Licensed Child Care Center

  • Can be found in public/private schools, religious facilities, or a building owned/leased by the provider.
  • Is licensed for a specific capacity (the maximum number of children that can be cared for at any one time).
  • Can be licensed for varying ages of children from infancy to school age with a separate license issued for each age component.
  • Is licensed by the State of California and has health and safety requirements that must be maintained by the provider and monitored by Community Care Licensing (CCL).
  • Is required to maintain specific adult-to-child ratios.
  • Is required to have at least one director or teacher at the center who has been trained in preventive health practices, including EMSA approved CPR/First Aid.
  • Must have a staff member with certification in EMSA approved CPR/First Aid present at all times.
  • Must employ staff that meet the specific educational requirements for each position and hold a valid Child Development Permit.

How to Become a Licensed Child Care Center

To find out if this is a good fit for you, please visit the CA Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division webpage fo Child Care Center Licensing Information

  1. Be prepared to pay a fee for the orientation and application process.
  2. Be familiar with CA Child Care Center Licensing Regulations
  3. Child Care Center Provider Requirements
  4. Child Care Center Capacity Requirements
  5. Before applying for a Child Care Center license, you must first attend an orientation:
    Register for an Orientation Prior to attending an orientation, you must download and print the License Application and Instructions for Child Care Centers
    You must bring these required forms to the orientation
  6. Complete and submit all the information and forms required in the application packet - application packets will not be accepted until you have completed the orientation
  7. Complete background check for all members working and volunteering in the center

Transferring a Clearance

Active criminal record clearances may be transferred between state licensed facilities or the TrustLine Registry program. If an individual has an active clearance, he/she should not be reprinted. Licensees or license applicants may contact their local CCL Regional Office to verify the individual's status. Visit the Department of Social Services for more information and to download the transfer form.

Online Resources to Assist You

Child Care Licensing Website
License Application for Child Care Center License
Child Care Law Center

Licensed Family Child Care Home (FCCH)

  • May be licensed for up to 8 (for a small FCCH) or 14 (for a large FCCH) children, depending on the license.
  • Is a program where care is provided in the licensee’s home.
  • Is licensed, along with the child care provider, by the California Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division (CCL).
  • Has Health and Safety requirements that must be maintained and which are monitored by CCL.
  • Must maintain specific adult-to-child ratios.
  • Is required to be certified in EMSA approved CPR/First Aid. For a large FCCH, any additional staff that may be left alone with the children must also be certified in EMSA approved CPR/First Aid.
  • Is required to have the provider, as well as anyone who lives in the home and is over 18 years of age, tested for TB, fingerprinted with a criminal background check, and cleared in the California Child Abuse Index.

How to Become a Licensed Family Child Care Home

To find out if this is a good fit for you, please visit the CA Department of Social Services, Community Care Licensing Division webpage for Family Child Care Home Licensing Information

Be prepared to pay a fee for the orientation and application fees, which are not refundable.

  1. Find out how SNCS can help with your licensing expenses and professional development, call 530 272-8866
  2. Before applying for your FCCH license, you must attend an orientation:
    Register for an Orientation
  3. Be familiar with CA Family Child Care Home Licensing Regulations
  4. Complete and submit all the information and forms in the License Application and Instructions for Family Child Care Homes
  5. When Licensing confirms application is accepted, complete background check for all members working and volunteering in the home
  6. Be prepared to show proof of immunizations, blood tests are available if proof can't be found
  7. Enroll in an EMSA CPR-First Aid training and Health & Safety Training, SNCS can help
  8. SNCS is available to visit for a pre-licensing visit, and introduction to the referral and subsidy programs
  9. A CCL License Program Analyst will schedule and perform a pre-license inspection of the home

Transferring a Clearance

Active criminal record clearances may be transferred between state licensed facilities or the TrustLine Registry program. If an individual has an active clearance, he/she should not be reprinted. Licensees or license applicants may contact their local CCL Regional Office to verify the individual's status. Visit the Department of Social Services for more information and to download the transfer form.

Online Resources to Assist You

Child Care Licensing Website
UC Davis Child Development Program

Child Care Law Center

Individual License-Exempt Provider (LEP)

When a family is enrolled or enrolling in one of SNCS childcare subsidy programs, sometimes the needs of the family do not match what the available licensed child care providers offer. In such a case, the family may choose a family member, neighbor or friend (who is willing and able), to care for the children as an individual License-Exempt Provider.

An Individual License-Exempt Provider (LEP):

  • Is when a license is not required by the State of California.
  • Includes family/relatives or TrustLine registered providers.
  • Can only care for the children of one family (and their own children if appropriate).

How to become an Individual License-Exempt Provider

  1. The family notifies their Family Support Specialist that someone they trust is willing and able to provide care for their children
  2. SNCS will contact the caregiver to discuss the License-Exempt Provider enrollment process and mail an enrollment package
  3. Caregiver will complete the enrollment package and return it to SNCS
  4. SNCS will confirm completion of requirements and issue a start date to the family and caregiver
  5. Caregiver must complete, and provide proof of, EMSA approved Pediatric CPR/First Aid certification within 90 days of the start of services.

Subsidized care will not start until all requested information is submitted to SNCS. Family members can start subsidized child care upon receiving confirmation of their start date. Providers may contact SNCS for a listing of EMSA approved CPR/First Aid classes. Reimbursements, limited to $150.00may be available.
Download CPR/First Aid Reimbursement Form

TrustLine Registry

TrustLine is a registry of individuals who have passed the California Department of Justice’s and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s fingerprint record checks. Receiving a TrustLine clearance means that a person has no disqualifying criminal convictions or substantiated child abuse reports in California.

The purposes of becoming a TrustLine child care provider are twofold. First, it gives the family a sense of security that the caregiver is not only serious about meeting the family’s needs, but that the care giver may be entrusted with the care of children. Second, in order to provide child care for a family that is subsidized, the State of California mandates that a non-relative child care provider must be registered on the TrustLine registry.

In addition to the above, all non-relative LEPs must follow the steps below to become TrustLine registered:

  1. Fill out the TrustLine registry (TLR-001) and Live Scan (TLR 9163) applications provided as part of the enrollment package.
  2. Make an appointment for the Live Scan fingerprinting procedure. The Live Scan operator will complete the Live Scan application.
  3. Return the TrustLine applications to SNCS along with the completed enrollment package
  4. SNCS will wait for the TrustLine clearance. Providers will receive notification once they are cleared or if they are denied.
  5. Upon receiving TrustLine clearance, SNCS will confirm completion of requirements and issue a start date to the family and caregiver

TrustLine Website

Trainings

Consider Sierra Nevada Children's Services (SNCS) your partner in learning, networking, connecting, and care-giving. We have designed our website as a quick reference to information and links. We also encourage you to become familiar with the Community Care Licensing (CCL) site in order for you to remain current with any changes and updates.

EMSA Approved CPR/First Aid & Preventive Health and Safety

SNCS provides these workshops for the minimum co payment fee while funding is available.
Please check Home page Provider Workshop section for CPR trainings

Sacramento Area training options, if you are caring for children be sure to select Pediatric/Adult CPR:

SNCS has funds available from the Early Education and Support Division (EESD) of the California Department of Education for Quality Improvement Activities to support the Implementation of AB243 for Health and Safety Training. Reimbursements for both Licensed and License Exempt Providers will be made until the funds are expended.  Providers are responsible for a $10.00 co payment for CPR and $20 co payment for Health & Safety. All training curricula must be Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) approved.

CPR Training Reimbursement Form

Health & Safety Training Reimbursement Form

Opiod Overdose Training

SNCS has become a training and distribution site for the training and dissemination of Narcan for child care providers. Due to the rise in overdoses in Nevada County you are being invited to take this virtual self-paced training to increase your knowledge and gain comfort in your ability to administer Narcan, if needed. This training will guide you through understanding opioids, fentanyl and recognizing the signs of an overdose. This training is available in English and Spanish.
Click here for flyer with details

Professional Organizations for Providers

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

By joining the National Association for the Education of Young Children, you’ll become part of the nation’s largest membership organization of early childhood professionals and others who are dedicated to improving the quality of services for young children and families. NAEYC is a national network of over 300 local, state, and regional affiliates, with nearly 100,000 members who believe in the importance of the early years (birth through age 8), the critical years of development.

Who joins NAEYC?

Directors, Preschool teachers and Aides, infant care providers, church schools, family child care providers, private and public child care providers, Head Start program staff, and kindergarten and elementary educators are all eligible to join.

Also eligible are students, parents, concerned professionals, and volunteers in Early Childhood Centers and parent educators, counselors, social workers, administrators, librarians, college instructors, and health care professionals.

The NAEYC may be right for you if you are looking for an organization that:

  • Promotes opportunities for teachers and parents of young children
  • Speaks on behalf of the needs of young children and their families
  • Gives exposure to the newest resources
  • Encourages and promotes professionalism in Early Childhood Education
  • Is community involved

National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)

The National Association for Family Child Care is a non-profit organization that has worked for over 25 years to promote quality child care. NAFCC provides support to family child care providers through training and educational opportunities, information and resources, and accreditation.

Additional Resources

Child Care Coordinating Council

The Child Care Coordinating Council, the Local Planning Council of Nevada County and First 5 Nevada County are aligning efforts and blending funding to consolidate professional development opportunities for all Nevada County early childhood education (ECE) professionals.

First 5 of Nevada County

Research shows that a child’s brain develops most dramatically in the first five years and what parents and caregivers do during these years to support their child’s growth will have a meaningful impact throughout life.

Sierra College Human Development
Continuing education through Sierra College will keep you up-to-date on current research and implementation of best practices, support excellence in early education and provide necessary classes to apply for and maintain your child development permit.

Commission on teacher CredentialingChild Development Permits

Quality Counts California, Nevada County

Quality Counts California (QCC), Nevada County - also known as Early Quality Matters (EQM) - is a part of Quality Counts California, a statewide network of locally implemented quality rating and improvement systems (QRIS). QRIS supports programs in raising the quality of early care and education through research-based practices and helps families identify programs who demonstrate a commitment to quality. In Nevada County, QCC is administered by the Child Care Coordinating Council.

By joining QCC, you will make lasting improvements in the quality of care and education you provide while being part of the statewide process of systemic change for the field of early childhood education. Any child care program (license exempt or licensed) can take part in QCC. Participating programs partake in ongoing professional development training, mentoring, coaching, program assessments, and accountability. Programs may receive quality improvement grants and eligible staff may receive professional develop stipends.

Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP)

Trainings are announced via email to our provider list and posted to the main page of our website. If you are a Nevada or Sierra County provider and would like to be added to our email list, please call (530) 272-8866 X 214. Download CCIP Flyer

WHAT IS CCIP? WHAT DOES IT TAKE? WHY SHOULD I JOIN?
Child Care Initiative Project
Do you want to grow professionally? Explore with CCIP. The Child Care Initiative Project (CCIP) is designed to increase the capacity and improve the quality of family child care. Through CCIP,SNCS offers free professional development trainings, technical assistance, and incentives, and quality improvement funding.

Who Can be a Part of CCIP?
Anyone who has a Family Child Care (FCC) license,
works in a licensed, or unlicensed FCC and/or is planning to get
an FCC license or wants to expand an FCC license.

What is CCIP Training Based on?
California ECE Competencies:

  1. Child Development and Learning
  2. Culture, Diversity, and Equity
  3. Relationships, Interactions, and Guidance
  4. Family and Community Engagement
  5. Dual-Language Development
  6. Observation, Screening, Assessment, and Documentation
  7. Special Needs and Inclusion
  8. Learning Environments and Curriculum
  9. Health, Safety, and Nutrition
  10. Leadership in Early Childhood Education
  11. Professionalism
  12. Administration and Supervision
 To Become a CCIP Participant:
  1. Create a free California Early Care and Education Workforce Registry account. Joining the Registry means that you can:
    • Track your training hours
    • Access a statewide training calendar
    • Use the Resume Builder and Job Board
  2. Attend at least 10 CCIP training hours each year in order to be eligible for incentives

 As a CCIP Participant You Will Receive
Technical Assistance With:
  • Licensing and the Business of Family Child Care
  • California Early Care and Education Workforce Registry
  • CCIP Requirements
  • Child Develoment
  • Professional Development

Professional Growth:

  • Free yearly trainings in the 12 CA ECE Competencies
Financial Support (as funding allows):
  • Licensing Costs
  • Start-up Expenses
  • Incentives According to Training Hours
Marketing Value:
  • Families look for excellence in their child care providers; joining CCIP shows that you are a dedicated early childhood education professional
  • CCIP training enables you to provide high quality care because it increases your understanding of best practices and keeps your knowledge of the field up-to-date

Marketing Your Business

Sierra Nevada Children’s Services (SNCS) believes that the well-being of our children starts with parents and you, our early childhood educators. With that in mind, we are here to assist you in developing quality and caring environments in order for children to thrive. By providing you with training and professional development resources, we become a conduit that allows your program to expand and maintain your quality standards.

Resource and Referral Database Profile

SNCS is the child care referral agency selected by the California Department of Education (CDSS) to manage all provider data and provide referrals to families needing care in Nevada and Sierra counties.

When a provider becomes licensed in California by Community Care Licensing, they are required to provide information to SNCS’ staff who will create a provider profile for the referral database, at no cost to the provider. If the provider does not wish to receive referrals they should select the no referral check box and submit the information. When families requests childcare referrals from SNCS, their needs will be matched with those the providers offers. The family receives a list with pertinent information, no addresses are shared with the families.

When sending a referral, SNCS will protect your confidential information by not including your facility address on the referral. Referrals are provided to all families in Nevada and Sierra Counties. The referral program is separate from the child care subsidy program and providers have the option to join the subsidy program. To start receiving referrals, or make changes to your hours, children you serve or contact information, please download the Provider Referral Form.

The Learning Center (TLC) Lending Library

As your local child care resource and referral agency, we have a variety of child care provider books and media available in our Resource Library. In addition, we present an annual Family Child Care Tax Workshop, as well as other occasional business-related classes. Finally, we can help put you in contact with other organizations that offer free business help.

If you are looking for ideas, inspiration and resources, stop by and check out The Learning Center (TLC) lending library and playspace, modeled after the ideal child care environment.

Other Resources

Marketing Your Program
Building Child Care: A California Statewide Collaborative
Sierra Small Business Development Center
Child Care Law Center

Technical Assistance for Providers

Sierra Nevada Children’s Services (SNCS) is dedicated to supporting those who work with children. We offer various programs that provide technical assistance, training, and professional development opportunities, resources and materials, licensing support, Health and Safety Training reimbursement, and TrustLine information.

As part of our Resource and Referral Funding Terms and Conditions, as a CDSS contractor, SNCS contacts each licensed facility annually (at a minimum) to inform them of our resources and offer technical assistance.

SNCS assists providers with the following concerns including but not limited to:

  • Creating a safe, child friendly, and child oriented environment
  • Meeting the minimum requirements to care for young children
  • Acquiring information on beneficial programs, such as the Child Care Food Program
  • Setting up the learning environment
  • Developing a system of records maintenance
  • Assist with and honoring your role as a business professional
  • Questions and assistance with licensing, immunization, subsidy, health and safety, and business needs
  • Offering the Provider Email Blast and FaceBook posting as a resource
  • Questions and assistance from the child development team on specific issues (i.e., children who bite, tantrums, etc.)

Immunization and Tuberculosis Requirement Tool

Subsidy Programs

Sierra Nevada Children’s Services (SNCS) administers several subsidy programs to help eligible families pay for child care services while they work, look for work, attend school or recover from incapacity. SNCS child care subsidy programs provide full or partial provider reimbursements for child care services. Providers must meet general qualifications in order to receive reimbursement for families served by SNCS programs. To get started call (530) 272-8866 x217.

CareConnect is an online internet web site and mobile app that allows you to access to your attendance records, complete and submit attendance electronically, check the status of attendance submitted, view your payment details, and complete forms*. (Please note forms cannot be completed on the mobile app at this time.)
Access CareConnect
Tutorials Available
Receive and Complete Documents-Video
Submit eForms with Care Connect - Video
Receive and Complete Documents - Web
Receive and Complete Documents - Mobile

NOTICE TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS:
On February 5, 2020, the Childcare Provider Act Petition for Certification was submitted to the California Department of Human Resources as required by the California Public Employment Relations Board (PERB). Click here to read the petition. For further questions, contact PERB: Felix DeLaTorre, 916-327-8381, felix.delatorre@perb.ca.gov; PERB: James Coffey, 916-327-8383, james.coffey@perb.ca.gov ; or CalHR: Executive Office, 916-322-5193

Subsidy Programs Description Funding
CalWORKS Stage 1 Child Care Referral must be received from CalWORKS Nevada and Sierra Counties and California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
CalWORKS Stages 2 & 3 Child Care Referral must be received from CalWORKS California Department of Education (CDSS), Federal, Early Education & Support Division (EESD)
Alternative Payment Program (CAPP) Families may choose from child care options such as Family Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers, TrustLine child care providers, or Relative Care child care providers or other license-exempt providers
Family Child Care Home Education Netork (FCCHEN) Families must select a participating Network provider. Support, training, and education are available to both parents and providers in the program
Foster Bridge Program Foster child refered by Nevada County Child Welfare Services CWS CDSS

Family Child Care Home Education "Network" (FCCHEN)

Family Child Care Home Education Network (FCCHEN), also known as the "Network," is funded through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Funding is designed to support income eligible families by providing subsidized child care in high quality Family Child Care Homes. Families may choose from participating providers. Call Lexie at (530) 272-8866 x225 for more information
Download the Network Parent and Provider Guide
Network Providers List

Provider Guide

From basic provider requirements to a detailed breakdown of our reimbursement procedures, our Provider Guide contains in-depth information covering the childcare programs that SNCS has to offer.
Provider Guide - English