Certification Requirements:
Milwaukee County Orientation Hotline 414-
Racine County (Workforce Develpment) 262-638-6605
Kenosha County (Community Impact) 262-656-8420
Wakesha County 262-970-4795
Ozaukee County 262-238-6400
Washington County 262-335-4610
Certified Family Day Care:
· References
· Criminal record check
· Provider TB test
· Initial site visit (to establish basic health & safety requirements)
· May care for no more than 3 children under the age of 7 who are not related to the provider, and an additional 3 related children
· Obtain twenty hours of training in child care and development
· Continuing education totaling five hours per year
Licensing Requirements:
262-521-5100
Licensed Family Day Care:
· Is offered in the provider’s own home
· Before caring for more than three children, unrelated to the provider, a license for family child care must be applied for, and obtained. The provider must include his/her children under the age of seven in this count. No more than eight children, at any one time, are allowed in licensed family child care homes.
· Health and safety requirements are more extensive than for certification.
· Forty hours of formal training is required for the provider
· A department-approved course in caring for infants and toddlers is needed if any child will be younger than age two.
· Continuing education totaling fifteen hours per year is also required
· Caregivers must have a physical exam and a negative TB test, provide references and pass a criminal record check on themselves and any person 10 years and older, residing in the home or working for them
· The licensing specialist may grant the initial license after verifying that all starred items in the rule book are met
· Initial license is valid for a six-month period, during which the provider must complete all training requirements
· Indoor and outdoor equipment and toys to meet the needs of various ages of children in care
· Indoors, 35 square feet per child of usable play space is needed
· Outdoors, 75 square feet per child is required
· A fenced outdoor space is usually required
· Written policies and some programming plans are required
Licensed Group Day Care:
· Program that serves nine or more children
· Two types of programs:
ü Part-Day Programs: preschool or school age
ü Full-Day Programs: all ages or camp program
· The building must conform to:
ü Local zoning
ü State building code regulations
· More formal training and continuing education is required for group center staff
· Staff must have:
ü A physical exam
ü TB test
ü A criminal record check
ü Orientation plan
ü Continuing education plan
· The ages of children determine staffing patterns and group sizes in care
· Liability insurance is required
· There must be detailed policies concerning:
ü Fees and Refunds
ü Staffing
ü Health and nutrition
ü Child guidance
ü Curriculum
ü Others as deemed necessary
· The center must have:
ü 35 square feet of usable floor space per child
ü Space for clothing and personal belongings of each child
ü Sufficient bathroom facilities
ü Indoor equipment and toys adequate for licensed capacity
ü Outdoor play space and equipment
· Additional requirements apply to programs:
ü Offering care for infants and toddlers
ü Night care
ü Care of mildly ill children
ü Kitchen, if meals are served or prepared
Information provided courtesy of Wisconsin Child Care Improvement Project
Starting Your Own Child Care Business
Do you think you have what it takes to start your own business? Are you willing to share not only your home but yourself with other children? Starting your own child care business is no small task but with a bit of planning and hard work you'll be up and running in no time. 4C is here to help you every step of the way.
Ask yourself these questions:
· Do you like children?
· Are you patient and have good self-control?
· Are you comfortable speaking with other parents?
· Are you comfortable with the idea that you are helping to raise someone else's children in your home?
· Are you friendly, warm, understanding and affectionate?
· Is your family willing to share their home with other children?
· Are your children willing to share you with other children?
· Do you like providing fun and challenging activities for children?
· Do you have enough adequate toys and furniture for the children?
· Is your home large enough, inside and out, for children? Is it hazard-free?
As a regulated provider, there will be rules to follow, classes to take, forms to fill out, curriculum to plan, inspections to prepare for. The work will be exhausting at times. The children will act up. Parents may be difficult. But in the end, the rewards of caring for children will speak for themselves!
Where is the greatest need for child care in your community?
4C is able to provide potential providers with a report that shows what the current supply and demand for child care is in their neighborhood. This will include days and hours care is offered and requested and the need for transportation.
