Home Sweet Child Care: Kentucky Certification Basics - post

Home Sweet Child Care: Kentucky Certification Basics

Opening a family childcare center in Kentucky is a rewarding endeavor that allows you to provide essential services to your community while operating a business from your #home. This guide outlines the necessary steps to establish a certified family childcare home in Kentucky, incorporating relevant courses from ChildCareEd to support your journey.​

🏡 Understanding Certified Family Child Care Homes in Kentucky

In Kentucky, a Certified Family Child Care Home permits you to care for up to 10 children, with a maximum of 6 unrelated and 4 related children in your residence. Certification is mandatory if you plan to care for more than three unrelated children. Providers caring for three or fewer unrelated children are not required to be certified.

📋 Steps to Open Your Family Child Care Home

Complete Required Training

Kentucky mandates specific training for family childcare providers:​

• Orientation Training: Must be completed within 90 days of application or employment.​

• Annual Professional Development: Nine hours of Cabinet-approved #early care and education training.​ 

• Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma Training: One and a half hours every five years.​

ChildCareEd offers courses that align with these requirements:​

• Child Care Orientation: A foundational course covering child supervision, interaction with families, and professional conduct.​

• Health and Safety Orientation: Focuses on maintaining a #safe and #healthy environment for children.​

• Pediatric Abusive Head Trauma: Meets the state's requirement for training on abusive head trauma.​

Obtain Background Checks

All providers, assistants, and household members over 18 must undergo #background-checks through the National Background Check Program (NBCP). ​

Prepare Your Home Environment

Ensure your home meets the #health-and #safety standards

• Safe indoor and #outdoor #play-areas.

• Proper sanitation and hygiene practices.​

• Secure storage for hazardous materials.​

ChildCareEd provides courses to help you create a compliant environment:​

• Early Childhood Education: Covers guiding children, partnering with families, and implementing curriculum.​

• Health and Safety Orientation: Emphasizes safety protocols and #emergency- #preparedness.​

Submit Certification Application

Complete and submit the Initial Certified Home Application Packet to the Division of Regulated Child Care. ​

Prepare for Inspection

A representative from the Division of Regulated Child Care will inspect your home to ensure compliance with state regulations. Use the Kentucky Child Care Standards of Practice for Certified Providers as a guide.​

🌟 Enhancing Your Qualifications

While not mandatory, obtaining a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential can enhance your qualifications and credibility. ChildCareEd offers CDA training programs:​

• CDA Family Child Care Credential: Tailored for family childcare providers.​

• CDA Preschool Credential: Focuses on teaching #preschool-aged children.​

📈 Business Planning and Support

Developing a solid business plan is crucial for the success of your childcare center. 

• Market Research: Assess the demand for childcare services in your area.​

• Budgeting: Plan for startup costs, ongoing expenses, and pricing strategies.​

• Policies and Procedures: Establish clear guidelines for operations, #health-and-safety, and parent communication.

ChildCareEd offers resources and courses to assist with business planning:​

• Starting a Family Child Care Business: Provides insights into setting up and managing a family childcare home.​

✅ Final Checklist

• Complete required training courses.

• Obtain necessary #background-checks.​

• Prepare your home to meet health and safety standards.​

• Submit your certification application.​

• Pass the home inspection.​

• Develop a comprehensive business plan.​

Embarking on the journey to open a family childcare center in Kentucky is a commendable step towards contributing to #early-childhood #development in your community. Utilize the resources and courses available through ChildCareEd to ensure a successful and compliant start to your childcare business.