​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​A licensed provider cares for children in a regulated facility that meets health and safety standards. Child care supports the families need to go to school or work, by giving children a safe place where they can learn while their primary caregivers are away from their home.

Getting Started 

Licensed Type 1

Child Care Aware (CCA), Kentucky's Child Care Resource and Referral Network, staff meet with new providers on a regular basis. At the initial meeting, you will receive information to guide you through the process. To get started, contact the Child Care Aware, use the drop-down list to find a health and safety coach in your area, and inquire about scheduled Getting Started meetings for new child care providers.

The Getting Started meeting is recommended but not required to apply for a child care license. To apply without technical assistance, mail your application directly to the Division of Regulated Child Care:

If you are thinking about owning and operating a child care program, Child Care Aware has created the Starting Your Child Care Business brochure to help you decide if this is the right career for you.

Child Care Aware

Child Care Aware offers specialist within the field, to assist early childhood professionals in all aspects of starting your business. There are many levels of support depending on what your needs are. The following are the levels of support that you could receive from their assistance:

Health and Safety Coaches

Health and safety coaches serve as the first point of contact. They will guide  you through regulations and what will be needed to proceed to the next step.

Coaches will help you with a walkthrough of your proposed center and help with the collection of documents needed to go through the background check and application process. Coaches will also help by explaining the licensing process and let you know what is expected from the Division of Regulated Child Care.

Coaches will continue to provide support to help you ensure safe environments for children in your care by providing tehcnical assistance and professional development.

​​​​Quality Coaches

Quality coaches are specialist from the early childhood field that focuses on enhancing the environment and skills to excel in the learning atmosphere of every child in care.

Quality coaches are responsible for helping you understand Kentucky’s All STARS quality improvement rating system​ and the incentives for providing quality care. They also are responsible for observing and modeling best practice to help you give the best attention possible. They will help you obtain a higher education by connecting you with the professional development coach who can increase your scores and the quality of care you provide.

Professional Development Coaches​

Professional development coaches work with you to improve your education in the early childhood educational field. They can help you obtain your Child Development Associate Certificate all the way up to your bachelor’s degree in early childhood education with financial awards and incentives.

Food Program​

The Federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)​ provides aid to child and adult care institutions, as well as family or group day care homes, to provide nutritious foods. Good nutrition contributes to the wellness, healthy growth, and development of young children as well as the health and wellness of older adults, and people with chronic disabilities.  

CACFP provides reimbursement for meals and snacks served to small groups of children receiving nonresidential child care in private homes that are Licensed, Registered, or Approved to provide family child care.

CACFP directshigher levels of reimbursement to low-income areas, providers, and children with the greatest need. These reimbursements help make child care more affordable for many lower-income families. Health and safety standards, along with training, and monitoring, make the program an essential part of quality child care.