Tioga recognizes the significance of quality child care services for families. By starting your in-home daycare business, you can provide a safe and nurturing environment for children while following the regulations set by the HHS Early Childhood Licensing Unit. These regulations, based on the North Dakota Century Code 50-11.1 and North Dakota Administrative Code 75-03-08, prioritize children's health, safety, and well-being.
Start Your Own In-Home Child Care Business in Tioga, ND: Step-by-Step Guide & Resources
Welcome to the step-by-step guide for starting your own in-home child care business in Tioga, North Dakota. We've compiled all the necessary information and resources to help you navigate the process seamlessly.
Step 1 Understand the Importance of Family Child Care
To operate a Family Child Care program, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the regulations. You can access the complete set of regulations. Understanding these guidelines will ensure that you meet all the necessary requirements to run a licensed and monitored program.
Step 2: Review the Regulations
Background checks are mandatory for all providers, staff, household members, and in some cases, volunteers. To initiate the process, you'll need to complete three forms for fingerprint-based criminal background checks. You can find instrucitons for how to fill out these forms here. Additionally, make sure to review the list of offenses that could restrict individuals from working in a licensed or regulated early childhood service program, check out the offenses list here.
Step 3: Complete Criminal Background Checks
SFN 829 (4-2023)
SFN 60688
SFN 836 (9-2022)
As a licensed or self-declared child care provider, you and your staff must complete preservice and annual training hours. The number of training hours required depends on your provider type and hours worked. The specific training programs you need to complete as a Family Care Provider are as follows:
Certification must be obtained within 90 days of employment and before having unsupervised access to children under your care. Approved training programs are available through organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Note that online pediatric CPR/AED training courses are accepted, but you must also complete a hands-on, in-person skills test with a certified instructor.
- Getting Started: This 15-hour basic child care course must be completed within the first three months of becoming licensed or employed. It counts towards your annual training requirements and can be accessed at link to Getting Started training.
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): All staff members caring for infants must complete one hour of department-approved sudden infant death prevention training prior to providing care to infants and annually thereafter. This free training counts towards your annual training requirements.
- Pediatric CPR/AED and Pediatric First Aid:
- Staff responsible for caring for or teaching children must be certified in infant and pediatric CPR/AED
- pediatric first aid.
Certification must be obtained within 90 days of employment and before having unsupervised access to children under your care. Approved training programs are available through organizations like the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Note that online pediatric CPR/AED training courses are accepted, but you must also complete a hands-on, in-person skills test with a certified instructor.
Training may not be duplicated within a 3-year period, with the exception of sudden infant death prevention annual training.
Completed training hours can be found within your Growing Futures account in either your DHSS Licensing Training Record or your Learning Record Report.
Step 4: Fulfill Training Requirements
Child care providers are required to submit specific paperwork as part of the application and renewal process. All required provider paperwork must be submitted to your Licensing Specialist via the online Child Care Licensing system.
Step 5 Provider Paperwork
Family Child Care Provider Paperwork
• Application for licensure/self-declaration, completed online via the Child Care Licensing system
• Auto Liability Insurance, if transportation is provided
• Criminal Background Check Memorandums
• Daily Program Schedule
• Fire Inspection
• Growing Futures Training Record
• Indoor Square Footage Map
• Local or Regional Requirements, if applicable
• Outdoor Square Footage Map
• Pediatric CPR/AED & Pediatric First Aid Certification
• Pet Vaccination Records, if applicable
• Policies & Contracts
• SFN 433 Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry for household members aged 12-17
• SFN 517 Child Care Evacuation Disaster Plan, completed online via the Child Care Licensing system
• Auto Liability Insurance, if transportation is provided
• Criminal Background Check Memorandums
• Daily Program Schedule
• Fire Inspection
• Growing Futures Training Record
• Indoor Square Footage Map
• Local or Regional Requirements, if applicable
• Outdoor Square Footage Map
• Pediatric CPR/AED & Pediatric First Aid Certification
• Pet Vaccination Records, if applicable
• Policies & Contracts
• SFN 433 Child Abuse and Neglect Background Inquiry for household members aged 12-17
• SFN 517 Child Care Evacuation Disaster Plan, completed online via the Child Care Licensing system
To ensure your in-home child care business operates smoothly, take care of the following business essentials:
- Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Visit IRS EIN application link for the free application process.
Step 6: Business Essentials
• Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): CCAP helps working families or those in training or education programs with the cost of childcare. State-licensed providers, self-declared providers, and approved relatives are eligible to receive payments through CCAP.
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): CACFP provides federal funds to licensed, nonprofit child care centers to serve nutritious meals and snacks. Licensed family child care providers, licensed group child care providers, and self-declared child care providers caring for at least one child can participate through a Family Child Care Home Sponsor (FCCH).
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): CACFP provides federal funds to licensed, nonprofit child care centers to serve nutritious meals and snacks. Licensed family child care providers, licensed group child care providers, and self-declared child care providers caring for at least one child can participate through a Family Child Care Home Sponsor (FCCH).
Step 7: Explore Support Programs
By following these steps and utilizing the available resources, you can embark on a fulfilling journey as a Family Child Care provider in Tioga, making a positive impact on the lives of children and families in our community.
Storefront Improvement Grant
Renaissance Zone Program
Local ECONOMIC PROGRAMS AND INCENTIVES
Tioga Fund
