Tennessee day care licenses are designed to protect children.
As long as parents are required to work, there will be a need for day care or child care centers, whether they are home centers or larger facilities. The state of Tennessee requires that all child care facilities be licensed by the state's Department of Human Services. Fortunately, the state wants the facilities to be successful, so they have clear rules and regulations, and staff members in place to assist with the licensing process. Ultimately, the purpose of licensing the centers is to protect the children, according to the Tennessee Department of Human Services.
Instructions
1. Obtain day care license forms, such as fingerprinting/background check forms, from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, either in person or via the state's website.
2. Read the summary of licensing requirements that applies to the type of day care you wish to provide: family home, group home or child care center. Read also the licensure rules for each of these types of child care agencies at the Tennessee Secretary of State's web site.
3. Contact your local child care licensing office next, according to the Department of Human Services website. Each county in the state is assigned to one of 12 offices. Choose the office associated with the county in which the child care facility will be located. They will give you the primary application form and assist you in the steps necessary to obtain licensing.
The applicant, and the individual who will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the facility if governed by a board of directors or trustees, must attend one pre-application training session that is provided by the Department of Human Services, according to Own a Daycare.com. The same individuals, or the directors/mangers, must also attend a four-hour pre-service orientation training provided by the department.
During the application process, you will need to fully describe the center's operational plan, staffing, policies and procedures, facilities, meals and much more.
4. While going through the application process, it will be necessary to obtain general liability, automobile liability (if travel is involved) and medical payment insurance coverage for the facility. Background checks on all staff members will be required as well. A temporary license may be issued for the first 120 days to allow time for the facility to come into full compliance, at which time an evaluation will be performed to determine if a license will be issued. You will need to renew your license each year.
5. Read the requirements on DHS's website regarding the Child Care Report Card (mandatory) and Star Quality Program (voluntary). The report card for family day care is based on five factors: caregivers' training and education; compliance history; parent and family involvement; business management practices and program assessment based on on-site observation, according to the DHS. In the voluntary program, one to three stars are awarded to providers who exceed state standards. In both cases, parents will be able to see the results of these assessments, so achieving the highest rating possible can be a key factor in running a successful business.
6. The Child Care Resource & Referral Tennessee Network provides resources for child care facilities, including video training on greeting and departing, meals and snacks, toileting and diapering, and more.
Tags: child care, Department Human, Department Human Services, Human Services, will need
