Voluntary Registration is a form of regulation offered to family day homes that are not required to be licensed. These homes have fewer than six children in care, not including provider's own children and any children who reside in the home. Voluntary registration is not available in areas where local ordinances regulate unlicensed providers (Arlington, Fairfax, and Alexandria). The program is administered by four agencies that have contracted with the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) to perform this function in a specific area of the state.

To register, a family day home provider pays a contracting agency $50.00 for a two-year certificate. All adult residents of the applicant's household must undergo a criminal history background check, child abuse registry clearance and a tuberculosis screening at the time of their initial application and subsequent renewals. Assistants and/or substitutes must complete a health and safety checklist assessing the home and personal qualifications.

The contract agency makes a home inspection to make sure basic child safeguards are adequate. Upon recommendation by the contract agency, VDSS' Commissioner then issues them a two-year certificate of registration. During two-year period, the contracting agency and VDSS licensing staff monitor a small sample of registered homes for compliance with staffing requirements and a health and safety checklist.

Applicable Regulations

• Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies (effective 09/2006) (PDF)
• Voluntary Registration Of Family Day Homes Requirements for Providers (effective 04/1993) (PDF)

Technical Assistance

• Technical Assistance for Voluntary Registration of Family Day Homes Requirements for Providers (effective 10/2009) (PDF)
• Technical Assistance for the Regulation of Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies & Licensed Child Day Centers (updated 06/2009) (PDF)

Applicable Code of Virginia References

• Code of Virginia: Title 63.2 - Welfare (Social Services) 07/2012 (PDF)

Notices

• 2013/05/06: New Medication Training Requirements for Child Day Programs (PDF)
• 2013/04/08: Early Childhood Professionals Day - May 10, 2013 (PDF)
• 2012/11/27: VDSS Memo to Providers Concerning - Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Mandatory Standards for Cribs (PDF)
• 2012/07/30: Voluntary Registration Application Packet (PDF)
• 2012/07/06: Background Check Forms and Instructions for Voluntary Registration Applicants (PDF)
• 2012/07/06: Background Check Forms and Instructions for Assistants, Substitutes, and any Adult Household Members (PDF)
• 2012/07/02: Changes to Child Protective Services Mandated Reporting Law (PDF)
• 2012/06/28: Revised Sworn Disclosure Form (PDF)
• 2012/06/08: Legislative Update, 2012 (PDF)
• 2011/09/12: Emergency Preparedness: Earthquake Safety Checklist & Helping Children Cope with Disaster (PDF)
• 2011/07/20: New Self-Learning Module Online-Head Bumps Matter (PDF)
• 2011/04/04: Updated Documentation for Immunizations (PDF)
• 2011/03/10: AAP - Hungry Caterpillar Book and Learning Activity Tools (PDF)
• 2010/06/25: Shaken Baby Syndrome (Web page)
• 2010/06/23: Current USDA Sponsoring Organizations (PDF)

Background Investigations

• Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies (effective 09/2006) (PDF)
• Barrier Crimes (PDF)
• Criminal Background Checks (conducted by Virginia State Police) (Web page)
• Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry - ($7.00 Search Fee) (DOC)
• Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry - ($7.00 Search Fee) (PDF)
• Sworn Statement or Affirmation for Child Day Programs (PDF)
• Technical Assistance for the Regulation of Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies & Licensed Child Day Centers (updated 6/2009) (PDF)

Guidance & Procedures

• Best Practices for Voluntarily Registered Family Day Homes (PDF)
• Criteria for Training (PDF)
• Fire Extinguishers and Smoke Detectors (PDF)
• Key Health & Safety Standards Subject to Risk Ratings (PDF)
• Proof of Child Identity and Age (PDF)
• Staff-Child Ratio and Point System (PDF)

• Asthma Action Plan (PDF)
• Children's Emergency Medical Authorization (PDF)
• Children's Record (PDF)
• Emergency Escape Plan (PDF)
• First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Course Approval (PDF)
• Health and Safety Checklist (PDF)
• Individual Health Care/Asthma (PDF)
• Individual Health Care/Special Needs (PDF)
• Injury or Accident Report (PDF)
• Liability Insurance Declaration (PDF)
• Log of Administration (PDF)
• Medication Consent (PDF)
• Medication Error Report (PDF)
• Permission to Take Child on Trips or Outings (PDF)
• Program Decision to Administer Medications (PDF)
• Program Decision to Not Administer Prescription Medication (PDF)
• Provider Application (PDF)
• Publication Order Form (PDF)
• Record of Emergency Evacuation Drills (PDF)
• Report of Tuberculosis Screening Evaluation (PDF)
• Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry - ($7.00 Search Fee) (DOC)
• Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry - ($7.00 Search Fee) (PDF)
• School Entrance Health Form (Web page)
• Sworn Statement or Affirmation for Child Day Programs (PDF)

Additional Resources

• Child Day Care Provider Training & Development (Web page)
• Vendor Guidelines for Child Day Care Assistance (Web page)