Family Day Care Homes

Care for children can take many forms according to the laws of Pennsylvania. A family day care home is defined as "any home in which child day care is provided at any one time to four through six children who are not relatives of the caregiver." Starting a family day care home may be a solution for a group of graduate students, or a spouse who cannot work outside the home but is willing to care for other's children.

A family day care home is fairly simple, generally requiring the caregiver and facility to provide a healthy and safe and educational environment for the children. Extra work involves maintaining paperwork, such as records of children's allergies and parents' phone numbers. A certificate of registration is required from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Works Office of Children, Youth, and Families (OCYF). The certificate application is free and may include an inspection of the care facility by OCYF. The certificate is intended to assure that a facility provides a safe and healthy place for children, not to penalize the caregiver.

If a family day care is something you might be interested in starting, read the regulations for such a facility, Chapter 3290 Pennsylvania Code Title 55 Public Welfare. We are trying to arrange for a short seminar by Child Care Partnerships on starting a family day care home in August or September. Then, *share your interest* with other graduate students who might be interested in having you care for their child.