Someone told me that if I want to care for children in my home I have to be licensed. Is that true?
What regulations and requirements must be met to be licensed?
How long will it take to get my home licensed or registered to provide child care?
What should I do if I have a concern about a day care facility?
Someone
told me that if I want to care for children in my home, I have to be
licensed. Is that true?
Michigan
law requires a person to register her/his home as a "family day
care home" if that person cares for 1 to 6 unrelated day care
children for more than 4 weeks out of a year. If a person cares for
7 to 12 day care children at a time, the home would need to be
licensed as a group day care home.
Michigan law further indicates that you do not need to licensed or registered if:
The children's parents were always present in your home when care is given.
All of the children are related to you.
You cared for the children in the children's home.
You care for children less than four weeks per year.
What
is a Family Day Care Home?
A
private residence that the child care provider lives in and cares
for up to six unrelated children for more than 4 weeks in a year
when the children's parents/guardians are not immediately
available.
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What
is a Group Day Care Home?
A private residence that the child care provider lives in and cares
for up to 12 unrelated children for more than 4 weeks in a year when
the children's parents/guardians are not immediately available.
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to the top of the page.
A
facility, other than a private residence, where child care is
provided for 1 or more children whose parents/guardians are not
immediately available. Centers must be licensed if they provide care
for more than 2 consecutive weeks per year. Centers include public
and private preschools, nursery schools, parent cooperative
preschools, full-day child care centers and drop in centers.
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How
many licensed home and centers are there in Michigan?
There
are over 21,000 regulated day care homes and centers: more than
13,200 family day care homes, over 3,300 group day care homes and
more than 4,500 child care centers. This represents more than
350,000 children that can be cared for in Michigan child care
facilities!
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What
regulations and requirements must be met to be licensed?
Day
care homes and centers are regulated by the Michigan Department of
Consumer & Industry Services, Division of Child Day Care
Licensing, and must comply with the child day care licensing law,
Public
Act 116, and administrative
rules. The rules vary depending on whether the day care provided
is in a family home, a group home, or a child care center. All
licensed day care situations are reviewed by licensing staff to
assure that the environment is safe, staffing is adequate,
nutritious meals and snacks are provided, and there are appropriate
activities and play equipment. Licensing rules require that staff
caring for children be responsible and suitable to meet children's
needs.
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Can
I open a child care center before I get licensed?
No.
Michigan law requires all non-governmental organizations to be
licensed before opening. Everyone is encouraged to seek help and
information when deciding to open a child care facility.
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How
long will it take to get my home licensed or registered to provide
child care?
As
in other businesses, the length of time needed to become licensed or
registered varies based on your completion of the needed steps in
the application process. A registration for a family
day care home or a license for a group day
care home can be completed within as short a time as four weeks
to as long as 16 weeks.
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the page.
What
do I have to do to get a child care center license?
First
you must select a site for your center. The site, including its
equipment and materials, must be approved by fire and health
inspectors and by the licensing consultant. Specific policies and
operational plans must be developed, and then approved by the
Division of Child Day Care Licensing.
The length of time depends on the applicant. Generally, the
process takes applicants anywhere from three months to a year to
complete. Follow this link for more specific information on
completing the licensing process for a child care
center.
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What
should I do if I have a concern about a day care facility?
Concerns
should first be shared with the day care provider or director. If
the problems or concerns continue you may want to contact the
Division of Child Day Care Licensing.
Licensing staff will follow-up on all complaints that suggest
possible violations of the rules or licensing and child abuse laws.
All complaints are considered allegations and are taken
seriously.
For more information about complaints, go to