Services
CCL has two programs (Day Care Licensing and Residential Child Care Licensing) that protect the health, safety, and well-being of children and youth in daycare and residential childcare, including foster care. In FY 2017, both programs did this in two ways: regulation and investigations. Both programs had licensing inspectors and abuse and neglect investigators. Inspectors and investigators worked hand in hand to make sure childcare providers follow state standards and rules and to address allegations of abuse or neglect. Child Care Licensing:
- Develops rules and minimum standards for daycare, child-placing agencies, and residential childcare.
- Takes applications and issues permits to childcare operations.
- Inspects daycare and other childcare operations.
- Investigates alleged violations of licensing laws, rules, or minimum standards.
- Makes sure criminal background checks are done on childcare owners, employees, or anyone who is at least 14 years old and regularly present while children are in care.
- Helps current and potential childcare providers learn to comply with minimum standards.
- Takes enforcement action against operations when necessary.
- Helps parents and others make informed decisions by giving them information about the types and availability of childcare as well as results of inspections and investigations.
In FY 2017, CCL also investigated allegations of abuse or neglect in all types of childcare operations. However, CCL moved to a new regulatory division within the Health and Human Services Commission on September 1, 2017. The responsibility for investigating abuse or neglect in childcare operations remained at DFPS in the new Investigations program.
Who We Regulate
At CCL, we regulate four basic categories of childcare. They are licensed operations (daycare and 24-hour residential childcare), registered childcare homes, listed family homes, and operations with a compliance certificate.