10.3.2.1: Child Care Licensing Advisory Board

States should have an official child care licensing advisory body for regulatory and related policy issues. A child care advisory board should:

1. Review proposed rules and regulations prior to adoption;
2. Recommend administrative policy;
3. Recommend changes in legislation; and
4. Guide enforcement, if granted this authority via the legislative process.

The advisory group should include representatives from the following agencies and groups:

1. State agencies with regulatory responsibility or an interest in child care (human services, public health, fire marshal, emergency medical services, education, human resources, attorney general, safety council);
2. Organizations with a child care emphasis;
3. Operators, directors, owners, and caregivers/teachers reflecting various types of child care programs including for-profit and non-profit;
4. Professionals with expertise related to the rules; may include pediatrics, physical activity, nutrition, mental health, oral health, injury prevention, resource and referral, early childhood education, and early childhood professional development;
5. Parents/guardians who reflect the diversity of the families that are consumers of licensed child care programs.

This advisory board should be linked to the State Early Childhood Advisory Council (see Standard 10.3.2.2) as required by the Head Start Act of 2007 (1). 

RATIONALE

The advisory group should actively seek citizen participation in the development of child care policy, including parents/guardians, child care administrators, and caregivers/teachers. The licensing advisory board should report directly to the agency having administrative authority over licensing.

RELATED STANDARDS

10.3.2.2 State Early Childhood Advisory Council

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Congress. 2007. Head Start Act. 42 USC 9801. http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/Head Start Program/Program Design and Management/Head Start Requirements/Head Start Act/.