​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Division of Regulated Child Care is responsible for licensing and investigating complaints against licensed child care facilities, certified family child care homes, residential child caring facilities and child placing agencies.

​Child-Placin​g​​​​​​​​ Ser​​​​​​​​​vices

A child-placing ag​ency is a licensed organization that helps place children in foster homes, independent living arrangements, or adoptive families.

Servic​​​​​​​e Ty​pes:​​​​​

1. Ado​​​p​tion

   ​Adoption is the legal process where a child becomes part of a new family that is not their biological family. The family must be approved by the agency.

2. Indep​​endent Living

   This is for young adults aged 18 to 21 who are transitioning out of foster care but still need some support to live on their own.

3. Foste​​r ​​Care

   Foster care provides a temporary home for children, supervised by a licensed agency or state services.

Child-Caring ​​​Services

A child-caring facility is a place, like a group home or institution, where children live and are cared for 24/7. These facilities are not run by the child's family and focus on providing residential care, not education or medical services.

Service Types:

1. G​​​​roup Home

   A small, homelike facility for up to 8 foster children. It offers a safe environment where kids can take part in community activities.

• With or without treatment: Treatment means specialized care by professionals to help children with emotional or behavioral issues.

• Crisis intervention unit: A short-term program to help children in urgent need and avoid moving them to higher levels of care.

2. Emerge​​​ncy Shelter

   A temporary, safe place for children in emergency situations. These shelters have staff and resources to meet children’s immediate needs.

• With or without treatment: Includes specialized care for emotional or behavioral challenges if needed.

3. Institut​​ion

   A larger facility that cares for 9 or more children.

• With or without treatment and crisis intervention: Institutions can provide professional care to help children manage emotional conflicts or behavioral disorders and offer short-term crisis help if needed.
  

Compl​​a​ints

Report Child Abuse/Neglect
​To report child abuse and neglect call toll-free any of the numbers listed below.
(877) 597-2331/(877) KYSAFE1 
(800) 752-6200
Report Online - non-emergency only
Monitored from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday.  Reports will not be reviewed during evenings, weekends or state holidays. 
Call 911 in case of an emergency

​Contact Information

James Gray

​​james.gray@ky.gov

502-564-5833

DRCC Branch Map​​