 |
| |
Delaware Child Care
Licensing Information
If you are interested in starting your own Delaware child care business, then you will want to be aware of the following information. Since 1950, the state of Delaware has required child care facilities to be licensed.
The Office of Child Care Licensing, under the Delaware Services for Children, Youth and Their Families Department, is responsible for licensing Family Child Care Homes, Large Family Child Care Homes, Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Child Placing Agencies, Residential Delaware Child Care Facilities and Day Treatment Programs for children and youth.
Family Child Care Homes provide care, education, protection, supervision and guidance in private homes on a regular basis for one (1) to (6) six children, not including the exclusive care of relatives. Service is provided for part of the 24 hour day, unattended by parent or guardian, and for compensation.
The caregiver of a family child care home is subject to inspections by the Department to ensure compliance with standards and regulations and must provide access to any documents or records in connection with the child care business. There is no fee for the Delaware child care license and is effective for one year after the date of issue.
To obtain a license, an application must be completed and returned to the Department at a required 6 hour orientation/training. At the completion of the 6 hour orientation/training session, the applicant shall sign a statement which certifies compliance with the law and requirements. A license will be issued once the application has been reviewed and compliance with Delaware Child Care Requirements has been determined.
An applicant will be required to obtain certification in pediatric first aid including rescue breathing and first aid for choking before a license can be issued. If an applicant is denied, a letter will be sent notifying the applicant with an explanation about the denial. A denied applicant may appeal the decision.
The Caregiver of a Family Delaware Child Care Home must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and able to understand and carry out the Requirements for Family Child Care Homes. The Caregiver must also be physically and emotionally capable of performing activities related to providing child care including meeting children’s physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs. The Caregiver should have an understanding of children and how to relate to them, their family, and their culture with courtesy, respect, patience, and affection.
The Caregiver must participate in at least fifteen (15) hours of Department approved training which will assist the caregiver in beginning the Family Delaware Child Care Home operation. The training shall include nine (9) hours of child development, appropriate caregiving and guidance of children's behavior and six (6) hours of infection control, business practices, nutrition, health and safety.
During each subsequent year of licensure, a Caregiver shall participate in at least twelve (12) hours of Department approved training. Training shall include topics that will increase the provider's skill in working with children and their families and successfully operating the family child care home such as child development, curriculum development, serving children with special needs, working with children and their families, health and safety, nutrition, infection control and business practices.
The number of children in care in a Family Child Care Home shall not exceed six (6), including preschool age or younger children who are living in the home, as provided on the Family Child Care License. The age distributions and the addition of part-time school-aged children shall be determined by the extent of the Caregiver's training and experience in child care. There are two types of licenses: Level I and Level II. To read about the differences between the two types of Delaware child care licenses, go to the
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing Website.
Another type of Delaware child care can be provided in Large Family Child Care Homes. Large Family Child Care Homes provide care, education, protection, supervision and guidance for seven (7) to twelve (12) children, including preschool children who are related to the owner and/or caregivers excluding care provided by relatives. Service is provided for part of the 24 hour day, unattended by parent or guardian, and for compensation. The application process is the same for Large Family Child Care Homes as it is for Family Child Care Homes.
A Caregiver of a Large Family Child Care Home must be at least 21 years of age and able to understand and carry out the Requirements for Family Child Care Homes. The Caregiver must also be physically and emotionally capable of performing activities related to providing child care including meeting children’s physical, intellectual, social, and emotional needs. The Caregiver should have an understanding of children and how to relate to them, their family, and their culture with courtesy, respect, patience, and affection.
The Caregiver must participate in at least fifteen (15) hours of Department approved training which will assist the caregiver in beginning the Family Child Care Home operation. The training shall include nine (9) hours of child development, appropriate caregiving and guidance of children's behavior and six (6) hours of infection control, business practices, nutrition, health and safety. A Caregiver shall participate in at least fifteen (15) hours of Department approved training annually. Training shall include topics such as: child development, appropriate caregiving and guidance of children's behavior, health, safety and infection control and business practices.
There are 2 types of licenses for LFCCH: Type I and Type II. To read more about the requirements and standards for these licenses as well as other regulations and standards for other types of Delaware child care situations, go to the
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing Website.
Delacare: Rules for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers
Delacare Requirements for Day Care Centers - Effective Date: September 1, 1988
Delacare Requirements for Family Child Care Homes – Effective Date: June 1, 1994
Delacare Requirements for Large Family Child Care Homes – Effective Date: June 1, 1994
Delacare Requirements for Residential Child Care Facilities and Day Treatment Programs – Effective Date: May 1, 1999
Source:
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Delaware Licensing and Standards Contact
New Castle County contact:
Office of Child Care Licensing
1825 Faulkland Road
Wilmington, DE 19805
Phone: (302) 892-5800
Kent and Sussex Counties contact:
Office of Child Care Licensing
821 Silver Lake Boulevard Suite 102
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 739-5487
Website:
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children (DAEYC)
P.O. Box 10686
Wilmington, DE 19850-0686
Phone: 302-529-7721
Website:
Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children
Delaware Family Childcare Alliance
Nehemiah Gateway CDC
201 West 23rd Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: (302) 373-8479 or (302) 655-0803
Website:
Delaware Childcare
New Castle Association of Childhood Education International
1403 Montgomery Rd
Wilmington, DE 19805
Email: sandcastles8@aol.com
Nursery-Kindergarten Association of Delaware (NKAD)
712 Lora Lane
Hockessin, DE 19707
Phone: 302-239-1416
The Resource Centers Network
To support the state's Delaware First early care and education career development system, FWC operates five Child Care Resource Centers. They are located in the City of Wilmington, New Castle, North Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown. The centers offer a convenient way for early childhood and school-age professionals to access a variety of resources and materials to help enhance their programs.
The Family and Workplace Connection (FWC) also operates three mobile resource centers. Technical assistance and learning materials are delivered directly to the program through regularly scheduled appointments.
Membership Fees for Resource Centers
$15 membership fee (City of Wilmington, New Castle County, and Kent County)
Mobile Resource Centers
$30 for family child care programs
$40 for child care centers
Sign up is done in person. Please visit any of the locations listed below to join or to have a look around. Children are welcome.
All centers are closed on the Saturday closest to a holiday, as well as, the last two weeks of December.
City of Wilmington Resource Center
Warner Elementary School
Classroom #6
801 West 18th Street
Wilmington, DE 19802
Phone: 302-651-2758
*enter on Franklin Street between 18th & 19th, the former Warner Kindergarten
Hours: Tues. 1-8; Wed. 1-8
New Castle County Resource Center
3511 Silverside Road
Suite 103
Wilmington, DE 19810
Phone: 302-479-1676
Hours: Tues. 8–4, Wed. 12–8, Fri. 8–4, Sat. 10–12
Wilmington College Resource Center
320 N. DuPont Highway
Annex Room 202
New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: 302-325-8131
Hours: By appointment only
Kent County Resource Center
1406 Forrest Avenue, Suite 2
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: 302-672-0506
Hours: Tues. 12–8, Thurs. 12–8, Sat. 10–2
Sussex County Resource Center
DTCC Child Development Center
Seashore Highway
Georgetown, DE 19947
Phone: 302-855-1649
Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 8–7:30, Fri. 8–4
American Red Cross, Delmarva Peninsula
Delaware Child Care State regulation requires First Aid Training as well as CPR. American Red Cross First Aid is good for 3 years. If you will be watching children 11 years of age or younger, then you will need an Infant/Child CPR and First Aid course. If you will be watching children 12 years of age or older, then you will need a Community CPR and First Aid course.
The First Aid with Child/Infant CPR Course meets Delaware child care licensing requirements.
Website:
American Red Cross, Delmarva Peninsula
Care Courses
Delaware child care providers may use these courses toward a CCP or CDA, as well as CDA, NAC and CCP renewal. CCP= Certified Childcare Professional, CDA= Child Development Associate, NAC= National Administrator Credential
Website:
Care Courses
Delaware First and FWC classes
You can search by the title of a particular class, such as "Child Development", or by date order. You will then be able to see the date, time, location, trainer’s name, fee, and availability of each class offering. You can register for more than one training at a time.
Website:
Delaware First and FWC classes
Delaware Child Abuse Hotline
To report suspected child abuse in Delaware,
Toll-Free: (800) 292-9582
Delaware Helpline
Click here to read more about the Delaware Subsidy Program for Child Care
Return to Home Page from Delaware Child Care
|
|
