Child Care Programs

Family Child Care Home: a child care program operated in a home in which the provider resides. In a family child care home one provider may care for a maximum of 6 preschool children plus up to 3 children who are enrolled in a full-day school program. The number of children younger than 36 months of age and 24 months of age that may be cared for is limited.

Family Group Child Care Home: a child care program operated in a home in which the provider resides. In a family group child care home one provider and one family child care worker or assistant may care for 7 to 12 preschool children plus up to 5 children enrolled in a full-day school program. The number of children younger than 36 months of age that may be cared for is limited.

Group Child Care Center: a center-based child care program that cares for 1 or more children ages 3 to 6 years of age, up to 4 of whom may be younger than 3 years of age, plus 5 children enrolled in a full-day school program.

Infant/Toddler Program (Child Care Nursery): a center-based child care program that cares for 5 or more infants and toddlers under three years of age.

Preschool Program: a center-based child care program that provides care and a structured program for children 3 years of age and older who are not attending a full day school program. Preschool programs can care for children up to 5 hours per day.

School Age Program: a family or family group child care program that elects to care for 6 or more school age children who are enrolled in a full-day school program, or a center-based child care program that cares for 6 or more children ages 4 years and 8 months of age or older who are enrolled in a kindergarten program or full-day school program. School age programs can care for children up to 5 hours before or after school and all day during school vacations.

Night Care Program: a center-based, family, or family group child care program that provides care during the evening or night time hours between 7:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The type of center-based family will determine the limits on ages and numbers of children or family group child care program license issued.

Residential Child Care Program: a residential child care program that provides 24-hour care for 1 or more children unrelated to the operator of the program and apart from the parents. Residential child care programs are required to have a qualified program director and may be licensed as a Group Child Care Home, Child Care Institution, or Independent Living Home.