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The State of
Georgia requires that family child care providers, who offer child care in
their own homes, register with Child Care Licensing in the Department of
Human Resources (DHR). DHR requires a fingerprint check, training in CPR
and First Aid, and additional 10 "clock" hours of certified training
annually. DHR surveyors routinely visit all new providers, visit 10
percent of previously registered providers every year. They also visit any
home immediately if they receive a complaint.
Family childcare providers can care for a limited number of children. The
total number must be no more than 12 children under the age of 13,
including the provider's own children, any other children who may live in
the home, and any children for whom no compensation is received. In
addition, the provider must have an additional person on site (who is at
least 16 years old) to help care for the children:
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whenever more
than three children under the age of 12 months are
present;
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when more than
six children under the age of three years are present;
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when more than
eight children under the age of five years are present.
The Georgia
Department of Human Resources (DHR) licenses two types of child care
centers: day care centers that care for more than 18 children, and group
homes that care for 7 to 18 children. Both must meet the minimum standards
that the state has set. Pre-kindergartens are licensed by the Office of
School Readiness.
State standards for child care centers help protect children from serious
harm, such as fire, accidents, child abuse, or outbreaks of infectious
disease. The regulations also concern the growth and development of
children. They outline the kinds of supplies, equipment, and activities
that should be offered in child care centers and family child care homes.
The ratio of staff members to children is one of the standards set by the
state.
Ask center directors how children in the center are divided by age; the
number of children cared for by each caregiver; the total group size; and
what procedures are necessary for enrolling your child.
Child Care Center Child-Staff Ratios from Georgia Licensing Standards
| Age |
Max. Number or Children
Allowed per Teacher |
Preferred Standard* |
| Infants |
6 |
3-4 |
| One-Year-Olds (walkers) |
8 |
3-5 |
| Two-Year-Olds |
10 |
4-6 |
| Three-Year-Olds |
15 |
7-10 |
| Four-Year-Olds |
18 |
8-10 |
| Five-Year-Olds |
20 |
8-10 |
| Six Years or Older |
25 |
10-20 |
*National
*Standard recommended by the National Association for the Education of
Young Children (NAEYC)
This article was reprinted with permission from Quality Care for
Children. For more information on Georgia requirements, contact
Quality Care for Children. You can search online for child care in
Metro Atlanta by visiting their web site at
www.qualitycareforchildren.org. To speak to a Quality Care
for Children child care parent counselor in Metro Atlanta, call the Child
Care Resource and Referral program at 404.479.4240. To speak with a child
care parent counselor in Central Georgia, call 478.752.7800.
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If children live
with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
From Children
Learn What They Live, Dorothy Law Nolte |
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