TYPES OF CHILD CARE PROGRAMS
Child Care Centers – seven or more children at one time.
Overview of how to open a Child Care Center
Family Child Care Providers (formerly Type A and Type B Home providers) –
Type A Home providers can care for 7-12 children at one time, however, each staff member can care for no more than six children at one time (and no more than three children under age two).
Type B Home providers can care for no more than 6 children at one time (and no more than 3 children under age 2). Children under 6 years of age related to the provider (including the provider’s own children) and residents of the home must be included in total group size.
Overview of how to open a Family Child Care Program
Family Child Care Getting Started
Child Day Camps – A program which cares for only school age children and operates for less than seven hours each day, during the time school is not in session, and the program operates at least 50% outdoors. Child day camps must register with ODJFS each year. To receive reimbursement for publicly funded child care, the child day camp must be accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA) and submit the certificate annually with the day camp registration.
In-Home Aides – A person who provides child care to a child in the child's own home, not in their home. An In-Home Aide can only care for the children who live in that home.
In-Home Aides
Programs that provide publicly funded child care (PFCC) must be Step Up To Quality (SUTQ) rated by 2020.
Click here to find out more about PFCC.
What is SUTQ?
SUTQ is a five-star quality rating and improvement system administered by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and ODJFS. SUTQ recognizes and promotes learning and development programs that meet quality program standards that exceed licensing health and safety regulations. The program standards are based on national research identifying standards that lead to improved outcomes for children.
REQUIRED TRAINING FOR CHILD CARE PROGRAMS PRIOR TO
APPLICATION
The following required trainings for child care programs are now available for
completion in the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR) at https://occrra.org/opr/.
- Pre-Licensing
Training for Child Care Centers
- Pre-Licensing
Training for Family Child Care Providers (Type A or B Home Provider)
- Pre-Camp for Approved Child Day Camps
- Pre-Certification Orientation for In-Home Aides
Once the above pre-training is completed in the OPR, the applicant can begin the application process in
the Ohio Child Licensing and Quality System (OCLQS). Please see the instructions
on how to submit an application in OCLQS by clicking here. To gain access to OCLQS use the following
link:https://oclqs.force.com/oclqs_home.
Need Assistance?
Requirements for opening a child care program contact ODJFS Child Care Policy Help Desk at 1-877-302-2347, option 4.
How to create a profile in the OPR or register for a training contact the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA) at 1-877-547-6978, option 1.
OCLQS system questions contact the OCLQS System Technical Support at 1-877-302-2347, option 1.
RESOURCES
Building Approval - For information on the Ohio Board of Building Standards (BBS) and building codes, you should work with your local building department. Click here for a list of commercial (non-residential) building departments. Click here for a list of residential building departments. You can also call the Ohio Department of Commerce at (614)644-2613 to be directed to an appropriate BBS staff member.
Food Service - to secure a license or exemption - If you are planning on preparing and/or serving food, you should work with your location health department. Click here for a listing of local health districts.
Ohio Choose Safe Places (OCSP) - Non-regulatory, education based statewide initiative designed to help child care center operators protect staff and children from harmful environmental hazards and chemical toxins by making safe siting decisions for their child care facility. Click here to be directed to a brief informational video on the OCSP program.