Process for Monitoring and Inspecting Licensed Day Care Programs

Compliance with Regulatory Requirements

Child Care Services (CCS) is responsible for statewide oversight of licensed child care programs. Monitoring the program for compliance with applicable laws and administrative rules is achieved through review and evaluation of all application materials; annual facility inspections; follow-up to any non-compliance issues and investigation of complaints.

All licensed facilities begin the licensing process with a floor plan review of the proposed facility by the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the Department of Health to ensure the facility conforms to fire and life safety as well as environmental health standards.  Once the floor plan is approved, an announced on-site inspection is conducted prior to the program operating. An annual unannounced inspection is conducted in each subsequent year.  Inaccuracies found during or after the inspections are evaluated and corrected immediately or a justification for the non-compliance is reviewed with the provider. Review of the issues can be completed during or after the inspection, or after the inspection has been posted online.

All inspections of licensed programs are two-fold. 1) Child Care Services staff conduct one inspection using the Program Inspection form that focuses on children’s programming and administration procedures of the program.  2) The Department of Public Safety staff also conduct one inspection using the Facility Safety Inspection form that focuses on fire and life safety standards as well as environmental health standards. 

Complaints Related to Licensing Compliance

Child Care Services licensing specialists address each complaint received relating to compliance with child care regulations.  If the complaint is found to have occurred, the licensing specialist works with the provider on a plan of correction and a time frame for resolution of the issue. The date of the complaint, a brief description of the complaint issue and a description of the correction taken is posted on the CCS website, see below for details.

Complaints Related to Child Abuse or Neglect

Complaints that relate to the abuse or neglect of a child are to be reported to the Division of Child Protection Services (CPS), toll-free, at 877.244.0864.
 
Online Child Care Provider Monitoring and Inspections

The results of child care provider inspections are available on the Child Care Services website to assist families in making informed choices when choosing a child care provider.  This site includes results from annual monitoring inspections and results from substantiated complaint inspections.
Start the process by clicking on the searchable database link to find a child care provider.
Once in the Searchable Database:

• Search for a provider by type of provider, name, city, county or zip code;
• Click on the provider’s name in order to enter the provider information page;
• At the bottom of the provider information page, click on Inspection and Compliance Information to find the latest inspection.

The inspection form includes:

• The date of each inspection
• If there was any corrective action necessary, that will be included
• If there were any health and safety violations, those will be included
• If there was any serious injury or death, as a result of a health or safety violation, that would be included as well

The posting of inspections began in February 2018.  Only those inspections that have been completed since February 2018 will appear on this site. Eventually, the site will consist of three years of inspection results.