- Do I have to be licensed to care for children in my home?
- Is there a limit on how many children I can take in?
- Are my children counted in the number of children allowed in my home?
- As a home day care provider, can I have pets in my home?
- What are the different types of day care licensing?
- Do I need any kind of special inspections, i.e., fire or home inspections?
- Do you charge for licensing?
- How long does it take to get a license?
- What are the licensing procedures?
- What are the requirements for providing day care?
- Do I have to notify your department every time a child comes or leaves my care?
- Is there a limit on how much I can charge per child?
- Who is responsible for placing the children in my home?
- Does DCYF provide referrals for people who need day care?
- Is there any training available for day care license providers?
- Where can I get more information?
- Who do I call if I have a complaint about a day care provider?
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1. Do I have to be licensed to care for children in my home?
If you are going to care for more than three (3) children who are unrelated to you either as children or grandchildren, you are required to contact the department and obtain a license.
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2. Is there a limit on how many children I can take in?
Yes. If you are certified as a Day Care Home Provider, the maximum number of children you are allowed to care for is 8 with an assistant; if you are caring for the children alone, the maximum number of children is 6. If you are licensed as a Group Day Care Home Provider, the maximum number of children is 12 with at least one assistant. You can not be licensed as a Group Day Care Home Provider without an assistant.
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3. Are my children counted in the number of children allowed in my home?
Yes, your children under the age of six years are counted and if you have more than two children between six and twelve years, those children would also be counted.
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4. As a home day care provider, can I have pets in my home?
Yes, as long as they are kept in a safe, sanitary manner and be up to date on rabies vaccinations, if applicable.
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5. What are the different types of day care licensing?
There are a number of different license categories:
- Day Care Homes - Certification for two years
Maximum number of children = 8; - Group Family Day Care Homes - Licensed for one year
Maximum number of children = 12; - Day Care Centers - Licensed for one year.
Regulations will vary depending on the type of license and type of service (i.e., infant, toddler, pre-school or school-age) provided for each.
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6. Do I need any kind of special inspections, i.e., fire or home inspections?
Yes. When you apply for home day care certification or a group day care home license, we will be requesting a fire inspection of your home. You will have to arrange to have your home inspected for radon. A social worker from the day care licensing unit will also be coming out to your home to make sure that it is in compliance with the regulations.
If you are applying for a day care center license, the social worker will inform you as to what inspections are required.
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7. Do you charge for licensing?
Please read the memo from the Licensing Division regarding applications fees.
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8. How long does it take to get a license?
Day Care Homes generally take two to three months to go through the certification/licensing process; Day Care Centers may take a longer time, depending on the status of their building and staff.
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9. What are the licensing procedures?
Day Care Home: You must attend a 3 hour orientation in order to receive the application materials. When your completed application is received, we will send for screenings through the Attorney General’s Office, Division of Criminal Identification, and the Child Abuse and Neglect Division of DCYF. We also will send for a fire inspection of your home. After we receive clearance from the screenings and approval from the fire inspector, you will be assigned to a social worker for a home visit. During the home visit the social worker will review the regulations to make sure that you are in compliance and will then make a recommendation for certification or licensing.
Day Care Center: After reviewing the regulations and locating an appropriate building or site, you will be assigned to a social worker who will review plans for new construction or renovations to an existing building and will work closely with you throughout the licensing process. An application for a license is filed when the building has been brought into compliance with all the applicable codes. Upon receipt of a complete application which includes information on staff and program, as well as inspection approvals on the building, the social worker will make a site visit to determine compliance before the license is issued.
NOTE: Please read the memo from the Licensing Division regarding fees for applications.
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10. What are the requirements for providing day care?
Day Care Home:
- You must be at least 18 years of age and have education or experience in the care of young children.
- You must be in good physical and mental health and be able to care for children.
- You must live in the home where the day care is to be provided.
- You must own the home where the day care is to be provided or obtain written permission from your landlord to provide day care in the home that you are renting.
- You must be fingerprinted by the State Police or your local police for a nationwide FBI criminal records check.
- You must participate in at least 10 hours of training every 2 years.
- You must operate your day care in compliance with the Family Day Care Home Regulations For Certification.
Group Family Day Care Homes
- You must be at least 21 years of age and meet one of the education/experience criteria listed in the Standards For Licensure.
- You must have at least one assistant who is at least 18 years of age.
- You and your assistant(s) must be in good physical and mental health and be able to care for children.
- You must live in the home where the day care is to be provided.
- You must own the home where the day care is to be provided or obtain written permission from your landlord to provide day care in the home that you are renting.
- You must obtain zoning approval from the city or town where your home is located.
- You and your assistant(s) must be fingerprinted by the State Police or your local police for a nationwide FBI criminal records check.
- You and your assistant(s) must participate in at least 8 hours of training every year.
- You must be certified in First Aid and CPR.
- You must operate your day care in compliance with the Family Group Day Care Home Standards For Licensure.
Day Care Center:
- There must be a Director and a Head Teacher or Site Coordinator who meet the qualifications stated in the Regulations For Licensure.
- There must be at least 2 staff on site at all times.
- Staff must be at least 18 years of age and meet the stated qualifications for their position.
- Staff must be fingerprinted by the State Police or local police for a nationwide FBI criminal records check.
- Staff must participate in at least 20 hours of training every year.
- There must be at least one staff person certified in First Aid and CPR working in the center at all times.
- The building must be in compliance with the Child Day Care Center Regulations For Licensure, with local zoning ordinances, and with the applicable sections of the State Building, Fire, Health and Sanitation Codes.
- The center must operate in compliance with the Child Day Care Center Regulations For Licensure.
*For a copy of the Regulations For Certification or Licensure, please call (401) 528-3624 or (401) 528-3621.
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11. Do I have to notify your department every time a child comes or leaves my care?
No. You just need to stay within the guidelines allowed by your certification or license.
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12. Is there a limit on how much I can charge per child?
No. The Department does not regulate the cost of care. However, if you are caring for a child who is being paid for by a state agency, you must accept the rate the agency provides.
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13. Who is responsible for placing the children in my home?
The children you are providing day care services for can be referred by
family, friends, relatives, neighbors or word-of-mouth. The DCYF is
licensing or certifying you to provide day care as a business and it is
your responsibility to obtain clientele.
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14. Does DCYF provide referrals for people who need day care?
No, but you can call BrightStars which is a state-wide resource and
referral service at (401) 398-7605 or toll-free 1-855-398-7605.
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15. Is there any training available for certified/licensed day care providers?
Yes. There are many training opportunities for day care providers. For
more information on available training, you may contact Ready 2 Learn Providence,
Rhode Island professional development and training agency at (401)490-9960
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16. Where can I get more information?
Contact the Day Care Licensing Unit by either writing us at:
Day Care Licensing Unit
DCYF
101 Friendship Street
Providence, RI 02903
or call us at 401-528-3624. We would be happy to provide you with more information.
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17. Who do I call if I have a complaint about a day care provider?
If the complaint involves child abuse or neglect, you must call the child abuse hotline at 1-800-RICHILD. If the complaint is about licensing issues, you may call the Day Care Licensing Unit at (401) 528-3624 or (401) 528-3621.
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