SOLUTIONS Provider Network

  Licensing Web Site:

http://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/Child-Care-Licensing


LICENSING REGULATIONS
 
 
Parents,
You can call the licensing office and ask the duty officer of the day to check on the record of any licensed provider, If you don't have their facility number all you need is their name and phone number they will find them.  Checking up to be sure a provider is licensed is the responsibility of the parent.  It is a California state law that providers caring for more than one family at a time be Licensed by the State of California.  If a provider is running a child care unlicensed she is in violation of the law.  As a parent you have the right to ask to see the Facility license that each provider has and should have posted.  However, as a parent you should call the Regional office to be sure the license is valid.  

RIVER CITY REGIONAL OFFICE
2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 250, MS 19-29
Sacramento, CA 95833
(916) 263-5744     FAX (916) 929-6371

Resources for Parents

TYPES OF CHILD CARE IN CALIFORNIA

CHILD CARE CENTERS: A Child Care Center (or Day Care Center) is usually located in a commercial building. Non-medical care and supervision is provided for infant to school age children in a group setting for periods of less than 24 hours.

FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES: A Family Child Care Home must be in the licensee's own home. A Family Child Care Home reflects a home-like environment where non-medical care and supervision is provided for periods of less than 24 hours.

There are Small Family Child Care Homes and Large Family Child Care Homes.

    • Small Family Child Care Homes provide care to no more than 8 children.
    • Large Family Child Care Homes provide care to no more than 14 children.

LICENSE-EXEMPT CHILD CARE: California’s child care regulations are intended to promote children’s health and safety in licensed child care facilities. However, families and providers should understand that state regulations exempt certain types of providers from licensure, meaning they can operate legally without a license.  Licensed providers have undergone an application and review process with Community Care Licensing and are required to comply with certain health and safety regulations. While license-exempt care is not regulated by Community Care Licensing, there may be other governmental agencies that monitor their activities.

Four main groups of child care providers are exempt by the state from obtaining a child care license.

  • The first group includes individuals who care for the children of a relative, or who care for the children of one other family in addition to their own children. Certain parent cooperatives, in which families rotate care on an unpaid basis are also exempt.
  • The second group includes public as well as private non-profit programs that offer recreational services. These programs include some community centers as well as most parks and recreation programs.
  • The third group includes businesses that offer limited child care to their clients and customers. These programs usually require that the parent or guardian remain on the premises and that they remove their children within a specified amount of time.
  • A fourth group includes programs that are overseen by state agencies other than Community Care Licensing. For example, organized camps that are overseen by the Department of Public Health and heritage schools that are overseen by the Department of Education. 

SEARCH FOR YOUR FACILITY ONLINE

Community Care Licensing Division has compiled important information regarding licensed facilities to provide the public on an online searchable database. The information supplied on the database contains facility inspection reports, violations, inspection history and other pertinent information for prospective parents/caregivers.

This information should serve as an initial point of inquiry regarding the status of licensed facilities. Additional information about a particular facility is available from the appropriate licensing office.

If your child is already enrolled in licensed care, you can subscribe to your child's facility in the database and get updates when any new information is provided about that facility.

Regarding Family Child Care Homes in the Facility Database:

  • Large family child care homes may be searched by area and contain the same information child care centers have excluding addresses.
  • Small family child care homes may only be searched by knowing the exact facility license number; a general search will not bring up the small family child care home.
  • Family child care homes located in Del Norte or Inyo County are not in the database.

Your local Resource and Referral Agency (R&R), Child Action 916-369-0191 is also available to help you find a child care facility. 

YOU AND YOUR CHILD(REN) HAVE RIGHTS REGARDING CHILD CARE

Children, parents and authorized representatives, and child care licensees all have rights in licensed child care facilities. Protecting these rights is an important part of the emotional and physical well-being of children in care. Everyone must be treated with dignity and respect and these rights must be protected according to California's laws and regulations. 

Parents' Rights: LIC 995 (Child Care Centers)
PUB 393 (Parents' Rights Poster-Child Care Centers)
LIC 995A (Family Child Care Homes)
PUB 394 (Parents' Rights Poster-Family Child Care Homes)
VIDEO
: Parents' Rights in Child Care

Children's Rights: LIC 613A (Personal Rights-Child Care Facilities)
VIDEO: Children's Personal Rights in Child Care

Applicant/Licensee Rights: 
LIC 9058
VIDEO: Rights of a Child Care Licensee