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| I am a new licensed child care home provider. I need to know where I can find information on the voucher program. |
| You can find information on the voucher program by calling the School Readiness Program at (813) 744-8941. |
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| Is it necessary to have a substitute in order to become licensed? |
| Every family child care home provider at a minimum needs to have one person over the age of 18 that has cleared the background
screening who is available to come to the provider's house and call parents to pick up their children in case of emergency.
That person can not care for the children in the caregiver's absence accept to watch them until their parent gets there. |
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| Is there a state mandate on how long a child can remain at child care per day? |
| The state law says that a child cannot be in care for 24 hours or more per day. |
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Where can I see all the childcare certificates I have earned?
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Your training transcript contains a list of all the required modules you have taken, any 10-hour
modules that you have taken, your 5206 if you have your CDA or equivalent and your director's
credential if you have one. To see your transcript, go to
www.myflorida.com/childcare/training
and click on "View my transcript."
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How and where can I obtain training and information on getting a director's license in order to
operate a childcare facility?
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Information about the director's credential can be obtained by calling the Hillsborough County Child
Care Licensing Office at (813) 272-6487. For information on the dates and times of training, call the
Training Coordinating Agency at (813) 744-8941. You can also get this information by visiting
www.myflorida.com/childcare/training.
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How do I get a copy of childcare training hours online?
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To get your hours online, go to
www.myflorida.com/childcare/training
and click on "View My Transcript."
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Where can I get my 10- and 30-hour training for childcare?
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The Training Office is responsible for coordinating all the required training. They can be reached at
(813) 744-8941, ext. 258. You can also find out about classes at
www.myflorida.com/childcare/training.
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How do I verify that someone is licensed to take care of my child in their home in Hillsborough
County?
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To verify that someone is licensed, just call the Child Care Licensing office at 272-6487. If you
would like to review the complete file, you can come to our office Monday-Friday from 8 AM-5 PM.
You can also see the most recent inspections reports on this website by going to our home page and
clicking on the link Child Care Program Inspection Reports.
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I know that by Jan. 2004 child care directors need an administrator’s credential, but what does
that entail? Is there any other certification needed to be a child care director?
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Yes. You are correct. By January 2004, all operators of child care centers will need the Director's
Credential. In addition anyone buying a center will need the Director's credential if they plan to
operate the center. If they do not plan to operate the center, they must have hired someone with the
Director's credential before they are issued a license. The credential has two levels--advanced
and foundation. There are different requirements for both levels. However, both levels require that
the person who gets the credential has certain training in early childhood education and management
and experience working in child care management. There are provisions for the issuance of a temporary
credential for those people who do not have the experience. The exact requirements can be found in the
child care rules or can be obtained by calling the Florida Children's Forum 1-877-358-3224. Until
January 2004, the operator only has to meet the same requirements as the other child care staff and be
21 years of age.
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Is there a list somewhere as to what immunizations each child should have and at what age he/she
should have them? I am a family child care provider and I think this info would be very helpful for
me to have on file.
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I think it would be a very good idea to have a list of all the required immunizations. Licensing
Inspectors are delivering a booklet from the Department of Health titled "Immunization
Guidelines." If you haven't gotten one, call your licensing inspector for a copy.
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How/Where can I get a list of licensed home day care centers?
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You can get a list of licensed family child care homes by calling Child Care Resource and Referral at
(813) 744-8941.
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I see nothing in the licensing standards (section 402.35, section 9) that says the health records
kept on children have to be originals (i.e. can't be a photocopy). I do see in the Immunization
Guidelines for Florida Schools and Child Care Facilities, effective August 2000 (Florida DOH), that
says "A copy or facsimile of a completed and appropriately signed DH Form 680, A-1, A-2 or A-1
and A-2 is acceptable." However, my daycare facility refuses to accept a copy. Could you please
tell me where it states that I must give the original?
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Copies of children's immunizations and health records are acceptable according to our standards.
However, your child care center may have its own procedures.
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I am concerned that there are too many children in my child's day care class. Could you please let me
know what the ratio is for a day care facility?
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The ratios for children in child care centers are: 1 staff member for every 4 children under the age
of one, 1 staff member for every 6 children at one year of age, 1 staff member for every 11 children
at 2 years of age, 1 staff member for every 15 children at three years of age, 1 staff member for
every 20 children at 4 years of age, and one staff member for every 25 children at five years of age
and older. In mixed age groups where there are children under the age of two, the age of the youngest
child determines the ratio. In all other mixed age groups, the age of the majority of the children
determines the ratio.
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What do I need to do to become a home day care provider, what are the steps I need to take?
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The child care licensing office has a packet of information about becoming a family child care
provider. Just call our office at 272-6487 and we will mail it to you. You can also find this
information on these Child Care Licensing web pages. The required applications can be downloaded from
the Applications/Forms webpage.
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Are there any requirements that a child care center is expected to follow in terms of balanced
nutrition for the kids under its care?
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Yes there are nutritional guidelines. Food groups are determined by using the USDA Food Guide Pyramid
for Young Children. Fats and sweets cannot be counted as a food group. Breakfast must consist of at
least three food groups, lunch four groups and snack two food groups. Your provider should be posting
her menus so you can see what your child is eating every day. Hope this helps.
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Should I be concerned that my home child caregiver never disclosed that she has a live-in boyfriend
at her house?
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The child care licensing regulations require that everyone living in the household over the age of 18
must have a background check done. This consists of a national, state and local criminal check. If the
boyfriend is living in the home, he should have had the check done. You can call our office at
272-6487 to confirm that he has been screened. I also would encourage you to talk with the provider
about your concern. She might have thought that she told you about him or didn't realize this is
something she needs to share with the parents.
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