How to Become Registered Family Day Home Provider in Florida

Starting a family day care home in Florida is an exciting and rewarding path for those passionate about nurturing young minds and providing a safe and supportive learning environment for young children. As a registered family child care provider, you will play a pivotal role in the early development of children while also having the chance to create and run your own daycare business.

The process of becoming a licensed provider involves meeting essential child care licensing requirements in accordance with Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), as well as completing necessary training and ensuring the safety and well-being of the children in your care. On top of creating a strong business plan, you will need to understand the licensure process in order to operate a successful program that aligns with state regulations. This guide will walk you through the key steps, helping you understand what’s required to obtain your credential and prepare for a rewarding career as a family child care provider.

Opening a Family Child Care Home Program (OPENH) Course

A great way to begin your journey toward becoming a licensed family child care provider in the State of Florida is by enrolling in a free course offered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

The course, titled Opening a Family Child Care Home Program, provides new home childcare providers with a thorough overview of the steps required to start and successfully manage a family child care home. It’s an excellent resource for understanding the essentials of licensing and the responsibilities involved in running a childcare business.

Upon completion of this course, child care professionals will be able to:

• Describe the responsibilities of a family child care provider: Understand the key duties and expectations of running a family child care home.
• Analyze the need for a family child care home in your area: Evaluate the demand for childcare services in your community and determine what types of services are most needed.
• Establish goals and a guiding philosophy for your large family child care home: Develop a mission and vision to guide your business.
• Identify the operational requirements of opening a family child care home: Learn about the rules, regulations, and logistics needed to operate a legally compliant family day care home.
• Develop finance and budget management plans: Gain insights on how to set up financial structures for your business, including pricing, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Identify elements of program structure that need to be developed: Understand the components of a well-rounded child care program, from curriculum to scheduling and child assessments.

In addition, completing the Opening a Family Child Care Home Program course offers 0.3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).

To access this course, visit the DCF website at myflfamilies.com and select “Training and Registry Login” to get started.

This course provides essential knowledge and tools for anyone considering starting a family child care home and is a great resource for ensuring you’re prepared to meet the needs of both children and families in your community, as well as the rules and regulations laid out by your local licensing office.

General Requirements to Operate a Family Day Care Home

Before operating a family day care home in Florida, there are several important registration requirements that must be completed:

1. Age Requirement: The family day care home operator must be 18 years of age or older.
2. Location Requirement: The family day care home must be located in the home where the operator resides. The operation cannot be set up in a separate building or facility.
3. Full-Time Operation: The operator cannot work outside the home during the hours the family day care home is in operation. This ensures the operator is present and available to oversee the care of children during business hours.
4. Emergency Substitution Plan: The operator must have a written plan in place to provide at least one other qualified staff member who can substitute for the operator in case of an emergency. This ensures that the care of the children is not interrupted in unexpected situations.
5. Health and Safety Checklist: The operator must provide a copy of a completed health and safety checklist to each parent on an annual basis. This checklist ensures that the family day care home complies with safety regulations and standards.
6. Application Fee: There is a $25 application fee that applies to both initial applications and annual renewals of the family day care home registration.
7. Neighborhood Association and Property Restrictions: Before moving forward, it’s important to check for any restrictions that could affect your ability to operate a family day care home.
   1. Neighborhood Association Covenants:
      • Verify that your neighborhood association does not have any covenants that prohibit operating a family day care home in your residence. Some associations may restrict such businesses.
   2. City and County Zoning Laws:
      • City and County governments cannot pass zoning laws that stop you from using your home as a family day care home. However, they may still regulate certain aspects of the operation.
   3. Renters:
      • If you are renting or leasing your home, you must get written approval from your property owner to operate a business in the residence. Be sure to review your lease agreement to confirm that running a business is allowed.
   4. Written Approvals:
      • Operators must obtain written approval from any relevant local government entities, Homeowners Associations (HOA), and/or landlords (if applicable).
   5. Zoning and Compliance Attestation:
      • If required, you may need to submit a signed Zoning Building Code/HOA Attestation, confirming your responsibility to comply with all relevant regulations.

These requirements are crucial for ensuring the safety, compliance, and successful operation of a family day care home. Once these general requirements are met, you can proceed with the registration process to officially begin operating your family child care home.

Training Requirements for Family Day Care Providers

Once you meet the general requirements, the next step is to complete the required training. This training is one of the most time-consuming parts of the registration process, but it’s necessary to ensure you’re well-prepared to care for children and provide a high-quality early childhood education program.

30 Hours of Training

Family day care home operators must complete a total of 30 hours of training, which is divided into five courses. You must pass a competency exam for each course to receive credit.

1. Family Child Care Home Rules and Regulations (FCHR) – 6 hours
2. Health, Safety, and Nutrition (HSAN) – 8 hours
3. Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect (CAAN) – 4 hours
4. Child Growth and Development (CGDR) – 6 hours
5. Behavioral Observation and Screening (BOSR) – 6 hours

Additional Literacy Training

In addition to the above courses, daycare providers must complete a separate course on early literacy and language development for children ages birth to five. This course must be a minimum of 5 clock hours (or 0.5 Continuing Education Units). You can fulfill this requirement through:

• Department Web-based Course: Early Literacy Birth to Three or Emergent Literacy for VPK Instructors.
• Approved Literacy Course: A list of approved courses can be found on the Department of Children and Families (DCF) website.
• College-Level Early Literacy Course: If you have taken a college-level course in early literacy within the past five years, it may fulfill this requirement.

Background Screening Requirements

Before your registration can be finalized, you, your household members, and any childcare personnel who will be working for you must undergo background checks to ensure the safety of the children in your care. This includes several components:

1. FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Screening
   • All adult household members, the operator, and substitutes must be screened through both the FBI and FDLE. This is done via electronic fingerprinting through the Background Screening Clearinghouse.
2. Out-of-State Criminal Record Checks
   • If you or your household members have lived outside of Florida in the past five years, you’ll need to submit a criminal record check from the previous state of residence. If the state participates in the FBI National Fingerprint File (NFF), this can be used for the check.
3. Child Abuse and Neglect Registry Check
   • This check is required for the operator, household members, and substitutes who have lived outside of Florida in the last five years.
4. Juvenile Records Check
   • If you have household members aged 12-17, their juvenile records must be checked through the FDLE public portal.
5. Good Moral Character Attestation
   • All adults involved must complete the Child Care Attestation of Good Moral Character (AGMC). If you or anyone involved has been convicted of certain offenses, this could prevent you from operating a registered family day care home.

Child Ratios and Capacity Requirements

Florida has specific rules about the number of children you can care for in a family home daycare facility. These limits are based on the age of the children and the number of adults available. Licensed family child care homes may provide care for one of the following age groups of children including school-aged children under 13 years of age related to the provider.

• A maximum of four children from birth to 12 months if offering infant care.
• A maximum of three children from birth to 12 months and three additional children over 12 months (for a total of six).
• A maximum of six children who are all older than 12 months.
• A maximum of 10 children if no more than 5 are preschool-aged, and of those, no more than 2 can be under 12 months.

Additional Considerations for Your Business

There are several important factors for home daycare centers to consider before opening. Here’s a breakdown of key areas the DCF recommends home childcare providers review:

1. Occupational License – Certain cities and counties may require you to apply for an occupational license to operate your daycare business. Contact your local licensing agency or government’s building and zoning department to find out if this is required in your area.
2. IRS – As a family child care provider, you are responsible for your own self-employment taxes. Keep in mind that parents using your services will likely claim you as a provider on their tax returns. Be sure to understand your tax responsibilities and explore potential tax benefits you may be eligible for.
3. Bookkeeping/Accounting Services – Keeping accurate financial records is essential for tax purposes and helps ensure the profitability of your business.
4. Contract – Having clear, written policies is essential for a smooth operation. Be sure to create a contract that outlines your daycare services, policies, fees, and expectations. Review this contract with potential clients and have them sign it before they begin using your services.
5. Professional Organizations – Joining local, state, or national Family Day Care Associations can provide valuable support, advice, and training opportunities. These organizations help you stay informed on best practices and keep you connected with other professionals in the field.
6. Training – Consider enhancing your qualifications by taking courses in Pediatric CPR, First Aid, Child Development, and similar areas. Many parents will appreciate knowing that their children are being cared for by someone who is well-trained in early childhood safety standards.
7. Transportation – If you plan to offer transportation services for children, safety must be your top priority. The DCF recommends taking a transportation safety course to learn the best practices for ensuring children’s safety while being transported in your care.

Final Steps to Becoming a Registered Family Day Care Provider

Once you’ve met all the above requirements, completed the necessary training, passed all exams, and submitted your background screening, you’ll be ready to complete the online Family Day Care Home Registration Intent. This is the final step in applying to operate a registered family day care home.

Becoming a registered family day care provider is a big responsibility, but with the right preparation, training, and commitment, it will be a meaningful and rewarding experience. If you meet the requirements and follow the necessary steps, you’ll be on your way to providing quality care to children in your community in no time.

Grants for Child Care Services in Florida

There are various grants available to assist with the startup or expansion of childcare facilities in Florida:

• Child Care Tax Credits Program: Established in 2024, this program offers tax credits to businesses that establish, operate, or make payments to eligible childcare facilities for their employees. The credits apply against several Florida taxes, including corporate income and insurance premium taxes. Applications are processed by the Florida Department of Revenue.
• The Florida Child Care Development Block Grant is the primary federal grant program that allows states to provide child care assistance to low-income working families with children under age 13. The grant offers funding for improvements, training, and services to enhance child care quality.
• U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Support: The SBA provides resources to help childcare businesses start and expand. This includes access to Women’s Business Centers, which offer training, counseling, and assistance in areas like business planning and financial operations. Additionally, the SBA offers various loan programs, such as the CDC/504 Loan Program and microloans, which can provide necessary capital for your childcare business.
• The School Readiness Program provides financial assistance to eligible low-income families to help them access quality child care.

These grants can help reduce startup costs and ensure that your facility meets the highest standards of care.

Build Your Business with Lillio

Becoming a registered family day home provider in Florida is an exciting journey that allows you to positively impact families and young children in your community. From Broward to Sarasota, communities in Florida need quality daycare providers to support working families. By leveraging grants and programs designed for new childcare facilities, you can reduce startup costs and focus on providing exceptional care. With preparation and dedication, you’ll be ready to offer a trusted resource for families and help children thrive during their most formative years of age.

After successfully navigating Florida’s licensing process, the next step is ensuring you have the right tools to manage and grow your program. Lillio is here to support you at every stage, offering comprehensive child care management software designed to streamline operations, foster parent engagement, improve record keeping, in-service training and keep you compliant with state regulations.

Trusted by thousands of child care centers, Lillio provides the essential tools to help you create and sustain a high-quality program.

Opening a new home childcare in Florida? You don’t have to do it alone. Click here to discover how Lillio can make your journey smoother!