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::..Child Care Options
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Licensed Options
There are 3 types of licenses for child care: the family home, the group home, and the child care center. The Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Care Licensing regulates child care. One must apply for a home license or a center license to care for unrelated children and follow all of the rules and regulations.
• Family Child Care Homes
One adult cares for a maximum of six children for a portion of the day in the provider's home. The provider's own children count in the ratio if they are younger than 7 years old.
Caregiver to Child Ratio:
Ages 0-18 months: 1 adult to 2 infants
Ages 0-30 months: 1 adult to 4 (only 2 of the 4 can be under 18 months)
Ages 31 months and older: 1 adult to 6
Training: Family child care providers are required to take CPR and First Aid and 10 hours of child care related training annually.
• Group Child Care Homes
A group child care home resembles the family home, except that two or more adults care for up to twelve children. If the provider has more than 6 children in care, there needs to be another caregiver.
Caregiver to Child Ratio:
Ages 0-18 months: 1 adult to 2 infants
Ages 0-30 months: 1 adult to 4 (only 2 of the 4 can be under 18 months)
Ages 31 months and older: 1 adult to 6
Training: Group child care providers are required to take CPR and First Aid and 10 hours of child care related training annually. Assistant caregivers must complete 5 clock hours of training annually.
Family and group child care homes may provide:
A family or home-like environment
Some flexibility in hours and days
Child care from infancy through school age
Offer literacy and educational activities
Meals and snacks
Before and after school care
• Child Care Centers
Child care centers can serve families with children ages two weeks through school age in a non residential facility. Child care centers may be open all day, all year or part day, part year.
Caregiver to Child Ratio:
Ages 0-29 months: 1 adult to 4 infants
Ages 30-35 months (2.5 yrs -3): 1 adult to 8
Ages 3-4 years: 1 adult to 10
Ages 4-5 years: 1 adult to 12
Ages 6 years and older: 1 to 20
Training: All caregivers at Centers, Preschools and School Age Programs are required to take 12 hours of annual training and blood borne pathogen training. At least 1 caregiver with current certification in CPR and First Aid shall be on duty in the center at all times.
• Preschool Programs
Preschool can be public, private, cooperative or Head Starts. Preschool programs usually operate two to four half-day sessions during the school year. The same child care center ratios and rules apply for preschool programs.
•School Age Programs
School age programs may be offered in all the of the above programs and in public and private school settings. They also provide children with a variety of enrichment activities. The same child care center ratios and rules apply for school age programs.
Child care centers, preschools, and school age programs may provide:
Activities structured for different age groups
Specialized services like field trips and transportation to/from school
Parent involvement in policy-making decisions and center operations
Meals and snacks
Guaranteed days and hours of operation
Non-Licensed Options
Michigan does not regulate child care provided by a relative or someone you hire to do care in your home.
•Relative Care
Read these tips to help make relative child care work for your family.
•In-home Child Care
This resource lists information and resources to help you find in-home child care.
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