Obtaining a License
Before Getting Started
Caring for children in a family child care home is a big job and not everyone is suited to it. Before you put in the time and effort to get your license and open your home as a business, it is a good idea to ask yourself some important questions about how you feel. Honest answers will help you figure out if this is the right career for you.
- Do I like children and know enough about them to take good care of them? How do I feel about parents who work outside the home and place their children in child care? Do I have a warm family life that will make children feel welcome, secure, and cared for? Am I in good health, physically and emotionally, to take on a job which requires strength and stamina? Can I handle accidents calmly and efficiently? Am I flexible enough to accept the surprises that come when children are around? How much satisfaction will caring for someone else's child really give me? What will I do if I become ill, or have an emergency? Can I find a substitute who will carry out my routine?
- Do I want this much responsibility?
From DHEW Publication No. (OCD) 73-1054 "Family Day Care"
How Do I Obtain a Family Child Care License?
Family child care licenses are issued by the State of California, Department of Social Services, and Community Care Licensing.
To become a licensed child care provider, you need to fulfill the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age and in good health. Attend a Licensing Orientation sponsored by Community Resources for Children. Orientations are held at CRC in Napa. To reserve a spot, please call Community Care Licensing at (707) 588-5026.
- Fill out a Family Child Care License Application and submit it to Community Care Licensing. You will need to include the following documents with your application:
1. A written statement indicating that you have the financial resources necessary to open and operate a family child care home. A negative tuberculosis clearance for yourself and anyone over age 18 inyour home. A written statement confirming that you or any adult in your home have never been convicted of a serious crime. Complete and submit fingerprint cards and a Child Abuse Index Check foryourself and anyone over age 18 in your home.
2. Complete 15 hours of Preventative Health Practices, including CPR and First Aid. Call CRC for more information.
Within 30 to 90 days of submitting your license application a licensing evaluator will make an announced visit to your home.
The evaluator will be checking for the following items:
- A working smoke detector.
- A working fire extinguisher.
- A working telephone system.
They will also check for the following conditions:
- That your house is clean and orderly, has proper heat and ventilation, and is free of any safety hazards.
- That you provide safe, appropriate toys, play equipment, and other materials.
- That hazardous substances such as poisons, cleaning supplies, and medicines, are inaccessible to children. All toxic materials must be in a locked cabinet.
Other Occupational Information
Other information about child care occupations is available from a variety of sources. Here are just a few:
Occupational Outlook Handbook - Preschool Teachers and Child Care
California Occupational Guides - Child Care Workers (Aides), Preschool Teachers
Napa County Resources
Napa Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (NVAEYC) - (707) 259-0704
Wine Country Family Child Care Association - (707) 252-6446
Director/Mentor Group - (707) 253-0376
