City of Davis

Child Care Services Resource & Referral offers a variety of resources and services to new providers as they enter the field of early care & education and begin their child care business. We also provide ongoing assistance and support to existing early care & education professionals to enhance the quality of care for children of Yolo County. Our services and resources are designed to assist all child care professionals in achieving quality programs.

How to become a licensed Family Child Care Provider:

Family Child Care Licensing Orientations are held every other third Tuesday of the month from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., in the Yolo County Conference Room, 600 A Street, Davis. Advance enrollment is required through Community Care Licensing. The orientation fee is $25.00 per person, you MUST bring the receipt with you to the orientation meeting. The fee should be payable to "CDSS" and mailed or dropped off to: River City Child Care Regional Office, 8745 Folsom Blvd. Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95826. For questions about licensing call Community Care Licensing at (916) 229-4530, and ask for the "Officer of the Day".

At the orientation, Child Care Services staff will discuss the different programs, resources and services available to Yolo County providers. They will also discuss business practices, such as marketing, contracts and policies. Community Care Licensing analyst will review the regulations and discuss the particulars about obtaining a license to provide child care in your home. This inculdes a thorough review of the application process plus an overview of how to make your home safe for children. In addition, licensing will walk you through the background check process.

Basic Requirements:

• You must be 18 years of age or older.
• You must attend a Family Child Care Orientation session held by Community Care Licensing.
• You will be required to submit two fingerprint cards or a Livescan fingerprint process for a criminal records check. Every adult over 18 living in your household must also have their fingerprints taken and submitted for review. Only the fingerprint cards or Livescan form given by Licensing may be used.
• You and any adult over 18 living in your household must also have a test for tuberculosis and proof of clearance.
• You must submit proof of 15 hours of health and safety training from an EMSA approved program. The training includes pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), pediatric first aid, and preventative health practices.
• You must fill out an application for a license.
• Non refundable fees for a small or large license must accompany your application. Other costs involved in establishing a family child care home will be discussed at the orientation.
• When all the paperwork is complete, a licensing analyst will visit to conduct a health and safety inspection of your home.

The entire process takes between 3 to 6 months. A family child care license is only good in the home of the provider who is licensed. The purpose of a license is to insure that the provider's home meets state health and safety standards. If a provider moves, they must have their new location re-licensed. For this reason a provider is not considered to be licensed when they provide care in the parents' home. A family child care license is not required when a provider cares for one family's child or children in addition to her/his own children.

Play Day Program:
A FREE school readiness program that is designed to introduce family child care providers and the children they care for to a preschool setting and developmentally appropriate practices. The program is offered on a monthly basis throughout the County. If you are interested in dates and locations, call our office and ask for the Child Care Specialist.

Quality Enhancement Project:
This is a voluntary program that Family Child Care Providers can participate in. It is a collaborative project that brings different agencies together to provide onsite resources, support and assistance to programs on a variety of topics. For more information call our office and ask for the Child Care Specialist. This program is FREE!

• Visits from the Child Care Specialist:
  • PLAY Van-a mobile resource that is filled with toys, books, CD's. It comes directly to your family child care program!
  • Family Day Care Rating Scale (FDCRS): Use the rating scale as a self assessment tool, a quality measure, a valuable reference guide for parents. More information: www.fpg.unc.edu/~ecers/
• Access to mini grant opportunities to enhance the quality of your program. Offered through the Yolo County Children & Families Commission. More information: www.first5yolo.org
• Visits from other Specialists:
  • Inclusion Resource Specialists: using a broad definition of the term "Special Needs" the specialist provides hands on consultation, support, referrals, and resources to assure maximum participation and benefit for a child with special needs in the typical child care setting.
  • Family Inclusion Resource Specialist: provides information, education and support to promote and strengthen the relationships with families and children with special needs. They can link families with services and provide parent-to-parent support.

Davis Licensed Family Child Care Association:
For more information call Dave Bakay at (530) 758-3097.