Page 8

6 | Early Childhood Education and Care Department CHILD CARE OPTIONS What types of Child Care settings are available in New Mexico? Licensed Programs: Licensed programs offer care in a variety of settings and must meet the minimum licensing regulations overseen by the New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department (ECECD). These settings include child care centers, child care homes and out-of-school time programs. • Child Care Center – Provides early childhood education and care services in a commercial building where children are cared for in a classroom-like environment with groups of other children typically their same age. • Child Care Home – Provides early childhood education and care services to a small group of children, in the caregiver’s own home. A caregiver in a Family Child Care Home may provide care to no more than six. They can also be considered a Family Child Care Group Home when there is a second caregiver present. A Group Child Care Home can serve a group of seven to 12 children with a second caregiver present. • Out-of-School Time Program – Provides supervised recreational and educational care services to young school-aged children when school is not in session. Care is often provided at the elementary school that the child attends, or a community center. This type of care can also be called “Before and After School Care”. Registered Homes: Registered homes are not licensed, but are required to follow New Mexico’s non- licensed child care requirements set by ECECD. A registered home provider cares for up to four non- resident children. Registered homes are ideal for families looking for non-traditional hours of service, an emphasis on family values and culture, and more one-on-one attention. Tribal Programs: Tribal child care programs are established within many Native communities. Early learning is rooted in Indigenous culture with a strong emphasis on family involvement. Tribal child care programs provide quality early care and education along with Native language acquisition and preservation, while nurturing the traditional and cultural values of the Pueblo, Tribe, or Nation to which they belong. Many Tribal child care programs are funded through the Head Start Program. Summer Programs: Summer programs are not required to be licensed or registered. Be sure to check with each individual program for details and requirements. Before-and-After School Care: Before-and-after school care is not required to be licensed or registered. Verify with the specific program for details. If the facility is licensed, Child Care Assistance may be applied to this type of care.