Background Screening and Fingerprinting
Licensing Guidelines for Family-Owned Child Care Homes
Who Is Required To Become Licensed
Guidelines For Background Screening
Steps to Open A Child Care Facility

Background Screening and Fingerprinting
Background Screening must be completed prior to the first day of beginning
work in a child care facility or family child care home. Failure to comply with
this provision will result in the imposition of an administrative fine against
the owner/director/provider of the child care facility or family child care home
for commission of a Class I Violation.

WHERE:
Child Care Licensing & Enforcement Section
2995 N. Dixie Highway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334
954-537-2800

From I-95, exit Oakland Park Blvd. east. Go east to Dixie Highway (do not cross railroad tracks). Turn right (south) by the Shell Gas Station, onto Dixie Highway. Stay in right lane. go one block past Shell Gas Station. Turn right into parking lot.

Monday --- 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Wednesday --- 8 a.m. - noon
Friday --- 8 a.m. - noon

WHAT TO BRING:

• Facility name, address, and phone number where you will be employed
• Check or money order (NO CASH) in the amount of $32, payable to FDLE
• Photo ID (Driver's License, State ID, Passport, Military ID, or Resident ID)
• Social Security Number

For Family Child Care Home Providers Only

• Bring social security numbers for all household members 12 years of age or older

LICENSING GUIDELINES FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES

Effective January 1, 1991, all family child care homes in Broward County were required to become licensed.

To operate without a license in Broward County is considered a misdemeanor of the first degree, and is punishable by law.

If you have any questions, please contact the Broward County Child Care Licensing and Enforcement Section at 954-537-2800.

WHO IS REQUIRED TO BECOME LICENSED?

Section 402.302(5), Florida Statutes, reads as follows:
“Family day care home” means an occupied residence in which child care is regularly provided for children from at least two unrelated families and which receives a payment, fee, or grant for any of the children receiving care, whether or not operated for profit. A family day care home shall be allowed to provide care for one of the following groups of children, which includes those children under 13 years of age who are related to the caregiver:

(a) A maximum of four children birth to 12 months of age.
(b) A maximum of three children from birth to 12 months of age, and other children, for a maximum total of six children.
(c) A maximum of six preschool children if all are older than 12 months of age.
(d) A maximum of 10 children if no more than five are preschool age and of those five, no more than two are under 12 months of age.

It will be the responsibility of the family day care operator to be sure they are caring for children in only one of the above listed groups. This will require operators to be aware of when children have birthdays and for which category of children care is being provided.

Child care licensing staff are available to assist you at any time during the period of licensure to ensure compliance. Any non-compliance with numbers and ages of children is subject to a fine, not to exceed $100, as found in S. 402.313, Florida Statutes.

Steps To Open A Licensed Family Child Care Home

1. Call for a telephone interview with a licensing consultant at 954-537-2800.

2. Contact City Hall.

3. Complete background screening requirements.
See Background Screening & Fingerprinting and Directions.

4.Complete First Aid/infant CPR training.

5. Schedule licensing home visit with licensing consultant.

GUIDELINES FOR BACKGROUND SCREENING

1. Complete screening is available at the Child Care Licensing and Enforcement Office.

Monday 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

2. Required for operator, substitute, and all other adults eighteen years of age or older who are living in the household.

3. Five (5) notarized character references for adults living in the household and for the substitute.

4. Employment history for the past two (2) years. See Background Screening & Fingerprinting

TRAINING
The Florida Department of Children and Families 30 hour training course for the family child care operator must be completed prior to licensure. Contact Family Central at 954-720-1000. Substitutes must take the 3 hour course before caring for children.

First Aid/Infant CPR training is required for the operator and the substitute.
Courses are available at:

National Safety Council, 772-9900, “Day Care Provider Course”
American Red Cross, 763-9900, "Day Care Safety"
Annual 8 hour in-service training is required after the first year.
American Red Cross Emergency Water Safety Certification is required for anyone who uses a swimming pool for the children.

HEALTH
The operator and substitute must have a physical examination every two (2) years.

RECORD KEEPING Operator’s File

Children’s Files

PHYSICAL FACILITY
Authorization to use the property as a family child care home must be obtained from the property owner prior to licensure.

The home must be clean and safe. Areas accessible to children must be free of toxic substances and rodents.

Electrical outlets must have safety plugs.

There shall be adequate, adjacent outdoor space on the premises. Playground equipment shall be safely installed. Concrete, asphalt, gravel and other non-yielding substances are prohibited beneath any piece of permanently installed playground equipment.

Firearms must be unloaded, stored and locked.

Homes must have a fire extinguisher, (2A-10-BC), which is serviced annually by a licensed fire extinguisher company, and at least one (1) wired-in smoke detector with battery back-up.

Homes must maintain a temperature between 65° F and 85° F.

Homes must have an adequate amount of indoor space for the number of children attending.

Pools, canals and water hazards must be fenced.

A First Aid Kit must be maintained with disposable gloves, soap, bandages, cotton balls, sterile gauze pads, adhesive tape, thermometer, tweezers, scissors and Syrup of Ipecac. A First Aid Manual shall be accessible.

Step-up platforms for easy access to sinks and toilets, must be available if necessary.

Diaper pail with secure lid and a potty seat, must be available if necessary.

Appropriate indoor, outdoor toys and equipment are required.

During nap time, infants through the age of twelve (12) months must be in cribs or playpens with sides.

Each child shall have a separate bed, cot, crib, playpen or floor mat. Floor mats shall be at least 1" thick.

TRANSPORTATION
If transportation is provided, drivers and vehicles must meet all state and county requirements.

Steps to Open A Child Care Facility

1) Contact the Building and Permitting Division in the city where the proposed facility will be located. If the facility will be located in unincorporated Broward County, call 954-765-5075. Building and Permitting can tell you if the proposed location is zoned for child care. (City numbers can be located in the white pages of the telephone directory under the appropriate city).

2) Contact the Fire Rescue Division in the city where the proposed facility will be located or Broward County Fire Rescue Division at 954-831-8210 for unincorporated Broward County. An approved fire inspection is required in order to be licensed by this office.

3) Attend the Child Care Licensing Seminar. Call 954-537-2800 for the location, date and time. Attendance is required prior to the initial licensing of a facility.

4) If you are going to prepare meals on the premises, contact the Department of Children and Families Broward County Public Health Unit at 954- 467-4806 to obtain a food permit.

5) Make an appointment with a Licensing Specialist from this office at 954-537-2800 to review the floor plan for the new facility.

6) Review the Broward County Child Care Ordinance No. 94-2.

7) Make an appointment with a Licensing Specialist to visit the facility for a pre-licensing inspection.

8) Complete the licensing application and other required forms. These forms will be reviewed at the final inspection.

9) Schedule a final inspection for approval of the license. After the final approval submit the application and staff roster with license fee and a $25 non-refundable application fee to this office. The fee is based on the licensed capacity of the facility.

10) If the applicant is a corporation, the corporation must be in good standing and authorized to do business in the State of Florida. Such document shall be required at the time of licensure.

Highlights of the Broward County Child Care Facility Requirements*

BATH FACILITIES
Bath facilities for daytime hours

Bath facilities for nighttime care**

INDOOR USABLE PLAY SPACE
Indoor usable play space is calculated at the rate of 35 square feet per child.
The indoor usable play space calculated at 20 square feet per child will not be affected by change in ownership due to the sale of an existing child care facility which held a valid license prior to October 1, 1992. The child care facility must remain licensed and opened for this standard to apply.

OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE
Outdoor play space is calculated at the rate of 45 square feet per child. A minimum play area shall be provided for one-half (1/2) of the licensed indoor capacity. Outdoor play surfaces of concrete, asphalt, gravel and other similar non-yielding substances are prohibited beneath any piece of permanently installed equipment. Non-yielding surfaces, shall not exceed one-fourth (1/4) of the required outdoor play space.
*Note: Refer to Broward County Child Care Ordinance No. 94-2 for additional requirements.
**Nighttime child care is after 7 p.m. and prior to 6 a.m.

DRINKING FOUNTAINS
A minimum of two (2) drinking fountains are required, one inside and one outside, for a licensed capacity of 50 or fewer children.
One additional drinking fountain is required for each additional 50 children or any fraction thereof.

RATIOS OF PERSONNEL TO CHILDREN
RATIOS OF PERSONNEL TO CHILDREN

In groups of mixed-age ranges where infants are included, one (1) staff member shall not be responsible for more than four (4) children of any age group. In groups of mixed age-ranges where children are one (1) year of age but not infants, are included, one (1) staff member shall not be responsible for more than six (6) children of any age group. In groups of mixed-age ranges where neither infants nor children one (1) year of age are included, the child-to-staff ratio shall be determined by the age of the majority of the children in the group.

PERSONNEL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
1) Operator/Director Requirements:
The operator/director of a child care facility shall have a high school diploma or GED and one year of work experience in a child care program, which includes direct contact with children and one of the following:
a. Certification from the National Child Development Associate Credentializing Program.
b. A vocational certificate in Child Care Supervision--Post Secondary Level through the State of Florida Department of Education.
c. A nationally recognized Montessori teaching credential accredited by the Montessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education (MACTE).
d. A four-year degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood education, child growth and development, child psychology, elementary education, home economics or sociology.
e. An Associate degree in child development or early childhood education, documented by a transcript.
f. At least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university with a minimum of six credit hours of child development or early childhood education, documented by a transcript.
g. Any child development associate equivalent.
2) Child Care Personnel Requirements:
One child care personnel is required for every 20 preschool age children in attendance. Child care personnel who meet this requirement need to complete a Child Care Personnel Education and Employment History Verification Form.
3) Aide Requirements:
An aide shall have one of the following credentials:
a. High school diploma
b. GED
c. Four years of training or experience in child care
4) Future Director Credential Requirements:
The director of a child care facility shall on January 1, 2004 be required to have the Director Credential which consists of one of the following:
a. Foundational Level
b. Advanced Level

HEALTH EXAMINATION
A passing health exam is required for all child care personnel prior to employment and must be updated every two (2) years.

FIRST AID and PEDIATRIC CPR
At least two adult staff members shall have First Aid and Pediatric CPR training, and at least one of these staff members shall be on the premises at all times when children are present. Courses are provided through any recognized program.

SCREENING and BACKGROUND CHECKS
All owner(s)/director(s) and other child care personnel shall complete the background screening requirements prior to the first day of beginning work in a child care facility. Fingerprinting processing fee is $32 per person, payable by check or money order only.
1) Submission of fingerprints – state and federal criminal records check
2) Local Criminal Background Check
3) Affidavit of Good Moral Character

DAILY ROUTINES and PROGRAMS
1) Infants:
Infants shall have planned activity periods of play suitable to stimulate their interest, opportunities for talking and cuddling with staff members and ample opportunities for exercise outside their cribs on mats or on a clean floor surface. All infants should have a daily outdoor period, weather permitting.
2) Other Age Groups:
The facility shall have a daily schedule of activities posted in a place accessible to the parents. The activities shall be appropriate to the developmental age of the child. The daily schedule shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
• Broad blocks of time for activities in art, language development, music, block building, creative and dramatic play, science, manipulative play, active play, indoor and outdoor play periods
• Time period for providing meals and snacks
• Quiet time or nap period
Activities for both indoors and outdoors shall be provided by a flexible daily schedule of regular routines in order to give the children the sense of security they need to help them become self directing and independent, and to develop a positive self image. There shall be a sufficient amount of play equipment and materials available for the licensed capacity of the facility.
3) Each child three years of age or under shall have a daily rest period of at least one hour on a cot, mat, crib, bed or playpen.

MENUS
Menus shall be planned, written and posted at the beginning of each week. Records of menus served shall be placed on file and kept for a minimum of three months.

TRANSPORTATION
The following are required to transport children enrolled in a child care facility:
1) The driver must have a valid Florida Driver's License.
2) For vehicles with a capacity of 16 or more, the driver must have a valid CDL license.
3) The driver must have an annual physical examination.
4) A staff member certified in First Aid and Pediatric CPR must accompany the children in the vehicle.
5) The child care facility vehicle must have a current certificate of inspection.

INSURANCE
At time of licensure, the owner or director of a child care facility shall have obtained a comprehensive general liability policy in the amount of $100,000. This policy must be maintained at all times.

FEES
A child care facility will be assessed a licensing fee and shall be issued a license when it is in compliance with the Health, Safety, Sanitation, Nutrition, Education and Training components of the Child Care Ordinance No. 94-2.
All licenses issued under the provisions of Ordinance 94-2 shall expire annually on the last day of the previous month of issuance and shall be renewed annually.
The fee schedule is as follows:

PROCEDURES
1) Application for license to operate a child care facility shall be accompanied by the appropriate forms and application fees. Checks, cashier’s checks or money orders shall be made payable to: Broward County Board of County Commissioners.

2) If the applicant is a corporation, the corporation must be in good standing and authorized to do business in the state of Florida. Such documentation shall be attached to the application.

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