Child Care

Making the Decision

Deciding who will take care of your child while you are working or in school can be a hard job. You want your child to be safe and happy when you can't be there.

Choosing a child care provider is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.

Standards: Minimum Requirements

The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for setting and enforcing standards to protect the health, safety and well-being of children in regulated child care settings. Child care options with increasing degrees of DFPS oversight:

Listed family homes –Any caregiver (18 or older) who receives payment for providing regular child care in the home must be listed with DFPS. No inspection or minimum standards are required other than a caregiver background check application.

Registered family homes – These facilities (either home centers or child care centers) are routinely monitored and inspected every five to 12 months to ensure they meet minimum standards to be licensed by the state.

Licensed facilities – These facilities (either home centers or child care centers) are routinely monitored and inspected every five to 12 months to ensure they meet minimum standards to be licensed by the state.

For more information on standards, inspections of child care locations, go to www.txchildcaresearch.org

Standards: Above and Beyond

Child care facilities can volunteer to go above and beyond minimum standards by agreeing to any of the following:

• Smaller group and child/staff ratios
• Caregivers with special child care experience and training
• Directors/caregivers with teaching credentials
• Parental involvement in the program
• Participation in the state quality rating program (Texas Rising Star)
• Accreditation by the national professional organization that requires specific criteria to improve quality

Entities That Regulate Child Care Facilities

• Texas Department of Family & Protective Services (TDFPS)
  1501 Circle Dr., Suite 310
  Fort Worth, Texas 76119 (817) 321-8604
  www.tdprs.state.tx.us
• Tarrant County Public Health Department
  1800 University Dr.
  Fort Worth, Texas 76107 (817) 871-7200
  www.tarrantcounty.com

Child Care Resources

• Need information on the "Children's Healthcare Insurance Program", click here.
• Child Care Associates --- childcareassociates.org
• United Way --- 2-1-1 or (817) 258-8100
• Camp Fire --- campfirefw.org