Becoming a Child Care Provider

Child care is one of the fastest growing home businesses. The need for quality child care providers, especially those caring for infants, is great. If you would like to receive referrals from parents looking for child care, please complete the Provider Intake Packet and return it to:

The Child Care Resource Network
1100 Elizabeth St. Suite 1
Lafayette, IN 47904

What Are The Different Types Of Home Child Care Providers?

Legally Licensed Exempt Care (470 IAC 3-1.1-26) you may never care for more than five unrelated children at any one time! Operating a child care home that is required to be licensed by Indiana code, without a license, is a class B Misdemeanor ( IC12-3-2-17). A fine of up to One Hundred Dollars a day, for each day in operation without a license. (IC12-3-2-17)

Legally Licensed Exempt Provider certified to accept CCDF Vouchers– you may never care for more than five unrelated children at any one time. In addition, you must meet the nineteen minimum standards that the state stipulates in order for you to be reimbursed by the Indiana Child Development Fund (CCDF). A great website for information about this program is Hoosier Childcare.

If you are a legally licensed exempt provider and would like to apply for the CCDF Provider Eligibility Standards contact The Consulting Consortium (TCC) at 317-638-7095 or 866-921-6623. The completed application can be mailed:

The Consultants Consortium
P.O. Box 1186
Indianapolis, IN 46206

What are the benefits to Licensure?

• Marketing Advantages with the local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency
• Increased professional status
• If an emergency should arise, you can care for more than 5 unrelated children.
• Access to information about free or low cost educational training
• Ability to apply for TEACH scholarship (have link describing teach)
• Participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program and be reimbursed for some food expenses
• Opportunity to increase your enrollment
• Updates on State and local early childhood information
• Access to resources to enhance your program
• Recognition as a professional business
• Ability to apply for some grants which may be available
• Receive the support of the County Child Care Licensing Consultant
• Licensed providers receive higher payment when caring for children on the CCDF Voucher program, than non-regulated providers.

To Become A Licensed Home Child Care Provider

• Attend Orientation Training One. This is a Two-Hour training that is held throughout the year in all twelve counties. To view the schedule that best meets your needs, click here for the training schedule.
• Attend Orientation Training Two. This is a three and a half hour training that is held throughout the year in most counties. To view the schedule that best meets your needs, click here for the training schedule.
• Prepare your home for inspection utilizing the inspection checklist and rules obtained in Orientation Two
• Complete the Application for Home Licensure provided in Orientation II. Obtain appropriate documentation and training as necessary for yourself, caregivers, and family members.
• Submit the completed application and appropriate documentation to your licensing consultant. The Licensing Consultant will call you to schedule an inspection.
• The Licensing Consultant will complete the home inspection.

Class I Child Care Home(470 IAC 3-1.1-7.2) Means a child care home that serves any combination of full-time and part-time children, not to exceed at any one time twelve children plus three children during the school year only who are enrolled in at least grade one. The addition of three school-age children may not occur during a break that exceeds four weeks (i.e. summer vacation).

Class II Child Care Home– Providers who have been licensed and in good standing for a minimum of one year can contact Victoria Matney at 765-742-7105 for more information about becoming a Class II Child Care Home.

A child care center is a licensed facility designed to provide care for one or more children in a commercial building.

For further information: 877-511-1144/ Registrations and reservations for Orientation II Sessions for Centers and Ministries are available online at CareFinder.

A ministry is a child care operated by a religious organization. Please note: A child care ministry that is exempt from licensing must clearly state in all of its paid promotional advertising that the child care ministry is providing child care as an extension of the ministry’s church or religious ministry. A child care ministry that is exempt from licensing must be referred to in all of its paid promotional advertising as a child care ministry.

For further information: 317-233-5414. Registration and reservations for Orientation II Sessions are available online at CareFinder.

Bureau of Child Care Home Licensing Consultants:

Marleta Misch                email: Marleta.Misch@fssa.in.gov          phone: 877-511-1144

• Benton County
• Carroll County
• Clinton County
• Fountain County 
• Newton County
• Tippecanoe County
• Warren County
• White County

Brenda McDade            email:Brenda.McDade@fssa.in.gov          phone:877-511-1144

• Benton County

Charity Colter                 email: Charity.Colter@fssa.in.gov           phone: 877-511-1144

• Boone County

Karen Hall                      email: Karen.Hall@fssa.in.gov               phone:  877-511-1144

• Cass County
• Pulaski County