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A while back, I received an email from someone who attended one of my recent trainings. It seemed like a simple enough question. Basically, how does one start a family child care?
Seemed simple enough, until I began responding. One very long email later, I realized that perhaps it might be good information to share! This blog, after all, was intended to follow my journey in starting a family child care home, and some of the things I discover along the way. So, with that, here was my response (and keep in mind, I'm writing from Fresno, CA, so this may be different for other counties/states):
Hi Anonymous,
I'd be glad to share my experience with starting a family child care home. It's not a short answer, so I hope you have a few minutes to spare. [Ok, so maybe more than just a few minutes...]
- Before you get started with opening your own family child care home, here are some things to consider: http://ccld.ca.gov/Res/pdf/
WAIT.pdf - Next, get general info about starting a family child care by visiting their website here: http://ccld.ca.gov/PG513.htm
- Be sure to find out where your local community care licensing branch is. To find out the phone number and address of your local community care licensing office, go to this link: http://ccld.ca.gov/res/pdf/
CClistingMaster.pdf - Once you've decided that starting a family child care is for you, you'll start off by attending an orientation.
You can now take it in-person or online. I recommend taking it
in-person in possible - it's nice to be able to interact with a real
person and be able to raise your hand and ask questions. I used to work
at my local Resource & Referral agency, so I had had multiple
opportunities to sit through this orientation before, so I chose to take
it online. I had some minor complications logging on, but once it
worked, it was very convenient to take it at my own pace in the comfort
of my own home and be able to replay parts I didn't totally understand
the first time. Here's the link to register/get information: http://ccld.ca.gov/PG534.htm
- Be up to date for your Infant/Pediatric CPR/First Aid and Health & Safety courses.
These are required to submit your application, although you may choose
to register for them and submit proof of registration with your
application just to get things going.
- Submit your application as soon as possible! This is
what will really get the ball rolling. Your community care licensing
office will know you exist and get you what you need to do the next
steps, such as getting fingerprinted/background check. If you need help
filling this out, you might try the next step.
- Find some support. This step might actually work as a first step,
too. I recommend contacting any agencies in your area working with
early education programs. Resource & Referral (R&R) agencies
tend to have various programs to support providers becoming licensed.
Often times, local First 5 offices may be able to connect you to
resources in your area, as would some county offices of education. You
can find your local R&R office by visiting their site: http://www.rrnetwork.org/
- Become familiar with licensing regulations and make sure that you're able to comply with them: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/
getinfo/pdf/fcc.PDF - Prepare your space. This is where that support will really
come in handy if it's available. It helps to have someone to bounce
ideas off of to plan a thoughtful layout and to help ensure that your
space is safe for children and meeting regulations.
- Along with this, you can also look for resources. There are many great books for family child care home providers to give ideas on how to arrange the room for children in a home setting. You can buy these less expensively online (especially when used), or perhaps borrow them for free at your local library. Here are some of my favorites:
- Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale (By Thelma Harms,
Debby Cryer, and Richard M. Clifford) - This may not be an easy read,
but it is a great growth and quality improvement tool you can use to set
(manageable) goals for your space
- Family
Child Care Homes: Creative Spaces for Children to Learn (by Linda J.
Armstrong) - great ideas that can work in various types of homes. Offers
some inspiration.
- Designs
for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments (by
Deb Curtis and Margie Carter) - this book may not be specific to family
child care home environments, but offers some ideas that could work in
both homes and centers.
- Besides books, you can also check out blogs
online. This has been my greatest source of inspiration for both
environment and curriculum (which often, I've found, go hand in hand). I
have an inclination towards earthy, natural learning environments,
which is why I've looked into the Waldorf philosophy, and I believe in
encouraging exploration and projects, so I look for blogs related to the
Reggio Emilia philosophies. The following are some of my favorite
sites. They don't have to be geared towards family child care home
providers - many of them are parenting blogs, but the same principals
apply.
- Soule Mama: http://www.soulemama.com/
soulemama/ - Daily Pea: http://www.dailypea.com/
- Miss Reggio Blog: http://missreggio.blogspot.
com/ - Let The Children Play: http://www.letthechildrenplay.
net/ - The Magic Onions: http://www.themagiconions.com/
-
Bending Birches: http://bendingbirches2010.
blogspot.com/ - An Everyday Story: http://www.aneverydaystory.
com/ -
You're welcome to also follow my blog, "Garland of Grace," as well! http://adri-333.wix.com/
garlandofgrace - After you submit your application for licensing, as well as other required documentation, you'll get your visit from licensing. It helps to have a mock visit, if there is a support agency in your area that would offer one.
- Once you are licensed, you're still not done! Make sure you are well aware of ratios
you are allowed to have depending on whether you have been licensed for
a small or large family child care home. Licensing will give you forms
and resources to include in your enrollment packet for parents, which
leads me to the next step (if you haven't already done this by now):
- Put together your parent applications, policies, and enrollment packets.
This is by far the most tedious piece of the process that I went
through (at least for me!). What really helped is that my local R&R
agency provided templates that I could use and customize for my program
(How cool is that?). Here's the resource they let me borrow:
- The Redleaf Complete Forms Kit for Early Childhood Professionals (from the Redleaf Business Series)
http://www.redleafpress.org/Redleaf-Complete-Forms-Kit- for-Early-Childhood- Professionals-P191.aspx - Finally, advertise! There are many ways to do this. It helps
to be listed with your local R&R agency. They may have ideas and
suggestions on how to price and market your services. I advertised
through Craigslist, as well as various mommy groups (that allowed
marketing) on Facebook. You can also try to flyer your community or in
neighborhoods by nearby elementary schools. Word of mouth is one of the
best!
- Take baby steps. This is my biggest piece of advice (and one
that I often remind myself of). This process of becoming licensed has
been a fast one, but also a big learning experience for me. I'm looking
at early education from a totally different angle, and having my two
young daughters in the programs adds new challenges, and joys, to the
mix. The biggest thing is that it must be something you're excited to
take on, and do what you can to keep that excitement! Don't overwhelm
yourself with trying to tackle everything at once - that's what I tend
to do. I've committed myself to just learning one new thing a week.
After all, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. Start a pace that you can
maintain and not get burnt out at the start. Know what you're able to
handle, and stick to that. Be sure to include things in every day that
bring you joy. If you're the journaling type, keep a journal to mark
your accomplishments and milestones. Every little step counts, so celebrate them!
Blessings,
Adriana Gomez
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