Daycare.com Forum - View Single Post - Serious Question - Home Daycare Providers, Opinions/Advice Needed

Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Congratulations on getting your CDA!! You should be extremely proud! I am very happy for you!!

As for your questions. This is what I have found so far.

In regards to residing in the actual home or center, I am pretty sure (although I would definitely call your licenisng office for clarifiaction) that you are correct as the definitions if center and dayhome in your state say a dayhome is : "Family day home" means a child day program offered in the residence of the provider or the home of any of the children in care for one through 12 children under the age of 13 exclusive of the provider's own children and any children who reside in the home, when at least one child receives care for compensation." and a center is described as: "Child day center" means a child day program offered to (i) two or more children under the age of 13 in a facility that is not the residence of the provider or of any of the children in care or (ii) 13 or more children at any location." so I am thinking that you ARE required to reside in the home.

In regards to grants for start up costs I would call your local Child Care Resource & Referral as my state grants and hep for start up are all listed through them. They also have a department that is geared toward providers who are in need of guidance and assistance in opening their programs. It says that they offer providers one-on-one assistance with understanding the licensing rules and regs as well as set up and a myriad of other things. So I would definitely call them. http://vachildcare.org/

Other grants and start up costs can be found here: http://daycaregrants.org/virginia and here http://www.governmentgrants.us./
I would also make sure you ask your CCR&R for everything that is available in your area as there are often many programs and grants that are area specific depending on your communities need for the type of services you are offering.

You can also reasearch loans for start up costs. Here are a few sites that I have kept in my resources as I have found or heard about them over the years. http://www.self-help.org/business-an...o-1/child-care and this site is really helpful http://childcareaware.org/child-care...aring-a-budget and your state offers a specific program just for child care providers. Info can be found here: http://www.dba.virginia.gov/vsbfa_ChildCare.shtml

Oh, and you mentioned you have student loans....You might be able to have a portion of your undergraduate FFEL or Direct Stafford Loan forgiven if you are a child care provider. Here is the site that will explain if you qualify for loan forgiveness here: http://www.studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALS...p?tab=repaying

So I think you are definitely right about how you wil be more useful and more personally satisfied being your own boss! I think you should look into being a separate center. Just because you are a cneter doesn't mena you HAVE ot have a 100 kids...kwim? You could still be licensed as a center but only serve a small number of kids so that you would in essence be a family child care provider but be licensed on paper as a center. Much like Sugar does. Her center is small and family like and far from institutional as most centers can be.

I think you are a wonderful provider and I know this seems daunting but I really think you should dig deeper and do what ever it takes to do what your heart is telling you to do. I think there are kids/families out there just waiting for someone like you to come into their lives.

I can probably dig up a ton more info for you if you need (as research is my thing.... and I love doing it) so please let me know if you need any more leads as this was just what I have found with a quick search and only one cup of coffee.

Either way, don't give up. Starting up is tough but it can be done and you should defintely not let go of this idea! You deserve to work in a place that truly appreciates you and lets your obvious love of this field be highlighted! I say, no matter the roadblocks GO FOR IT!!

Yep! All of this! Excellent advice and helpful links! Thanks for the props too :-)