Plan ahead and give yourself time to visit several child care programs before making a decision.

Child care costs may vary, depending on the type of care you choose, the days and hours you need care and the area in which you live. Fees may be more for infants and toddlers. There may be discounts if a family has more than one child enrolled in care.

There may be registration fees, transportation fees, and field trip and activity fees. Parents may or may not be required to furnish infant formula, baby food and diapers for infants or toddlers.

• Child Care Centers – Caregivers care for thirteen or more children and legally operate in one of two ways: licensed or license exempt (Church sponsored centers are exempt, but may choose to be licensed).
• Family Day Care Homes – One caregiver cares for no more than six unrelated children in the caregiver’s home and must be licensed.
• Day Care Group Homes – Two or more caregivers care for no more than twelve children and must be licensed.  In Alabama, child care centers that operate less than four hours a day are not regulated by the Department of Human Resources.

If you feel your family’s income is low enough to qualify for financial child care assistance, contact your County Department of Human Resources for more information.

When visiting a day care facility, use this Facilities Visited Checklist to help you decide whether it is a quality program that will suit the needs of your child and your family. After an initial visit by appointment, try to make an unannounced visit before enrolling your child.

Being licensed means that child care centers, family day care homes and group homes have been inspected to assure that standards are met as required by the State Department of Human Resources and the State Fire Marshall’s Office. Some facilities are also inspected by the State Department of Public Health. All child care providers and their employees must pass a comprehensive background check. Each program that requires a license must have the license renewed every two years. The Department of Human Resources prescribes and enforces standards for licensing approval. A Copy of Performance Standards used to license day care facilities may be obtained by contacting the State Department of Human Resources website.

Performance standards for licensure include, but are not limited to:

• Child/staff ratios based on ages of children and types of activities
• Safety requirements for facility and equipment as prescribed by the State Fire Marshall
• Records on children and staff, including immunization and health records
• Minimum educational or training requirements for staff
• Nutritional requirements for children
• Transportation policies
• Requirements for basic program operations and educational programming
• Disciplinary procedures

Quality child care involves attitudes and activities that promote social, emotional, intellectual and physical growth and well-being of every child.

Other factors contribute to quality such as:

• Low child/staff ratios
• Trained staff
• Safe and healthy environment
• Developmentally appropriate activities and practices
• Age appropriate toys and equipment
• Loving, positive interaction between child and caregiver
• Parent Involvement
• Licensing
• Program accreditation

It is the responsibility of parents to be actively involved in their child’s day care. Partnerships should be developed with caregivers.

If you need help in locating licensed child care or need more information regarding child care, you may contact an area Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, your County Department of Human Resources, or the State Department of Human Resources, 50 Ripley Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130, (334) 242-1425.

Serious complaints that cannot be satisfactorily resolved between the parent and the caregiver should be reported to your local county Department of Human Resources.