Starting a Child Care Center

A child care center is normally operated outside the licensee's home and provides non-medical care and supervision to infants, toddlers, preschoolers and/or school-age children for periods of less that 24 hours. These centers are usually in commercial buildings.

To start a licensed child care center, an applicant must:

  • Be at least 18 years of age.
  • Attend a series of licensing orientations. Contact your local R&R to get more information about licensing orientations conducted in your area.
  • Verify that the directors and teachers have at least 12 units in early childhood education. Directors must also have at least three units in administration or staff relations.
  • Obtain fingerprint cards and a Child Abuse Index Check for yourself and any staff. Everyone who must be fingerprinted must also sign a statement, under penalty of perjury, that s/he has never been convicted of a crime other that a minor traffic violation.
  • Obtain a fire clearance.
  • Submit a licensing application with all the required materials.
  • Contact Community Connection for Child Care to help with child development training, professional development, working with children with special needs and marketing your program. Visit our Education and Training page for more information!

greyarrow: The Local Investment in Child Care Project (LINCC)
 Are you thinking about expanding your child care center or want to develop a new center? Kern LINCC can provide you with information and technical assistance on:

  • Where demand for child care is greatest
  • Licensing regualtions
  • Zoning and land use issues
  • Financial and loan resources
  • Business and strategic plan development
  • Developing a child care center from conception to construction

For more information, please contact:

    Dana Adams, MBA
     Child & Family Services Facilitator
    661.636.4572 (Tel)
    661.636.4130 (Fax)
    daadams@kern.org (E-mail)

QUALITY CHILD CARE AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Current research details how a child's earliest experiences and relationships affect the way his/her brain is organized. During these crucial early years of life, the brain is forming connections that may determine a lifetime of skills and potentials. Quality care of young children is key.

Some of the findings confirm what parents and caregivers already know - that how the children are raised has an enormous impact on their emotional well-being, intellectual level and skills for success.

OTHER RELATED RESOURCES


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