Order Code 98-113 C
Updated August 20, 2002
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Child Day Care Centers: Resources for
Starting and Operating a Child Day Care
Center
Marjorie H. Washington
Information Research Specialist
Information Research Division
Summary
In response to many requests for information on how to start and operate a child
day care center, the following has been compiled, including references to printed “how
to” materials and to organizations with an interest in child care, which may be sources
of further assistance. Internet addresses are given where available. State and local
governments may also be consulted for information or regulations relating to the
establishment of child day care centers in their jurisdictions. This report will be updated
as warranted.
Printed Sources
The publications cited here may be available for use at a local library. Books can be
purchased or ordered at a local bookstore; cost information can be obtained from the
publishers or from the bookstore. Online addresses are provided when available.
ABCs of Starting A Family Child Care Business. 1996. Pamphlet.
Children’s Foundation
725 15th Street, N.W., Suite 505
Washington, D.C. 20005
Tel: (202) 347-3300
E-mail: cfwashdc@aol.com
Guide for Establishing & Operating Day Care Centers for Young Children. 1992.
Child Welfare League of America, Inc.
440 First Street, N.W., 3rd Floor
Washington, D.C. 20001
Tel: (202) 638-2952
[http://www.cwla.org]
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress
CRS-2
How to Plan and Start a Good Early Childhood Program. 1998. Brochure.
National Association for the Education of Young Children
1509 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 232-8777, (800) 424-2460
[http://www.naeyc.org/]
Lynn, Jacquelyn. Entrepreneur Magazine’s How to Start a Childcare Service: A Step-by-
Step Guide to Success. 2001.
Entrepreneur Media Fulfillment
P.O. Box 432
Newbergh, NY 12551-0432
Tel: (949) 261-2325, (800) 421-2300
[http://www.smallbizbooks.com]
Steelsmith, Shari. How to Start a Home-Based Day-Care Business. 3rd ed. 2001.
Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane
P.O. Box 480
Guilford, CT 06437
Tel: (203) 458-4500, (888) 249-7586
[http://www.globe-pequot.com]
Associations
In addition to the three associations listed under “Printed Sources” above, the
following associations have a primary interest in the issue of child care and are included
as sources of further information. Contact information is provided.
Center for the Child Care Workforce
733 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1037
Washington, D.C. 20011
Tel: (202) 737-7700
[http://www.ccw.org]
Children’s Defense Fund
25 E Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
Tel: (202) 628-8787
[http://www.childrensdefense.org]
National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA)
1319 F Street, N.W., Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20004
Tel: (202) 393-5501
[http://www.naccrra.org]
CRS-3
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)
5202 Pinemont Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84123
Tel: (801) 269-9338
[http://www.nafcc.org]
Licensing Information
“Individual States’ Child Care Licensure Regulations” for all states, the District of
Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the National Resource Center for Health and
Safety in Child Care (NRC) appear online at the following Web site:
[http://nrc.uchsc.edu/states.html]. The NRC is located at the University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado, and is funded by the Maternal and Child
Health Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Additional Reference Source
Small Business Sourcebook: The Entrepreneur’s Resource. 16th ed. Farmington Hills,
MI, Gale Group, 2002.
For relevant child care and business books, organizations, online resources,
videocassettes, audio cassettes, etc., this item may be of interest. It is available for
consultation at many libraries.