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The goal of the Child Care Licensing Program is to reduce the risk of predictable harm to children while in out-of-home settings.
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• Provide information to those interested in becoming licensed or registered child care providers
• Initial inspection visits of the day care home or center to verify compliance with state regulations
• On-site annual evaluation visits of licensed facilities
• Consultation visits
• Investigation of complaints
The Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department Child Care Licensing staff continues to increase the number of quality child care facilities in Lawrence and Douglas County.
Hours
Staff are available from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call (785) 843-3060 or e-mail cclinfo@ldchealth.org.
Orientation meetings for prospective providers are held from 1 to 3 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month in the first floor meeting room of the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine St. in Lawrence.
Please pre-register by calling (785) 843-3060.
As shown by the graph below, the number of slots for child care in Douglas County continues to increase.
CCL STAFF ALSO ASSISTS PROVIDERS
A few years ago, our child care center had the unfortunate experience of having several children and teachers sick with the dreaded “crypto” (Cryptosporidium – an illness that causes severe diarrhea). Surveyors in the child care licensing program and the Healt.jpg)
h Department nurses helped us identify ways to keep it from spreading. They also gave us information to share with parents. This experience helped us understand why surveyors focus so much on hand washing and diapering procedures when they do our evaluation surveys each year.
Hopefully, we won’t have anything like that happen again; but if we do, we know we can count on the Health Department staff to help us through.
A New Perspective – A Provider's Story
Getting the perspective of how a 2-year-old sees the world is just some of the help Kari Balthazor received from the Child Care Licensing program to make her home safe.
Kari, who quit her regular job to open Time 4 Kidz day care in Eudora, now cares for five children, including her own two boys, Mason and Grady. Spending time with her own children is just one of the perks of the business, which Child Care Licensing Coordinator Karen Flanders helped her establish.
Working to safeguard public health laws and regulations is how Child Care Licensing surveyors help keep children safe.
“Karen just made us more aware of safety precautions we need to have around our house,” Kari said. “She was comfortable to talk to.”
“I am by no means an expert,” said Kari, a member of the Kaw Valley Family Child Care Providers Group. “I have two kids and am learning from them every day.”
Kari also attended one of the monthly prospective child care provider orientations, which gave her plenty of information and allowed her to network with other providers.
“It was very handy,” Kari said. “And the (Child Care Licensing staff) were very clear that they were accessible if anyone had any questions.
“Whenever I have questions, I know I can call them.”
Related Child Care Licensing links
Frequently Asked Questions
For copies of regulations and applications to become a licensed day care provider or registered day care provider, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Web site.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Child Care Licensing orientation meetings for prospective providers are held the second Tuesday of every month at the Community Health Facility, 200 Maine St. in Lawrence. Call (785) 843-3060 to pre-register.
