Effective July 1, 2021, the Virginia Department of Education will be responsible for overseeing child care and early education programs, including licensing, the Child Care Subsidy Program, and resources for educators. More information about the transition is available here.
Voluntary Registration is a form of regulation available to family day homes that are not required to be licensed. These homes have four or fewer children in care, at any one time, not including the provider's own child and any children who reside in the home. Voluntary Registration is not available in areas where local ordinances regulated unlicensed providers (Alexandria, Arlington, and Fairfax). The program is administered by community-based agencies that have a contract with the Virginia Department of Social Services to perform this function in a specific area of the state.
To become registered, a family day home provider must submit an application, a $50.00 non-refundable application fee, and the results of a TB screening and the results of a criminal history search and a child abuse registry search, and a submit a sworn statement or affirmation for themselves, any adults that reside in the home, any assistants or any substitute providers. Additional requirements include a child abuse search for children in the home age 14 - 17. Lastly, they must complete a self-assessment of their compliance with the health and safety requirements using the health and safety checklist.
The contract agency or the Division of Licensing will conduct a home inspection to confirm compliance with the health and safety requirements. Upon recommendation for approval, VDSS' Commissioner issues a two-year certificate of registration. During the two-year period, the contracting agency and VDSS licensing staff monitor a sample number of registered homes for compliance with the requirements.
Regulations & Code References
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Regulations
- Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies (PDF)
- COVID-19 Guidelines and Information for Child Care Operations (Revised April 12, 2021) (PDF)
- COVID-19 VRFDH Leniency List (PDF)
- Voluntary Registration of Family Day Homes Requirements for Providers (PDF)
Applicable Code of Virginia References
New Applicants & Current VRFDH Providers
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Notices
- 2021/06/15: Preparing for Hurricane Season (PDF)
- 2021/06/11: Transition of Child Care Programs from DSS to DOE on July 1, 2021 (PDF)
- 2021/06/04: Notice of Public Hearing- Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Plan for FFY 2022-2024 (PDF)
- 2021/05/28: Executive Order Seventy-Nine- Face Mask Clarification (PDF)
- 2021/05/14: Seventh Amended Executive Order Seventy-Two and Order of Public Health Emergency 9 - Updates to Social Gathering Limits (PDF)
- 2021/05/10: Happy Early Childhood Professionals Day! (PDF)
- 2021/05/07: Transition of Child Care Programs from DSS to DOE (PDF)
- 2021/05/03: Spring Provider Training - Eastern Region (PDF)
- 2021/04/21: Public Comment- Standards for Licensed Child Day Centers (22VAC40-185) (PDF)
- 2021/04/19: Child Care Grants 4th Round Announcement (PDF)
- 2021/04/15: Updated Child Care Guidelines and FAQs (PDF)
- 2021/03/18: TIME SENSITIVE - Governor’s Office Vaccine Survey (PDF)
- 2021/03/18: Revised Child Care Applications (PDF)
- 2021/03/05: Quarantine Updates for Certain Individuals (PDF)
- 2021/02/17: Emergency Preparedness-Severe Winter Weather (PDF)
- 2021/01/25: CACFP Mondays at 1: Ask the Experts! (PDF)
- 2021/01/08: Virginia Early Childhood Family Survey (PDF)
- 2020/12/30: Updated Phase III Documents (PDF)
- 2020/12/09: VDSS Division of Licensing Programs Onsite Inspections - COVID-19 Safety and Health Precautions (PDF)
- 2020/12/08: PPE Push Pack Distribution (PDF)
- 2020/11/20: Updated Information and Guidelines for Child Care in Phase III and Updated Child Care FAQ (PDF)
- 2020/08/21: Fingerprint Based Background Checks-Payment by VDSS Extended (PDF)
- 2020/07/31: VDOLI Emergency Temporary Standard (PDF)
- 2020/07/17: FDA Issues a Hand Sanitizer Alert (PDF)
- 2020/07/01: Updated Child Care FAQ (PDF)
- 2020/06/26: 2020 Legislative Implementation (PDF)
- 2020/06/25: Phase III Guidelines and Information for Child Care (PDF)
- 2020/06/02: Phase II Guidelines and Information for Child Care (PDF)
- 2020/05/13: Phase I Guidelines and Information for Child Care (PDF)
- 2020/04/15: Licensing Waivers During Virginia’s State of Emergency-COVID-19 (PDF)
- 2020/04/10: COVID-19 Updated FAQ, Essential Business Status (PDF)
- 2020/03/31: Update - Joint Guidance for Emergency Childcare (PDF)
- 2020/03/31: COVID-19 - Updated Child Care FAQ (PDF)
- 2020/03/25: Procedures of Fieldprint Site Closures (PDF)
- 2020/03/20: Child Care COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
- 2020/03/19: Child Care Guidance letter issued by VDSS Commissioner Duke Storen (PDF)
- 2020/02/03: Virginia Department of Health- Information on the Coronavirus (PDF)
- 2019/06/19: Fingerprint Communication 9 (PDF)
- 2019/03/18: Annual Health and Safety Update Training (PDF)
- 2018/08/22: Central Registry Update and Tip Sheet (PDF)
- 2018/08/08: Fingerprint Implementation Memo # 8 (PDF)
- 2018/04/26: Central Registry System Update (PDF)
- 2018/04/19: Fingerprint Memo (PDF)
- 2018/03/19: Fingerprinting Memo (PDF)
- 2018/01/19: Updated Timing of Fingerprint Checks (PDF)
- 2018/01/17: OBI Screening Fingerprint Communication Memo #6 (PDF)
- 2018/01/11: Fieldprint Fingerprint Communication Memo # 5 (PDF)
- 2018/01/11: Fieldprint Fingerprint Communication Memo # 4 (PDF)
- 2017/10/12: Fingerprint Implementation Memo #3 (PDF)
- 2017/07/17: Child Day Program Barrier Crimes 2017 (PDF)
- 2017/06/28: Child Care Legislative Update House Bill 1568 (PDF)
- 2017/06/28: Child Care Legisative Update Senate Bill 1008 (PDF)
- 2017/06/28: Child Care Legisative Update - SB1008 and HB1568 (PDF)
Becoming Voluntarily Registered
- touts home (CGI)
- touts (CGI)
- sm prototype (CGI)
- robots (TXT)
- pebt (CGI)
- needhelp (CGI)
- index-orig-20190107 112026 (HTML)
- index-3 (HTML)
- index (CGI)
- index (HTML)
- html page list (TXT)
- gss (XSL)
- googlec9ff7e2c703dc3b3 (HTML)
- google5e751bf1390253bd (HTML)
- google2 (HTML)
- google111220 (BAK)
- google (BAK)
- google (HTML)
- favicon (ICO)
- families (CGI)
- children (CGI)
- child of index (HTML)
- cgo page list (TXT)
- applyonline (CGI)
- adults (CGI)
- 1
Application Forms
- touts home (CGI)
- touts (CGI)
- sm prototype (CGI)
- robots (TXT)
- pebt (CGI)
- needhelp (CGI)
- index-orig-20190107 112026 (HTML)
- index-3 (HTML)
- index (CGI)
- index (HTML)
- html page list (TXT)
- gss (XSL)
- googlec9ff7e2c703dc3b3 (HTML)
- google5e751bf1390253bd (HTML)
- google2 (HTML)
- google111220 (BAK)
- google (BAK)
- google (HTML)
- favicon (ICO)
- families (CGI)
- children (CGI)
- child of index (HTML)
- cgo page list (TXT)
- applyonline (CGI)
- adults (CGI)
- 1
Background Investigations
- Background Checks for Child Welfare Agencies (PDF)
- Background Investigation Procedures Child Day Care Programs (PDF)
- Barrier Crimes (PDF)
- Convictions Requiring Registration in the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry
- Other States - Instructions for Out of State CPS Searches (PDF)
- Other States - Interstate Child Care Background Check Contact List (PDF)
- Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry (PDF)
- State Police Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry
- Sworn Statement or Affirmation for Child Day Programs (PDF)
Documents & Procedures
Forms
- Asthma Action Plan (PDF)
- Children's Emergency Medical Authorization (PDF)
- Children's Record (PDF)
- Emergency Escape Plan (PDF)
- Health and Safety Checklist (PDF)
- Individual Health Care/Asthma (PDF)
- Individual Health Care/Special Needs (PDF)
- Information for Parents Statement (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)
- Record of Emergency Evacuation Drills (PDF)
- Report of Tuberculosis Screening Evaluation (PDF)
- Request for Search of the Child Protective Services (CPS) Central Registry (PDF)
- School Entrance Health Form
Additional Resources
- Changes to Child Proctective Services Mandated Reporting Law (PDF)
- Child Day Care Provider Training & Development
- Emergency Preparedness: Earthquake Safety Checklist & Helping Children Cope with Disaster (PDF)
- IRS - Child Care Tax Credit
- Introduction to the Child and Adult Food Program
- New CPSC Crib Safety Standards Memo (PDF)
- Summer Learning Web Page (PDF)
- TIPS Calendar
- USDA Food Program
- Updated Documentation for Immunizations (PDF)
- Vendor Guidelines for Child Day Care Assistance