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CHOOSE THE BEST CHILD CARE FOR YOUR FAMILY!

One of the most important decisions parents make is choosing a child care program.  Enrolling your child in a quality program means your child is receiving care from a caring, trained child care provider in a safe, healthy, nurturing and stimulating learning environment.  Your child's experience in child care will build a foundation of learning that will last a lifetime! Our Guide to Quality Child Care gives you step-by-step instructions on choosing a high quality program.

QUALITY INDICATORS

Have you ever wondered what to look for in a child care program?  Our list of 6 Quality Indicators provides parents with a source of topics to be aware of and a list of questions to ask when choosing a child care provider.

CHILDCARE OPTIONS

What type of child care best suits your family's needs?  What's the difference in a Child Care Center and a Family Day Care Home? Our list of Child Care Options describes the types of child care that are available. For more information and resources, contact one of our Family and Community Services Consultants at 205-252-1991 ext. 317.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Do you need assistance paying for child care?  You have options.  We have compiled a list of Financial Assistance and Tax Credit programs that you may qualify for.

ALABAMA LICENSING REGULATIONS

In Alabama the licensing authority is the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). The health department, the fire department and the Department of Human Resources inspect child care centers before awarding licenses.  Licensing is intended to set minimum standards for operating a child care program, but it is not a guarantee of high quality care.  Parents have the right to visit centers at any time during operating hours.  Providers exempt from licensure include centers operated by the following: religious or faith-based organizations, state agencies, local governments, military facilities and programs that operate less then 4 hours a day. 

CHILD CARE CENTERS and NIGHT TIME CENTERS

What are the Licensing Regulations for Child Care Centers?  This helpful guide lists the state regulations on teacher qualifications, health and safety, staff to child ratios, and questions you should ask when visiting a child care center.

FAMILY DAY CARE and GROUP DAY CARE HOMES

What are the Licensing Regulations for Family Day Care Homes? In Alabama, legally operating Family Day Care Providers must have a license if they are providing care for one or more unrelated children, with or without compensation, away from the child's home, for more than four hours in a 24-hour period.  This guide explains the regulations for home care and a list of questions to ask if you visit a Family Day Care Provider.

CHILD CARE CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS

This Directory for Complaints and Concerns lists local county and state phone numbers if you need to report a licensing concern to DHR.

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