Where to find info on Fairfax County child care providers

[Anonymous]

I've been using http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/childcare/search/advanced.aspx, to look for nearby family day homes but when I choose a given provider and search for inspection reports at http://www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc.cgi, the vast majority of providers have no result.

Am I missing something? Shouldn't every licensed provider have at least one inspection report on file? Where do I find more information on Fairfax county providers if they aren't in the DSS database?

[Anonymous]

It's takes years for Fairfax county workers post it on line. Good luck with waiting!

[Anonymous]

The only providers that will show up in the data base for the DSS, is State LICENSED Providers. Most of those on the provider list through the website hold a permit, like myself. There is no data base - you need to rely on interviews, talking to references, and touring the daycare home

@ 21:55 poster, why would you post about something that doesnt even exist?

[Anonymous]

And the best thing to do is actually call the inspector listed on the report. they can often tell you things on the phone that are not on the report. We were at a home day care that is now closed for a very short time. If I had know what was in the full reports (for over 20 years) I never would have sent my child there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only providers that will show up in the data base for the DSS, is State LICENSED Providers. Most of those on the provider list through the website hold a permit, like myself. There is no data base - you need to rely on interviews, talking to references, and touring the daycare home

Thanks so much--this is very helpful. Can someone help me understand the difference in oversight/requirements for being licensed vs. holding a permit? If I'm understanding correctly, it sounds as though licensure is only required for homes that take more than 5 children. I see that permit-holders must re-apply every year, but are there no inspections? The Fairfax County website says permit-holders are assessed and monitored but what exactly does that mean in practice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only providers that will show up in the data base for the DSS, is State LICENSED Providers. Most of those on the provider list through the website hold a permit, like myself. There is no data base - you need to rely on interviews, talking to references, and touring the daycare home

Thanks so much--this is very helpful. Can someone help me understand the difference in oversight/requirements for being licensed vs. holding a permit? If I'm understanding correctly, it sounds as though licensure is only required for homes that take more than 5 children. I see that permit-holders must re-apply every year, but are there no inspections? The Fairfax County website says permit-holders are assessed and monitored but what exactly does that mean in practice?

You have it right. If I wanted more than 5 children, I would apply for a state license. The number of children they will allow varies (and believe it or not, some providers dont even have a clue on this, because they dont take the time to call Zoning - I learned of all this when I went to a training session and they talked about state licensing having their requirements as well as your individual zoning in that county). For instance, the state I believe allows up to 12 children (they go on a point system and I am not sure the total number of points, but the last i heard, infants were counted as 4, toddlers, 3, preschoolers, 2 and school age 1. I THINK (maybe a state licensed provider can clarify) the total points one can have alone is 20/21 OR 12 kids).

Now, while state licensed can have 12 kids, if you go by what ZONING tells you, I understood them to say in Arlington county, you can only have 9 in a single family home. I cant remmeber fairfax county, how many, but I do remember them saying in a TOWNHOME they can only have 5.

as for inspections, we renew our permits 1x per year, renew our CPR and First Aid every 2/3 years, TB test every 2, Criminal background every 5 i believe, (they just started doing this recently). 6 hours of training per year, however many of us, myself included, take more hours. If we participate in the USDA food program, we have 4 drop in visits with a specialist who does look at the house, our records and those of the kids. Also, fire dept comes in at the time of permit renewal and checks house, smoke detectors and records. Cant think of anything else off hand, will update later this afternoon as I need to get my kids up