Family Day Home Start-Up

The following information is intended to provide a better understanding of the license, permit and registration requirements for starting a family day home for children in the Yukon. The extent to which the information will apply to you will depend on the circumstances related to your situation. Although many of your questions will be answered in this document, the list is of resources given here is not exhaustive.

This info-guide should be read in conjunction with our  Business Start-Up Info-Guide , which provides additional license, permit and registration information that is applicable to all types of new businesses.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Regulations
2. Licensing
3. Inspections
4. Funding
5. Educational Requirements
6. Training Programs
7. Land Use and Zoning
8. Associations
9. Resources

1. Regulations

Child Care Act - Government of Yukon (Child Care Services Unit)

To provide licensed care in the Yukon the licensee must follow the Child Care Act, the Family Day Home Program Regulations and the Regulatory Guidelines. These Regulations address a variety of areas to help ensure a safe, healthy, and well-balanced program is being provided to Yukon children and families.

Printed copies of the above documents can be obtained for a nominal fee from the territorial Queen's Printer by calling (867) 667-8573 or from the main desk of the Yukon Government Administration Building, 2071 Second Avenue, Whitehorse, Yukon.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408, local 3492 or visit their Web site at http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/prog/fcs/ccare.html

2. Licensing

If you are caring for four or more children in your home on a regular basis and you receive compensation for doing so, then you must be licensed under the Yukon Child Care Act. If you care for three or fewer children, you have the option of being licensed although you are not required by law to do so.

According to the Yukon Child Care Act, a licensed family day home may care for the following:

• up to four children if all the infants are under 18 months
• up to six children when no more than three are infants
• up to eight preschool children where none are infants

The caregiver's own preschool children are included in calculating the number of children that can be cared for. For example, a provider with one preschool child and one infant may care for four additional children if not more than two of them are infants. The caregiver's school-age children are not included in the calculation.

If there is another person available to help the caregiver, the family day home may provide care for up to four school-age children in addition to the number of pre-school children permitted by law.

The Child Care Services Unit has a number of child care licensing officers who license and monitor child care programs throughout the Yukon.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408, local 3492.

Basic Steps Required To Obtain A License

Step 1
Contact the Child Care Services Unit for a licensing package. There is a variety of materials available to help you set up a good environment for children.

Step 2
The following information is required in your application:

• three references
• inspections for health, fire and safety purposes
• RCMP check
• medical check

Step 3
Staff from the Child Care Services Unit is available to help you set up a family day home. Child care inspectors can advise you on setting up policies on discipline, hygiene and emergency procedures. They can also provide resource materials and help with programming ideas.

Step 4
Once fully licenced, a license is issued for a maximum of 12 months. A child care inspector will visit your home a minimum of 3 times a year, unannounced, to ensure standards are being met, as set out in the Yukon Child Care Act and regulations, as well as to provide support and consultation. A license must be applied for on a yearly basis.

Family Day Homes: Steps To Licensing contains a comprehensive listing of the steps required to obtain your licence and is available from the Child Care Services Unit. Child Care Inspectors are available to assist you with any of the steps outlined in this document.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408, local 3492.

3. Inspections

Family Day Home Inspections

Prior to opening a Family Day Home, operators must first meet all the requirements outlined in Family Day Homes: Steps To Licensing. Once all the requirements are completed, a child care inspector will visit your program to ensure a safe environment and discuss a variety of topics. An Interim Licence is issued at that time, and in the upcoming months you will work toward meeting all the requirements outlined in the Family Day Home Program regulations. A document entitled Family Day Home Program Inspection Check List has been developed to assist operators meet the mandatory regulations governing the running of Family Day Homes. Unannounced inspections by a child care inspector will take place every 4 weeks. Once all regulations are met, a regular licence will be issued.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408, local 3492.

Health Inspection

Prior to opening a Family Day Home, operators must have the approval of an Environmental Health Officer. A document entitled Day Home Assessment Checklist For Health-Related Concerns has been developed that addresses the health-related aspects of their child care operations. The list includes mandatory and recommended guidelines that operators need to follow in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for children in their care.

To view and print a copy of the Day Home Assessment Checklist for Health-Related Concerns, please visit the Web site http://www.hss.gov.yk.ca/prog/eh/docs/dhchklst.doc

For more information, please call Environmental Health Services at (867) 667-8391 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408 local 8391.

Fire and Safety Inspections

Prior to opening a Family Day Home, operators must have their facilities inspected to ensure they meet minimum fire and safety standards.

For more information, please call your local municipal office (see  Business Start-Up Info-Guide  for a listing of incorporated municipalities).

In Whitehorse, call the Building Inspection Department (City of Whitehorse) at (867) 668-8340. Inspection guidelines are available upon request to assist operators in meeting the minimum fire and safety standards.

For unincorporated communities, call the Department of Community Services-Building Safety (Government of Yukon) at (867) 667-5741 or Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408, local 5741.

4. Funding

The Direct Operating Grant is provided to licensed facilities to assist with the costs of running their programs. It is meant to increase quality and to keep costs for parents at a lower level.

The Supported Child Care fund is used to help with the extra costs of including children whose needs are special. Children may qualify for this assistance if they have any of the following special needs that may prevent age appropriate participation in a child care program: physical disability, global developmental delay, severe and debilitating language disorder, severe and debilitating behavior disorder.

The Capital Development fund is available for Family Day Homes operators for capital improvements in areas where there are health and safety deficiencies that have been identified prior to opening a Family Day Home.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408, local 3492.

5. Educational Requirements

Child Care Training

There are several categories of child care workers outlined in the Yukon Child Care Act:

Level 1: Completion of one 60 hour introduction course in early childhood development or equivalent

Level 1A: Completion of 480 hours of course work in early childhood development or equivalent

Level 2: Certificate of one full year of early childhood development or equivalent

Level 2A: Completion of 1440 hours of course work in early childhood development or equivalent

Level 3: Diploma or degree in an early childhood development program or equivalent

* A family day home operator must meet the requirements for Level 1 within a year of being licensed.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408 local 3492.

First Aid Training

Each person left in charge of the day home must have current first aid and CPR certification. First aid certificates must be obtained prior to licensing. An approved First Aid Course should be 16 to 18 hours duration from an credible organization, such as St. John's Ambulance or Canadian Red Cross. An Emergency First Aid course of 8 hours does not qualify.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408 local 3492.

6. Training Programs

Child Care Training Programs

Yukon College

Yukon College offers several training courses through their Early Childhood Development Program including a Certificate and Diploma Program.

For more information, call (867) 668-8793 or visit the Web site http://dl1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/ecd/

Partners For Children

Partners for Children also offers Early Childhood Development courses.

For more information please call (867) 668-8794

First Aid Training Programs

St. John Ambulance (Yukon Branch) offers several introductory and advanced first aid courses.

For more information, please call (867) 668-5001 or visit their Web site at http://www.sja.ca/english/offices/yukon/yukon.asp

Red Cross (Yukon Branch) offers basic and advanced first aid training courses through Yukon College.

For more information, please call (867) 668-5200 or visit the Web site http://www1.yukoncollege.yk.ca/programs/first_aid/adv_1st_aid.php

7. Land Use and Zoning

In Whitehorse, Family Day Homes are subject to Specific Use Regulations outlined in Zoning Bylaw 97-42. Other zoning regulations may apply depending on your location and situation.

To view and download a copy of the Special Use Regulations (Adobe Reader required), please visit the City of Whitehorse Web site at http://ww3.whitehorse.ca/PDF Files/Zoning_Bylaw_2003_Consolidation/Section_06_Specific_Use_Regulations.pdf

For communities outside of Whitehorse, please call the local municipal office in the area where your Family Day Home will be located (see Yukon Incorporated Municipalities Chart for contact information). If you are planning on operating your business in an unincorporated municipality, call the Government of Yukon (Department of Community Services) at (867) 667-8945 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408 local 8945.

8. Associations

Yukon Child Care Association

The objectives of the society are to work for the development of an expanded improved child care system that is based on the principles of universal accessibility, high quality, affordability, parental involvement and control, provider direction, non-profit operation, and appropriate salaries and working conditions for child care providers. For more information, call (867) 667-4013 or visit their Web site http://www.cfc-efc.ca/ycca/

Society for Yukon Family Dayhomes

The mission of the Society of Yukon Family Day Homes is to "promote and support family day home operations."  Members receive regular newsletters, reduced fees for any workshops hosted by the Society as well as other benefits.

For more information please call (867) 668-6349.

Canadian Child Care Federation

Founded in 1987, the Canadian Child Care Federation (CCCF) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of child care services for Canadian children and families.

For more information, please call (613) 729-5289 / Toll Free 1-800 –858-1412 or visit the Web site http://www.cccf-fcsge.ca/home_en.html

9. Resources

Books

Start and Run A Home Daycare by Catherine M. Pruissen (Third Edition). Published by Self-Counsel Press.

Family Day Care: A Caregiver's Guide - The Most Complete Handbook for Providing Child Care by Lee Dunster.

Well Being - A Guide to Promote the Physical Health, Safety and Emotional Being of Children in Child Care Centres and Family Care Homes published by the Canadian Paediatric Society (2nd Edition).

Little Well Beings - A Handbook on Health in Family Day Care published by the Canadian Paediatric Society.

Resource Files

The Child Care Services Unit (Government of Yukon) has Resource Files containing a wealth of information on everything from policies and guidelines, to programming ideas, from managing behaviours to health and safety, and from play-spaces to administrative topics and professionalism.

For more information, please call the Child Care Services Unit at (867) 667-3492 / Toll Free (In Yukon) 1-800-661-0408 local 3492.

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Links Policy
Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites which are not subject to the Official Languages Act and the material is available in one language only.