensing certificate (from DCF) to 4C, and fill out a NACCAWARE information form. A copy of the letter/certificate will be made, and the information will be entered into the referral database. 4C DOES NOT SEND YOU CHILDREN. If a parent requests a list of providers in your area, and you meet the request of the parent’s wishes, your name will be on the list given to the parent. Please keep in mind that parents often start a the top of the list and work their way down…and just as often they do not make it to the bottom of the list.

STEP 7
Remember your registration letter or licensing certificate is good for one (1) year, and then you must renew it. The fingerprint checks are good for 5 years as long as you don’t leave the business for more then 90 days. Check the expiration date on your CPR card (usually one or two years depending on whom you took it from) and first aid is usually good for three (3) years).

OTHER NOTES
Substitutes

>	Required to take Infant/Child CPR and First Aid training.
>	If substituting less than 40 hours per month.
>	Required to take 3 hour Family Child Care class.
>	Cost is $30.00.
>	If substituting 40 hours or more per month.
>	Required to take 30 Hour State Mandated Family Child Care Training Module. Cost is $65.00.

Informal Caregiver

>	Cares for child(ren) of only one family other than their own.
>	Takes 3 hour Family Child Care class.
>	If caring for School Readiness Funded children, reimbursement is typically half of the amount paid to a registered or licensed caregiver.

Registered Family Child Care Home
> Cares for children from more than one other unrelated family.
> Required to have a substitute.
> Required to take the 30 hour class.

Licensed Family Child Care

>	Cares for children from more than one other unrelated family.
>	Required to have a substitute.
>	Required to take the 30 hour class.
>	Required to take Infant/Child CPR and First Aid training.
>	Agrees to two (2) health and safety inspections by the Department of Children and Families. First one is scheduled and second one in will be unscheduled/unannounced.

Benefits of being licensed:
› More marketable with clients.
› Qualify for the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
› Usually pay less for Family Child Care insurance than registered homes.


Above information was developed and provided by Community Coordinated Care for Children.