Whitman/Asotin
County
Child Care Resource
& Referral 
Please click twice on the links below.
A family child care home is a facility in the family residence of the licensee providing regularly scheduled care for six children, within the age range of 1 month to 11 years, exclusively, for periods less than 24 hours. Family providers may be licensed for up to 12 children under certain circumstances. However, the licensee shall ensure an approved assistant is on the premises when:
If you have questions about licensing, call CCR&R at 335-7625 or 1-800-440-2277. For application materials call the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services at 509-456-2944.
(Persons and organizations operating the following types of facilities are subject to licensing under chapter 74.15 RCW.)
The National Association for the Education of Young Children states, "Regulation should not be perceived as unwarranted intrusion, but as vigorous and necessary consumer protection for parents and their young children...The primary benefit of regulation is that it helps assure children's rights to an acceptable level of care."
We contact day care homes on a monthly basis in order to keep current information on available spaces. For FREE referrals to licensed family child care homes call 335-7625 or 800-440-2277.
Advantages of Family Care
Provide smaller group setting that may be more desirable for some children. Children must adjust to fewer adults during the day and have a chnace to build a close bond with caregiver. It may be more flexible than center-based care in terms of hours, part-time, and non-standard work hours. It is often the most available type of care in communities with a wide variety of caregivers styles and settings. It has a home-like setting that may better meet the needs of some children. Care cost may be a bit lower that centers or in-home care.
Licensing Information and Complaint Procedures
Family child care facilities are residential homes licensed to provide care for up to twelve (12) children. Licensing of these facilities is administered by:
Department of Social
and Health Services
Office of Child Care Policy-DSHS
N. 1425 Washington
TAF C-38
Spokane, WA 99220-4038
Phone Number: 509-456-2944
The licensing procedure requires a police background clearance of all adults in the home, a tuberculosis test, a written policy on discipline, a written statement of medical policy and plan of action for medical emergency, completion of a certified First Aid/CPR class, and a list of five personal references.
Any questions or concerns regarding operation of family child care homes should be directed to the Office of Child Care Policy 509-456-2944.
Parents should always call and ask the licensor if there have been any complaints filed against a provider before leaving their child.
Licensed Capacity for Family Child Care Homes:
|
Required
Number of Providers
|
Age
Range
|
Max
Number of Children under 2
|
Max
Number of Children total
|
| Licensee | 1 month to 11 years | 2 | 6 |
|
Licensee with 1 year experience |
2 years to 11 years | None | 8 |
| Licensee with 1 year experience | 5 years to 11 years | None | 10 |
|
Licensee with 1 year experience plus and assistant |
1 month to 11 years |
4 | 9 |
| Licensee with 2 years experience and 1 early childhood education class | 3 years to 11 years | None | 10 |
|
Licensee with 2 years experience and 1 early childhood education class plus an assistant |
1 month to 11 years | 4 | 12 |