resource page for those caring for children and for parents looking for care
(Last updated August 27, 2020)


INTERESTED IN CARING FOR CHILDREN IN YOUR HOMe?

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​During this unusual time in our lives, when schools are closed or partly closed, many individuals are stepping up to care for their own children, as well as their friends, family or neighbors’ children.  It is a tremendous time for our community to come together to meet this need, so that parents are able to work.  The Children’s Council wants to make sure you have all of the information you need to be able to rise to this challenge, and to do so in a safe, healthy and legal way.  Please refer to the resources below and feel free to reach out to our staff for further information.  

Interested in owning/operating a licensed Family Child Care Home (FCCH)?
This is a good way to make some extra money caring for children in the comfort of your own home.  There is a great network of providers in Watauga County to help you out along the way.   A recent article in the Watauga Democrat about this can be found here.

We recently held two Family Childcare Home (FCCH) information sessions and can share the recordings with those who might be interested. The topics of the webinars are below: 

  • You can work from home and make a difference in the lives of young children and families in our community. This session is meant to provide you with a chance to hear from a family child care provider about the personal side of running a program in your home.  
  • Ask the Experts!  We had three licensing consultants on the zoom call from the NC Division of Child Development.  They let you know what is involved in setting up your home to meet licensing regulations and answered questions. 

Friend, Family & Neighbor Care (FFN):  

There will likely be an increase in the number of grandparents, family members, friends and neighbors who are helping each other by taking care of children so parents can work. The team at the Children’s Council has knowledge, expertise, information and materials to help. In the coming weeks, we will be revealing plans to support caregivers in our community with activities that promote children’s development and learning, information about managing challenging behaviors, and general support to help caregivers.

There are laws that govern how many children someone can keep in their home either for pay or not.  If you are considering this option, 
​please make sure to read about this.  Below is the definition of child care as described by the N.C General Statute:​

Definitions of Child Care and Child Care Facility

North Carolina General Statute 110-86(2) and (3) defines child care and child care facility as follows:

Child care.  A program or arrangement where three or more children less than 13 years old, who do not reside where the care is provided, receive care on a regular basis of at least once per week for more than four hours but less than 24 hours per day from persons other than their guardians or full-time custodians, or from persons not related to them by birth, marriage, or adoption.  Child care does not include the following:
  1. Arrangements operated in the home of any child receiving care if all of the children in care are related to each other and no more than two additional children are in care;
  2. Recreational programs operated for less than four consecutive months in a year;
  3. Specialized activities or instruction such as athletics, dance, art, music lessons, horseback riding, gymnastics, or organized clubs for children such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H groups, or boys and girls clubs;
  4. Drop-in or short-term care provided while parents participate in activities that are not employment related and where the parents are on the premises or otherwise easily accessible, such as drop-in or short-term care provided in health spas, bowling alleys, shopping malls, resort hotels, or churches;
d1)    Drop-in or short-term care provided by an employer for its part-time employees where (i) the child is provided care not to exceed two and one-half hours during that day, (ii) the parents are on the premises, and, (iii) there are no more than 25 children in any one group in any one room;
  1. Public schools;
  2. Nonpublic schools described in Part 2 of Article 39 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes that are accredited by national or regional accrediting agencies with early childhood standards and that operate (i) a child care facility as defined in subdivision (3) of this section for less than six and one-half hours per day either on or off the school site or (ii) a child care facility for more than six and one-half hours per day, but do not receive NC Pre-K or child care subsidy funding;
  3. Bible schools conducted during vacation periods;
  4. Care provided by facilities licensed under Article 2 of Chapter 122C of the General Statutes;
  5. Cooperative arrangements among parents to provide care for their own children as a convenience rather than for employment; and
  6. Any child care program or arrangement consisting of two or more separate components, each of which operates for four hours or less per day with different children attending each component.

Child care facility.  Includes child care centers, family child care homes, and any other child care arrangement not excluded by G.S. 110-86(2), that provides child care, regardless of the time of day, wherever operated, and whether or not operated for profit.
  1. A child care center is an arrangement where, at any one time, there are three or more preschool-age children or nine or more school-age children receiving child care.
  2. A family child care home is a child care arrangement located in a residence where, at any one time, more than two children, but less than nine children, receive child care.”

If you operate a child care facility without being licensed, you will be in violation of North Carolina General Statute 110-98 and subject to penalties of North Carolina General Statute 110-103.  This means the violation is a felony punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both.  
Resources for Caring for Children at Home:

The NC Department of Health and Human Services hast a great deal of information about developmentally appropriate practices for children of varying ages, along with lots of activity ideas.  Check it out here:  
​RESOURCES FOR CARING FOR CHILDREN AT HOME

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has a website dedicated to providing resources for schooling at home including developmentally appropriate practices and activities for varying age groups.  Check it out by clicking here.

Here is another great resource on keeping school-age children at home:  7 Keys To Starting A Successful School-Age Program
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LOOKING FOR CHILD CARE? 

As a parent, one of the most difficult decisions we have to make is in determining who will care for our children.  With new options opening up during COVID-19, here are a few things to consider talking with your potential caregiver:

  • If your provider is not required to be licensed, ask them if they have taken first aid and CPR training.
  • If infant care is needed, ask your provider if they have taken safe sleep training. If your provider has not taken the training, ask them to enroll. Check with your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency (The Children’s Council) for information on safe sleep training. Your infant should be put to sleep on his/her back in a designated space with no soft bedding, bumper pads, or stuffed animals. Ask how your infant will be supervised at all times, but especially during naps.
  • Ask your provider about what type of meals are served to make sure your child is receiving nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day.
  • Consider performing a background check on your provider and other adults residing or visiting frequently if care is provided in their residence.
  • Ask the provider about the number of adults and children present (staff to child ratios).
  • Be sure to discuss and agree upon things like payment arrangements, holiday schedules, screen time and discipline.
  • Check to make sure the provider’s indoor and outdoor environment are safe and free of any hazards.

To find out which licensed child care centers and family child care homes have openings, you can call the Region 9 Child Care Resource and Referral Office at:  1-877-670-8735.  

For specific questions about child care in Watauga County, you can contact Roberta Yates at:  [email protected]

what to know when looking for school-age child care:
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