Child care home operators are encouraged to become licensed

PRESS RELEASE
May 5, 2014

GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – Garfield County is reaching out to potential child care providers to offer an orientation class with the goal of getting them to license their operations. The Child Care Licensing Orientation is Thursday, May 8, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. It will be held in the Garfield County Administration Building at 108 8th Street, Glenwood Springs.

“Those who are starting a new facility are welcome, and people who are operating an unlicensed facility should come.” said Dana Damm, Human Services Childcare Program Manager / Licensing Specialist. “Being licensed is required by law, and it is very important for the safety of the children. We have had to serve cease and desist orders at times on unlicensed facilities to make sure kids in our community are safe. Getting licensed is an easy process, which we will discuss at this meeting to assist people in working towards it.”

Garfield County currently has 60 licensed homes in operation. The licensing, provided by Garfield County and Colorado DHS Division of Early Care and Learning provides training and inspections of child care facilities. The program partners with Early Childhood Network to offer resources and referrals for families seeking child care in support of the licensed providers. Licensing develops background checks on providers, administers a pre-licensing class, has trainers that teach CPR and first aid and 15 hours of ongoing training, and teaches medication administration and universal precautions training.

Lesley Gorman operates a licensed child care home in Park West Subdivision in Glenwood Springs. She has an Experienced Provider License, and as such, cares for nine children in her home.

“I think it is important to be licensed,” she said. “We receive a lot of training. And the support group is so helpful for me too. We have a child care association with board members that meets bi-monthly, so we are always learning and getting the support we need. I believe the inspections that the county does help to ensure that our child care homes operate in safe environments, which is better for the kids.”

The association is called the Garfield County Association of Family Childcare.

For more information, please contact Dana Damm, call 945-9191, ext. 3066. Information is available online at www.garfield-county.com/human-services.