Find Licensed Day Care Centers and Preschools Near You!
Start your search for childcare through Great Start Connect. This statewide childcare referral database has sorting features that allow you to customize your search by age, location, or specific needs such as before or after school care. Only licensed providers are listed and the site is updated regularly. Helpful tips for using the CONNECT site are on this Tips Sheet (pdf). For more information call 1.877.614.7328
www.GreatStartConnect.org
What to Look For: High-Quality Child Care Standards for Lenawee County
When looking for, or creating, a high-quality environment for children, consider these important recommendations. Lenawee County parents and licensed center and home providers contributed their thoughts to the following list of standards: High-Quality Child Care Standards.
In addition, the State of Michigan has published an easy-to-read pamphlet called "A Parents' Guide to Child Care Licensing" (pdf).
Types of Licensed Centers
There are a few different types of child care, as you’ve already learned. Child Care and Day Care are used interchangeably. Michigan requires child care programs to be registered/licensed. You can learn more about this here: http://www.michigan.gov/dhs/0,
Registered Family homes: able to provide care for up to 6 children. Operates a home-based business in his/her private residence. May care for infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-aged children who need supervision after school.
Licensed Group Homes: are able to provide care for up to 12 children. Group homes with more than 6 children must employ an assistant caregiver. Operates a home-based business in his/her private residence. May care for infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-aged children who need supervision after school
Licensed Centers: able to provide care for many children depending on the size of the facility. Licensed centers are able to provide care for infants, toddlers, preschool-age and school-age children if their license permits.
Preschool: are licensed facilities that provide full and/or half-day educational programs for 3 and 4 year old children (including Head Start and Great Start Readiness Programs). For more information on Preschools, jump to our Preschool Resource Page.
To publicize your licensed child care, you can and click on the Great Start Connect button above and follow the instructions (the button can also be found at www.greatstartforkids.org). This is a database of all the licensed and registered programs and you can search by city, address or zip.
"Make Time to Talk" Tip Sheet
The National Institute for Literacy has created a "Make Time to Talk" tip sheet for both home-base and center-based child care providers.
Free Social and Emotional Resources
If you need materials to help you work with a child who has challenging behaviors or you wish to just make classroom management run smoothly, click through this list of the latest researched based materials.
Scholarships Available for Child Care Providers
T.E.A.C.H Michigan: A Project of Michigan 4C Association is now offering a scholarship to teachers, directors, assistants, owners, and family child care providers. View brochure here. For more information or an application call (866) 648-3224 x24.
Amendments Made to the Child Care Organizations Act
Legislation recently amended the Child Care Organizations Act. It is now required that all licensed and registered child care organizations maintain, and make available to parents, a notebook that includes, "reports from all licensing or registration inspections, renewal inspections, special investigations, and corrective action plans". Written verification that parents have been notified of the notebook must also be on file. For more information about the child care amendment letter and legislation.
Immunization Requirements
The State of Michigan requires certain immunizations for children attending childcare centers or preschool programs. Go to the CDC Immunizations page for details, including a "catch up" immunization schedule. If you live in Michigan, here is how to request an official immunization record.