NOTE: As of July 1, 2010, Lexie’s Law, or Senate Substitute for House Bill 2356, will eliminate the category of registered family day care homes, a child care option which has been around for 30 years.
Click here for more info >>
Click here for FAQs >>
For Parents
For Prospective Child Care or School Age Program Applicants
For Currently Regulated Providers/Staff
For Parents
How do I find child care for my child?
Licensed Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies provide referrals to parents looking for child care. The statewide referral number for agencies associated with Child Care Aware (formerly known as KACCRRA) is 1-877-678-2548, or www.ks.childcareaware.org. ERC is the KACCRRA-associated Resource and Referral Agency serving Douglas County. Call 1-800-279-2372, or www.ercrefer.org.
How do I know if a child care home, center, preschool or school age program is regulated?
A quick check to determine if a program is regulated can be conducted by phone, e-mail or mail.
Contact the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department at (785) 843-3060 or by e-mail at cclinfo@ldchealth.org
Can I get copies of child care home, center, preschool or school age program survey results (compliance history)?
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has the official files for all regulated child care homes, centers, preschools and school age programs. To obtain a copy of the results (findings) of surveys or complaints, send a written request (fax, email or mail) titled “Open Records Request” to the department at:
Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Bureau of Child Care and Health Facilities
1000 SW Jackson, Suite 200
Topeka, KS 66612-1220
Fax: (785) 296-0803
E-mail: cclr@kdheks.gov
You will receive a written response from the department within three working days from the receipt of the request. If there is information to release, the cost is $7 an administrative hour and $.25 a page.
If the total cost for the records is less than $10, the fee is waived by the department.
Please provide a daytime phone number in case there are questions about the request.
Click here for more detailed instructions for an Open Records Request
How do I file a complaint about a child care home, center, preschool, or school age program?
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) contracts with local/county health departments to provide local regulatory services including complaint investigations of regulated or illegal child care. Please call a child care licensing surveyor at (785) 843-3060.
If your concern involves possible child abuse or neglect, call the Kansas Protection Report Center at 1-800-922-5330 or contact local law enforcement in case of emergency.
How can I learn more about funding or grants to help parents pay for child care?
The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) administers the child care subsidy program to help eligible parents pay for child care. Contact the local SRS office or call 1-888-369-4777 for more information.
In addition, Douglas County Child Development Association (DCCDA) administers the Child Care Tuition Scholarship Program. Contact DCCDA at (785) 842-9679 or www.dccda.org.
For Prospective Child Care or School Age Program Applicants –
How do I learn about the procedure to open a child care facility?
The second Tuesday of each month, child care licensing staff present an orientation for people wanting to open a child care home. The meeting is from 1 to 3 p.m. in the first floor meeting room of the Community Health Facility. Please pre-register for the meeting by calling (785) 843-3060.
Contact a surveyor at (785) 843-3060 for more information about opening a center, preschool or school age program.
Where can I get an application for child care and a regulation book?
The laws and regulations for the different types of child care and school age programs are on the KDHE website, http://www.kdheks.gov/kidsnet
Click on “CCLR Regulations” in the listing on the left side of the page. Forms are also available on the website.
Click on “Forms” in the listing on the left side of the page. In addition, forms and applications are available at the Health Department during regular business hours, or at the monthly orientation meeting. The child care licensing office is located on the second floor of the Community Health Facility.
When will I get my license? How long does it take?
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will send a letter within 30 days when a complete application is received to acknowledge receipt. The entire process for obtaining a license or certificate can take 60 to 90 days.
During this time, background checks are being conducted and compliance is being determined by on-site inspection if the application is for a licensed child care facility (home, center or school age program). If the application is not complete, the time period does not begin until the application is complete.
The letter sent by KDHE will identify any missing information required to complete the application, if applicable. Child care licensing staff can help applicants complete forms and review the application materials for completeness before sending to KDHE.
How many hours can I care for children in my home before I need to be licensed?
Providing out-of-home care to more than two children requires a license. If providing care for one or two children, licensure or registration is required if the combined hours for all children in care is more than 20 hours per week.
For example, if a provider cares for two children, Child A and Child B, and she takes care of Child A for 10 hours per week and Child B for 11 hours per week for a total of 21 hours per week, a license is required.
What is the difference between a Licensed Day Care Home and a Group Day Care Home?
The primary difference between a licensed day care home and a group day care is the maximum number of children in care at any one time and the number of adults that must be providing care. A Licensed Day Care Home can have up to 10 children with one adult providing care.
A Group Day Care Home can have up to 12 children with two adults providing care. The total number of children varies depending on the ages of the children. Group Day Care Home providers are required to have more initial training to be qualified than a Licensed Day Care Home provider.
How much is my county fee? Where do I send my county fee?
(As of Sept. 1, 2010)
Licensed Day Care Home $85
Group Day Care Home $87
Child care center, head start center
$75 (base fee, plus $1 per child included in the licensed capacity)
* A public hearing on these increases will be 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22 in room 530 of the Curis State Office Building, 1000 SW Jackson, Topeka.
Fo rmore info on the fee changes and upcoming hearing, click here >>
Submit the local fee to the Health Department, 200 Maine St., Suite B, Lawrence, KS 66044
I’m applying for a license. Where do I need to send the application?
All applications are to be sent to:
Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department
200 Maine St., Suite B
Lawrence, KS 66044
I sent in a new application. Will I get a temporary permit? I’ve never been regulated before OR I had a home before but closed a long time ago.
A temporary permit may be issued once the background checks for criminal history and child abuse and neglect have cleared if there is no history of noncompliance. A full license will not be issued until the initial survey is complete and compliance with regulations and statutes is achieved.
Once compliance is documented, a license may be issued. Compliance must be obtained before the temporary permit expires to avoid the possible denial of the application.
Can I have a trampoline in the outdoor play area?
No. In 1994, KDHE Child Care Licensing staff determined that trampolines are hazardous and should not be used by children in child care facilities. Many child care providers have trampolines for their own children, so naturally the question arises, “How can I keep my children’s trampoline and be in compliance with regulations?”
K.A.R. 28-4-115(i)(1) requires the outdoor play area to be free from hazards. In addition, K.A.R. 28-4-115(i)(6) requires the outdoor play area to be fenced when there are adjacent hazards. This means that a trampoline cannot be in the children’s play area and if there is a trampoline on the premises, either it has to be outside the fenced-in play area or it must be surrounded by a fence. These requirements are much the same as for a swimming pool.
In recent years, discussions about trampolines at surveyor trainings have revolved around the safety nets that are now available. KDHE has determined that the nets are not sufficient to make the trampolines inaccessible; therefore a fence would still be required.
I have an inflatable pool that is filtered and remains up all summer. Is that considered to be a wading pool?
No. Since the pool is not emptied daily, it requires the use of chlorine and has a filtering system, it is considered a swimming pool and those regulations must be followed.
For Currently Regulated Providers/Staff –
I’m changing from a Licensed Day Care Home to a Group Day Care Home (or vice versa). Can I get a temporary permit?
No. KDHE will not issue a temporary permit for a program change because the current license remains effective until the new application process is completed and a new license is issued.
I lost my license. Can I get a new one?
Send a written request to KDHE (may be by e-mail to cclr@kdheks.gov) stating what happened to the license, include complete name, mailing address, city, state and zip code and the License Number. Include a telephone number.
A duplicate license will be printed and sent to the licensee or registrant.
The Early Care and Youth Programs Section of the KDHE Web site has answers to additional questions at the following link: http://www.kdheks.gov/bcclr/download/ECYP_Frequently_Asked_Questions.pdf
