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What are your choices?
The State of California has a system that monitors and licenses some child care facilities. Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers are licensed by the State Department of Social Services. While licensing is an important screening process, it does not guarantee the quality of a program. Parents themselves must visit the home or center, evaluate the program, and decide what is best for each child.
- limiting the number and ages of children in care;
- requiring that all providers be checked for child abuse convictions, criminal records, and tuberculosis clearance;
- checking the home/center for health and safety hazards;
- requiring all family child care providers and at least one person in a center have fifteen hours of health care training, including CPR.
If one person in his/her own home cares for children from more than one family, the State of California requires the person, and the home, to be licensed as a Family Child Care Home. Licensing, in general, covers the safety of the home and a fingerprint check of the caregiver.
- 6 children with no more than 3 infants
- 4 infants only, or
- 8 children when 2 are at least 6 years old and a maximum of 2 infants; and 4 other children over the age of 2 - no assistant is required.
- 12 children with no more than 4 infants
- 14 children when 2 are at least age 6, and a maximum of 3 infants and 9 other children over the age of 2.
- A full time assistant is required
Centers are licensed to care for groups of more than fourteen children. Licensing covers staff/child ratios, health and safety, fingerprint checks for staff, and space requirements, and requires early childhood education units for staff.
The ratio of children to adults in infant care (0-2 years) is one adult for every four infants; for preschool (2-5 years), the ratio is one adult to twelve children; and for school-age (kindergarten to 14 years), the ratio is one adult to fourteen children.
The State of California makes licensing exceptions for some forms of child care. This exempt child care has not been inspected for health and safety. Exempt caregivers have not been reviewed for criminal or child abuse activity, nor do they necessarily have a background in caring for children.
- A person who you hire to come into your home to care for your children.
- A family day care home that cares for children from one family.
- A "drop-in" arrangement, such as a health club or Co-op, where the parent remains on-site or in the building.
- under 13 hours a week, or
- more than 12 hours a week, but no longer than 12 weeks during the year.
- Any care and supervision of children by a relative or guardian.
Parents may hire another adult, who does not have a child care license, to care for their children in the family's home. Specific tax and employment rules apply to this type of care. For more information about hiring an in-home provider, call the Marin Child Care Council.
The Trustline Registry was created by the California State legislature to offer an important service for parents who want to use in-home child care, or licensed-exempt providers, to care for their children. This means that if you want someone to come into your home to do child care, or if you want to take your child to someone else's home and they are not licensed, you can check into the provider's background to be sure they are clear of disqualifying criminal convictions and child abuse records.
The fees for Trustline background checks are paid by the parents or child care providers electing to use the service. If you would like to use the Trustline service or want more information, please call the Marin Child Care Council.
This is limited free or low cost child care that is available to eligible, low income families who are working, in school or in a training program. This care is provided in private and public child care centers and family child care homes. For more information, call the Marin Child Care Council.
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