CHILD CARE LICENSING

 

 

 

The Child Care Licensing Unit is responsible for licensing all child care situations where more than five (5) children are cared for, and for maintaining the Voluntary Registry for persons providing care to five (5) or fewer children who choose to be registered.  The Unit inspects all licensed centers and licensed and registered homes a minimum of three (3) times per year.  Technical assistance and consultative services are provided to licensed and registered programs, and to applicants and parents.

 

The Unit investigates complaints on licensed and registered child care facilities.  Another function of this unit is assisting the Crimes Against Children Division, within the Arkansas State Police, with the investigation of child maltreatment complaints in these facilities.  The Licensing Unit is also responsible for processing and tracking background checks on all child care owners/operators and employees through the FBI, State Police and the Arkansas Central Registry.  Licensing staff insures that appropriate corrective action is taken on any persons found to have a record of child maltreatment or a conviction of a prohibited offense.

 

The Child Care Licensing Unit was placed with the Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education following passage of Act 1132 in 1997.  The Residential Placement Unit, previously a part of the Licensing Unit, remained with the Division of Child and Family Services.

 

In 1997 the Child Care Licensing Unit shifted to open-ended licenses and reduced time frames for processing new applications for licensure from sixty (60) to less than thirty (30) days. During 2001 licensing standards for child care centers, child care family homes and voluntary registered homes were reviewed for revision and updating.  Revisions and/or updating have been completed and the new Minimum Licensing Requirements for Day Care Centers; Child Care Family Homes and Registration Requirements for Voluntary Registered Child Care Family Homes will become effective December 1, 2002.  Publication and distribution of the new rules/regulations to current providers will be completed 60 days prior to the December effective date.

 

Also during 2001-2002, the Child Care Licensing Unit began development of a new computer system in order to update the licensing process.  The new system is in the final stage of testing/development and will go on-line in October 2002.

 

The Unit continues to strive for the reduction in duplication of efforts and to improve both the safety of children in child care and the quality of services provided.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AR DHS Statistical Report SFY 2002

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