5.1 Licensing Requirements

Each Lead Agency must ensure it has in effect licensing requirements applicable to all child care services provided within the State/Territory (not restricted to providers receiving CCDF funds). 5.1.1 Providers subject to licensing For each category of care listed below, identify the type of providers subject to licensing and describe the licensing requirements. a. Identify the center-based provider types subject to child care licensing: In Missouri, unless a person qualifies for a statutory exemption from licensure, an entity or individual who is caring for more than six children, excluding children who live in the provider’s home and who are eligible for enrollment in public school, or more than three children under the age of two, is required to obtain a child care license. A center is defined in regulation as a child care program conducted in a location other than the provider’s permanent residence, or separate from the provider’s living quarters, where care is provided for children for any part of the 24-hour day. Are there other categories of licensed, regulated, or registered center providers the Lead Agency does not categorize as license-exempt? [x] Yes. If yes, describe: The Lead Agency has a category of care called License- Exempt which is an exemption from licensure but these facilities are regulated by the Lead Agency. These are child care facilities maintained or operated under the exclusive control of a religious organization and nursery schools. [ ] No. b. Identify the family child care providers subject to licensing: In Missouri, unless a person qualifies for a statutory exemption from licensure, an entity or individual who is caring for more than six children, excluding children who live in the provider’s home and who are eligible for enrollment in public school, or more than three children under the age of two, is required to obtain a child care license. Missouri regulation 5 CSR 25-400.010(11) defines a family child care home as a child care program where care is given by a person licensed as a child care home provider for no more than 10 children for any part of the 24-hour day. Are there other categories of regulated or registered family child care providers the Lead Agency does not categorize as license-exempt? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe: [x] No. c. Identify the in-home providers subject to licensing: If all children being cared for live in the home where care is being provided, the provider is not required to be licensed. Are there other categories of regulated or registered in-home providers the Lead Agency does not categorize as license-exempt? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe: [x] No. 5.1.2 CCDF-eligible providers exempt from licensing Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible providers who are exempt from licensing requirements, the types of exemptions, and describe how these exemptions do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. -Relative providers, as defined in CCDF, are addressed in subsection 5.8. a. License-exempt center-based child care. Describe by answering the questions below. i. Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible center-based child care providers who are exempt from licensing requirements. Center-based providers who are exempt from licensing requirements in Missouri include: any graded boarding school; any summer or day camps; any school system; any Montessori school; any business that operates a child care program for the convenience of its customers; any religious organization; any private elementary or secondary school system; any nursery school; any program caring for children in sixth grade or above; and any program caring for school-age children only. ii. Describe the exemptions based on length of day, threshold on the number of children in care, ages of children in care, or any other factors applicable to the exemption. A nursery school is a program with the primary function of providing an educational program for preschool age children for no more than four hours per day, per child. iii. Describe how the exemptions for these CCDF-eligible providers do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. Providers who are not licensed but are contracted to receive CCDF funds are monitored annually by the Lead Agency to ensure they are meeting the health and safety requirements. b. License-exempt family child care. Describe by answering the questions below. i. Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible family child care providers who are exempt from licensing requirements. Providers caring for six or fewer children. ii. Describe the exemptions based on length of day, threshold on the number of children in care, ages of children in care, or any other factors applicable to the exemption. Any person who is caring for six or fewer children, including a maximum of three children under the age of two years, at the same physical address. Children who live in the caregiver’s home and who are eligible for enrollment in public kindergarten, elementary, or high school shall not be considered in the total number of children being cared for. iii. Describe how the exemptions for these CCDF-eligible providers do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. Six or fewer providers who are contracted to receive CCDF funds are monitored annually by the Lead Agency to ensure they are meeting the health and safety requirements. c. In-home care (care in the child’s own home by a non-relative). Describe by answering the questions below. i. Identify the categories of CCDF-eligible in-home care (care in the child’s own home by a non- relative) providers who are exempt from licensing requirements. Any person who is caring for six or fewer children, including a maximum of three children under the age of two years, at the same physical address. ii. Describe the exemptions based on length of day, threshold on the number of children in care, ages of children in care, or any other factors applicable to the exemption. Any person who is caring for six or fewer children, including a maximum of three children under the age of two years, at the same physical address. iii. Describe how the exemptions for these CCDF-eligible providers do not endanger the health, safety, and development of children. In-home care providers contracted to receive CCDF funds are required to have an eligible background screening determination letter on file, complete age appropriate CPR and first aid training, complete CCDF Health and Safety training, complete Subsidy Orientation training, and agree that they have read and understand the information provided in the Subsidy Provider Manual.