Types of child care programs

In Pennsylvania, there are regulated and non-regulated programs. Only regulated programs are eligible for PACCA membership. Regulated programs:

  • provide a designated number of staff per amount of children (i.e., one staff person for every four infants),
  • provide constant supervision,
  • must provide nutritious meals,
  • ensure that all enrolled children are immunized,
  • meet state health and safety standards, and
  • provide learning opportunities.

Regulated programs are also inspected every year. Non-regulated programs are more informal and are not required to meet the guidelines listed above.

What types of child care facilities are regulated by the Department of Public Welfare?

The Department regulates three types of child care facilities:

  1. Child Care Center - A child care facility in which seven or more children who are not related to the operator receive child care. A child care center must have a certificate of compliance ("license") from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in order to legally operate.
  2. Group Child Care Home - A child care facility in which seven though 12 children of various ages or in which seven though 15 children from 4th grade through 15 years of age who are not related to the operator receive child care. A group child care home must have a certificate of compliance ("license") from the Department of Public Welfare (DPW) in order to legally operate.
  3. Family Child Care Home - A child care facility located in a home in which four, five or six children who are not related to the caregiver receive child care. A family child care home must have a certificate of registration from DPW in order to legally operate.

Where do I find the child care provider regulations?

The child care regulations are available on the Web at the following links:

55 Pa. Code, Chapter 3270, Child Care Centers
55 Pa. Code, Chapter 3280, Group Child Care Homes
55 Pa. Code, Chapter 3290, Family Child Care Homes

If you have questions regarding the child care regulations, please contact your Regional Child Development Office.

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How do I find a child care provider?

  1. PACCA Member Child Care Programs: You can locate by name or zip code and the directory indicates if the child care provider is participating in Keystone STARS and the STAR level
  2. Find a Keystone STARS Child Care Program in your area. Child care programs can earn 1-4 stars, with a STAR 4 being the highest quality.
  3. Department of Public Welfare Child Care Facility Online Directory: Find licensed child care providers in your area. This directory does not indicate if a provider is in Keystone STARS. 
  4. Your local Child Care Information Services (CCIS) agency is a resource for for child care services in your area.

As you begin your search, please read:

  1. "What makes up a quality program"
  2. "Ways to measure the quality of a program"

How do I make a complaint about a child day care facility?

Contact the appropriate Department of Public Welfare Regional Child Development Office. Each regional child day care office is assigned responsibility for certain counties in Pennsylvania. Regional office staff investigate complaints about child care centers, group child care homes, and family child care homes that do not follow the regulatory requirements for operating a facility.

There are four Regional Offices of Child Development in Pennsylvania. Each regional office is responsible for child care facilities located in specific counties grouped by geographic area (see the chart below). The duties of the regional offices are:

  • Provide information to parents, providers, and the general public regarding the Department of Public Welfare's requirements for operating a child care facility.
  • Provide information regarding a child care facility's certification or registration history.
  • Conduct orientation training for prospective child care providers.
  • Receive applications from entities that want to open a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home.
  • Conduct initial inspections, renewal inspections and unannounced inspections of child care centers and group child care homes to assess compliance with Department of Public Welfare child care service regulations.
  • Conduct random sample inspections of family child care homes.
  • Provide technical assistance to child care providers in meeting the regulations.
  • Conduct complaint investigations related to regulatory noncompliance at a child care center, group child care home, or family child care home.
  • Conduct complaint investigations related to illegal operation of a child care facility.
  • Make the decision to issue a certificate of compliance or certificate of registration to a child

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