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How to Start a Daycare > Licensing, Rules & Regulations by State > Michigan

START A DAYCARE IN MICHIGAN
LICENSING, REGULATIONS, LAWS



START A DAYCARE IN MICHIGAN MICHIGAN DAYCARE LICENSE
ESTIMATED COSTS TO START REQUIREMENTS FOR STAFFING
CAREGIVER TO CHILD RATIO OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT
FOOD PREPARATION FIND A DAYCARE OR CHILD CARE IN MICHIGAN


The first requirement for a day care center intended for business in Michigan is that it should be licensed. A day care center without a license is considered to be an illegal business, and therefore punishable by the state law.

A license that will be issued to you by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) is non-transferable, and therefore is only specific to only one location. If you have several sites in mind, a licensing consultant may be able to provide you with professional advice. Be sure to contact your local zoning authorities to make sure that your day care centers in allowed in your proposed area prior to submitting an application.

Here are the steps on how to get a license:

Step 1:
Print an application form. You can print a copy of an application form from the website of Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS). You can also get a copy and read the Licensing Rules for Child Care Centers and 1973 PA 116 prior to submitting your applications.

Step 2:
Completely filled-up the application forms, together with other documents requested on the form, and send it back to:

Department of Human Services
Cashier's Office
P.O. Box 30759
Lansing, MI 48909-8150

Together with the application form, send along your money order or check (payable to the State of Michigan, no cash). These fees are non-transferable.

Capacity Original Application Fee
1-20 $150
21-50 $200
51-100 $250
101+ $300

Step 3:
Contact your licensing consultant. Set an appointment to discuss with him Act 116 and the Administrative Rules. He will give you a better understanding of the total process in a setting where you can ask a lot of questions. The Department can provide assistance to the applicant regarding consultation and technical matters free of charge.

Step 4:
Authorities need to inspect your facility for fire safety and environmental health compliance. However, it is your responsibility to make an arrangement for a fire safety inspection. A complete list of qualified fire safety inspectors will be provided to you. For more information regarding fire inspection, visit www.michigan.gov/bfs. Also, your local or state public health department also needs to inspect your facility. There might be a charge for this. After the safety inspection, an inspection report needs to be completed to the Licensing Unit. After receiving the fire and health inspection reports, your licensing consultant will notify you regarding the Department's preliminary findings. Any request for changes in your facility as stated in these reports should be completed before the license can be issued.

After all the necessary materials and documents are submitted, including the health and fire safety reports, have been submitted and reviewed, any necessary corrections have been made, a license can be issued. This will be issued by the Department of Human Services, Bureau of Children and Adult Licensing. This first provision is good for 6 months. After 6 months, a renewal inspection will need to be conducted again. If the center is in compliance with all the requirement, a regular license will be issued. This license needs to renewed every 2 years.

For denied application, you can still appeal for the decision, n accordance with 1073 PA 116, Section 11(2).

For licensed center, an inspection can be conducted annually by the licensing consultant or if a complaint is received.

The whole licensing process can take up to 6 months to complete after you submit a complete application requirement. Issuance of the license is sometimes dependent on individual circumstances. The amount of time necessary to issue the license in also dependent on the following factors:

  • The dates when the approved fire and health inspection are completed.
  • Compliance with the administrative rules for child care centers.
  • The date when the Department of Human Services which indicates when you may begin an operation.

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR STARTING A DAY CARE CENTER:

ItemEstimated Cost
Fire Inspection$200-$1,000
Fire Re-Inspection (if needed)$50-$200
Environmental Health Inspection$100-$250
Lead Risk Assessment (if building was built before 1978)$350-$600
Lead Risk Assessment Re-inspection (if needed)$250-$350
Playground Inspection (if needed)$200-$900
Zoning Fees- Special Use Permit (if required)$300-$1,000
Hot Water Heater Inspection (if gas hot water heater)$40-$60
Furnace Inspection (may be less if both hot water heater and furnace are inspected during same visit)$60-$100
Live Scan Fingerprint$70
Application Fee (capacity)$150-$300
Total$1,470-$4,830

Other expenses might include the following:
Utilities: Garbage disposal, gas, telephone service, electricity Salaries of the Employees: Benefits, wages, training, background checks Equipment: Indoor/outdoor equipment which includes furniture, appliances, electronics, consumable supplies
Other: Food requirement, office supplies, teaching materials, rent, liability insurance, taxes, marketing and advertising expenses.

These costs will vary depending on the size of the structure, number of employees, number of children to be admitted in the center, and the repairs needed for the maintenance of the facility.

The computation above is just a rough estimate of the possible costs involved in opening and maintaining a child care facility. Actual cost may not be the same. To get an idea of the money you are going to spend, it is advised that you obtain a zoning approval, a fire inspection, and a lead risk assessment before signing a lease or contract, as needs for repairs and other fees might also cause you more than how much you intend to spend. It is recommended that you get estimates of work and expected costs before making a commitment.

Requirement for Starting a Day Care Center

Staff

Caregiver

Here are the qualifications of a caregiver in a day care center:

  1. He/She should be 18 yrs of age or older.
  2. He/She should be a high school graduate, or must hold general educational development (GED) certificate, or equivalent.
  3. He/she should reside in the day care facility.
  4. He/She should have a certificate of training in infant/adult cardiovascular resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.
  5. He/She should have attended the orientation conducted by the department.
  6. He/She should have a responsible character, and should have a suitable behavior for the care, supervision, and protection of the children.

Here are the responsibilities of a caregiver:

  1. He/She should be present daily in the center and should directly supervise the majority of the children in care.
  2. He/She should provide an adult assistance to the children when other caregivers are not around.
  3. He/She should post the updated license or certificate of registration in a noticeable place in the center.
  4. Caregivers should make sure that the children are release only to the persons authorized by the parent.
  5. Caregivers are responsible for cooperating with the department when it comes to inspection and investigation.
  6. Caregivers should make sure that the assistant caregivers are of good moral character and assure the welfare of the children.
  7. Caregivers should make sure that the day care area is a smoke-free zone.

Assistant Caregiver

An assistant caregiver should have the following qualifications:

  1. Be 14 years of age or older.
  2. An assistant caregiver that is below the age of 18 shall work under the supervision of the caregiver or an adult assistant caregiver in the center.
  3. He should also carry a valid certificate for infant/child CPR and first aid training within the 90 days of hire.
  4. He should be of good moral character and is responsible for taking care of the children, meeting the needs of the children, and provide for their protection, supervision and care.

Training Requirement for the Staff:

  1. The caregiver should have 10 hours or more of training session annually for the areas of child development, program planning, and administrative management for a child care business, not including CPR and first aid training.
  2. For the assistant caregiver, a training not less than 5 hours annually for areas related to child development and caring for the children,
    3. not including CPR and first aid training.
  3. The assistant caregiver should have training regarding sudden death syndrome and shaken baby syndrome.
  4. Training hours may also include the following:
    • Sessions conducted by the community group, child care home associations, and faith based organizations.
    • Workshops and courses offered by local schools, universities, and colleges.
    • Courses that can be taken online.
    • Annual CPR training
    • First aid training every 36th month

Ratio of Caregivers to Children:

The ratio of a caregiver to children in the facility at any 1 time shall be not less than 1 caregiver for every 6 children. This ration will include all the children below the age of 17 yrs. Old that are not related to the staff.

Each care giving staff shall only handle the following number of children: not more than 4 for children under the age of 30 months, with not more than 2 of the 4 children under the age of 18 months.

Provider / Child Ratio
Age RangeRatio For Center-based Care
Infants (up to 27 months)(1:4)
3 years(1:8)
4 to 5 years(1:12)
6 to 12 years(1:20)
13 to 17 years(1:30)
Mixed age groupratio for youngest child in group

Age RangeRatio For Family Child Care
All ages(1:6)
[includes family members under 7 years old; no more than 4 children under 30 months and no more than 2 of those children can be under 18 months]

Forms of Child Discipline/Handling:

The facility should have a written regarding the proper way of disciplining a child. Developmentally positive methods of discipline which can encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation shall be used.

The staff should not the following forms of disciplining a child:

  • Pinching, spanking, hitting, biting, or other physical punishment that could inflict hurt to the children;
  • Tying the child, or restricting his movement by binding him.
  • Emotional torture to the children by making the feel alone, humiliating them in front of other people, shaming, threatening a child, or using derogatory remarks.
  • Not letting the child eat, use the toilet, or rest.
  • Confine the child in enclosed areas like locked room, closet, box or other enclosed areas.

Daily Activity Program
The center should plan for activities aimed in the development of the children.

  1. For infants and toddlers, interactions may include a nurturing contact, such as talking to, holding, rocking, cuddling, smiling, and giving eye contact throughout the day especially during daily routines such as feeding and diapering. It is also important to promptly respond to a child's cries and other signs of distress.
  2. When planning for appropriate program for the children, bear in mind the following suggestions:
    1. Create programs that give opportunities to feel successful and feel good about himself and develop self-worth.
    2. Programs that can help develop and use language.
    3. Programs that can help develop and use all the muscles of the body.
    4. Use materials that can encourage the creativity of the children.
    5. Learn new skills and ideas.
    6. Participate in imaginative play.
    7. Sleeping, or some other forms or resting.
  3. The following are appropriate opportunities that are helpful for the proper development of the children:
    1. A choice of active and/or quite play, group, and individual activities.
    2. Give the children the time to play indoor and outdoor everyday, as the weather permits.
    3. Language and literacy subjects throughout the days that can last for up to 30 minutes.
    4. Early math and science orientation.
  4. Television, movies, video tapes, shall be limited to not more than 2 hours per day. The programs shown here are designed for children's education and/or enjoyment. Other activities shall be available to children during television/movie viewing. Programs/videos that contain violent or adult material content, including soap operas, shall not be permitted in child-use space while children are in care.
  5. Computers and other electronic devices that are being used by children in care shall only show suitable videos to the age of the child in terms of content and length of use.
  6. If the center accepts children that has special needs, the caregiver should work with the parents, medical personnel, and/or other relevant professionals to provide care in accordance with the child's identified needs and learning supports.

Indoor space, Materials and Play Equipment

A day care center should provide not less than 35 square feet per child of usable, accessible, and safe indoor space, bathrooms and storage areas excluded. This space should only be comprised by the space approved by the department to be used for child care.

There are a variety of materials that are safe and appropriate for a child at his stage development. Here are some samples:

  • Material may include art supplies, books, blocks and accessories, toys that can help develop the child's muscles, musical equipment, and dramatic play equipment.
  • These materials should be kept clean and free from hazards at all times.
  • Any material that is soiled by secretion or excretion shall be cleaned with soap and water, rinsed and sanitized before being used by a child.

The center should not use any equipment, materials, and furnishings identified and recalled by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov/) as hazardous to the children's health. The staff should always supervise the children while they are playing to make sure that they will not swallow any small, round toys or objects. Toys that have removable parts of less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and less than 2 1/4 inches in length , as well as balls that are smaller than 1 3/4 inches in diameter should be kept away from children below 3 years of age. Trampolines should not be used inside the facility.

Bedding and Sleeping Equipment

All the bedding and sleeping equipment should pass the inspection conducted by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (http://www.cpsc.gov/) standards. These materials are approved for the age of the child using the equipment. They should be safe, clean, comfortable, and in good condition.

  • All bedding and sleeping equipment shall be cleaned and sanitized prior to being used by another person.
  • The bedding materials should be washed when soiled or weekly at a minimum.
  • The cribs should be covered with a tight-fitting, firm mattress with a waterproof, washable covering in accordance with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  • Children from birth up to 12 months should rest or sleep alone in an approved crib or porta-crib. Their cribs should have the following:
    1. A tight-fitting, firm mattress.
    2. No loose, broken, or missing hardware or slats.
    3. The slats should measure a gap of 2 3/8 between each other.
    4. There should be no corner posts over 1/16" high.
    5. No cut-out designs in the headboard or footboard.
    6. There should be a sheet cover made from a firm mattress with no additional padding placed between the sheet and the mattress.
  • A child's head should not be covered during sleep.
  • Bumper pads, stuffed toys, quilts or comforters, pillows or any other soft objects that could smother an infant should not be placed with or under a resting or sleeping infant.
  • Blankets are not allowed to be draped over cribs.
  • Children with ages 12 to 24 months of age should rest or sleep alone in a crib, or on a cot or mat that is sufficient for the child's length, size and movement.
  • Infant seats, infant car seats, infant swings, bassinets, waterbeds, highchairs, soft mattresses, sofas, beanbags and other soft surfaces should not be used as an sleeping equipment for children 24 months of age or younger.
  • Children that are more than two years can sleep in an individual, age appropriate, clean, comfortable and safe place to sleep or rest. The floor should not be used unless it is padded, warm, and free from dirt. If the floor is to be used, make sure that there is a mat, sleeping bag, blanket, or similar piece of bedding between the floor and the child.
  • For the centers that provide nighttime care, the children should sleep in age appropriate cribs and beds.

Outdoor Equipment

The center should also provide a safe, clean, and hazard free outdoor play area, on the premises or within a reasonable walking distance from the facility. The facility should have 400 square feet for family child care and not less than 600 square feet for a group child care home.

The outdoor play area should also have adequate and varied supply of outdoor play equipment, materials, and furniture that is appropriate to the developmental needs and interests of children. The equipment should be safe and in good repair.

It is also recommended to organize the equipment in the outdoor play area to separate the active from quite activities. This is also important for an unobstructed and clear view of the whole play area. Make sure that there is a safe distances between the equipment.

The swings, slides, climbers, and other similar play equipment need special attention. They should not be placed over concrete, asphalt, or a similar surface, such as hard-packed dirt or grass. It needs proper maintenance to make it safe to use always. It should be placed at least 6 feet from the perimeter of other play obstacles or structures.

Trampolines should not be used as an outdoor equipment. Children should not be allowed to ride all terrain vehicles, go-carts, motor bikes, recreational, and other motorized vehicles.

Diapering and Toilet Learning

Diapering of infants and toddlers should only be done in the designated changing area. The designated area should have the following standard:

  • It should only be used exclusively for changing wet or soiled diapers or under water.
  • It should be located far from food preparation and meal service areas.
  • The area should have a hand washing sink that is not used for food preparation.
  • It should have a non-absorbent, sanitized surface with a changing pad between the child and the surface.
  • The surface should be cleaned and sanitized after each use.
  • The area should have a sufficient supply of diapering/changing supplies.
  • The diapers and the diapering supply should be kept in a plastic-lined, tightly covered container that should be emptied and sanitized at the end of each day.
  • Diapers or training pants should be changed when soiled or wet.
  • Disposable wipes should only be used once when cleaning, diapering or toileting a child.
  • Toilet learning should be coordinated between the caregiver and the parent so that the toilet routine established is consistent.
  • If other toilet equipment like potty chairs and modified toilet seats are to be used, then the following should apply:
    1. They should be easily sanitized and cleaned.
    2. Potty chairs shall be emptied, sanitized and rinsed after every use.
  • If disposable gloves are used, it should only be used once and should be immediately disposed after each diaper change.

Food Preparation

The facility should provide with nutritional and sufficient food as required by the minimum meal requirements of the child care food program, in coordination with the Michigan Department of Education, based on the national research council's recommended dietary allowances for appropriate age groups, unless the food is provided by the parents. Children should be offered the food with not more than four hour interval, unless the child is asleep. Drinking water should be available all the time. Meals should be prepared, served, and stored in safe and sanitary manner. Food leftovers should be discarded at the end of the meal if not eaten. Prepared food that has not been served to individuals or placed in family-style containers should be covered after the food is served. Infants and toddlers should not be allowed to eat foods that can cause choking including, but not limited to, popcorn, and uncut foods like seeds, grapes, hard candy, nuts, and hot dogs.

If the parent will be the one to provide food for their children, the facility should enter an agreement from the parent and shall be responsible for providing adequate food if the parent does not. The food bought by the parents should have the child's name in the label. If it is a perishable food, it should be refrigerated. If the center will provide canned foods, then the parents should be informed. Unpasturized products should not be served.

Children should be encouraged to taste new foods, but should not be given anything they want to eat. Bottles used for feeding should be labelled with the child's name and date, and refrigerated. If the milk that is bottled in not refrigerated for 1 hour, it should be discarded. Beverage containers should be kept away from children's reach at all times.

Animals and Pets

The center should let the parents know what animals and pets are permitted to enter the facility. Animals that are aggressive or in poor health should not be allowed to stay close to the children. When the children are playing with their pets, they should be supervised by the caregivers. They should not be allowed to get close enough to their pets if the animals show signs of distress or if the child shows signs of treating the animal cruelly. Animals and pets should be allowed to enter the food preparation and the dining areas at all time. Litter box, pet toys, pet foods and dishes should be kept away from the children at all time.

Transportation

A vehicle to be used for transporting the children should always be maintained in a good, and safe condition. The caregiver should make sure that the driver of a vehicle transporting children is an adult, have a valid driver's license, and proof of no fault insurance. The staff should make sure that the parents' are informed that a driver other than the staff is going to transport their children. As to the vehicle, it should have a restraint device that is installed, anchored, and used accordingly to the manufacturer's specifications an should always be kept in safe working condition.

The driver should be will informed about the existing state laws governing the transportation of the children. The driver should have a copy of the child information card of the children being transported in their vehicles. The driver should always carry a first aid kit, and should know how to do first aid in emergency cases. The first aid kit should have the following materials: adhesive tape, bandages (assorted sizes), cold pack, disposable gloves, gauze pads ad roller gauze (assorted sizes), hand sanitizer, plastic bags, scissors and tweezers, triangular bandage.

Notification of Injury, Accident, Illness, Death, or Fire The caregiver should verbally report to the department within 24 hours of serious injury, illness, or medical condition of a child, which can result in emergency medical treatment or hospitalization, or that can result to death.

The caregiver should submit a written report about the incident to the department within 72 hours of occurrence. The staff should report to the department within 24 hours after the occurrence of the fire which results in the loss of the property or personal injury.

FIND A DAYCARE OR CHILD CARE IN MICHIGAN

For more information about licensing requirements, contact:

Child Day Care Licensing
Family Independence Agency
Office of Children and Adult Licensing
7109 W. Saginaw, 2nd Floor
P.O. Box 30650
Lansing, MI 48909-8150
Phone: 517-335-6124 or 866-685-0006
Fax: 517-335-6121
Web site: http://www.Michigan.gov/fia