So Frustrated With Licensing!

[AcornMama]

I don't know what to do, and this is largely venting, so thanks in advance for letting me get it out.

I was licensed in early August. I have never been able to contact my licensing consultant since then. Any question I've asked, I've sent by email or voicemail or both. My consultant never answers the phone and does not return emails or phone calls. I've kept a log of my attempts at communication, and just proceeded the best I could.

I know the consultants are busy. They have lots of homes and centers to visit, plus working with new licensees. I really do understand that.

But I have a question that now has the potential of causing lost income, and there's nothing I can do to get an answer. My license was written for care for children 2-12, because I was focusing on preschool. I've now gotten enough interest in care for under-two's, and not enough preschoolers enrolled, that I need to find out what it would take to have my license changed. I have a family coming for an interview tonight with a 13mo, but I'll have to tell them that I'm waiting on licensing.

I just don't know what to do. I've called and emailed my consultant. I've called the main state office with my question, and was told only my consultant can help me with that. I explained the difficulty in reaching her, and was given her supervisor's contact info. I called the supervisor today, so maybe something will happen. Dh suggested I just keep emailing and texting consultant to convey my sense of urgency. I really don't want to irritate her, but I don't know what to do. It is very frustrating that my business operations are dependent on a system that can just choose to not follow through. If my only option is to handle things through my consultant, and my consultant can just choose to ignore me, I really don't know what to do.

Ugh!

[Blackcat31]

I'm sorry.

I wish I had an answer but I do think you DH is right. Keep calling and e-mailing. The squeaky wheel usually gets the oil....

I have a fantastic licensor. ALWAYS available and always replies if I leave a message or e-mail. I can't imagine how frustrating this must be for you.

Just keep calling....keep calling the supervisor too!

Good luck!

[KIDZRMYBIZ]

Uh-huh. I think when applying for that initial license, the state needs to advise that you fill it out for the full age range and for the maximum allowed, no matter what your plan is right now.

In my state, the handbook jargon was complicated, and I did not understand that in addition to our max for mixed age (8), you could have 2 more SAs. So my license says 8, and the only way to change it was to relicense. No way, Jose. So...........I never did anything about it, never went over what was legally allowed otherwise, and never got in trouble even though my caseworker was here many a time in the summer when there were 10. Now, my own SA children are over the age of counting in my numbers, and I won't watch other SA anymore anyway...but that's a whole different thread

I would think if you are making an effort to change what your individual license says, as long as the ages and number of children you are watching is legal otherwise, it would be permissible to enroll the 13mo in the meantime.

[crazydaycarelady]

I would think if you are making an effort to change what your individual license says, as long as the ages and number of children you are watching is legal otherwise, it would be permissible to enroll the 13mo in the meantime.

I agree!

[AcornMama]

The supervisor returned my call! happyface

She said that I absolutely can't enroll a child under 2 as long as my license is written for 2-12.

But she also said she'd already talked to my consultant, that the consultant will be calling me today, and she outlined generally what it will take to get my license changed. Looks like there will be a couple weeks worth of red tape and paper shuffling, but I don't see any reason why it shouldn't be approved.

Oh, and she said that I did the right thing in calling her. She said that anytime I need to reach my consultant, she should call back within 48 hours, and that if she doesn't, then I should call the supervisor.

Feeling a little better about working with this system. Now to prove that I can indeed handle kids under 2.

[spinnymarie]

Yay! so glad you got an answer! How frustrating.
Hopefully you can get the license changed relatively pain-free.

[AcornMama]

Update:

My consultant did indeed call me yesterday, and was at my house this afternoon! She had to do another mini inspection to make sure I was equipped for infants and toddlers. She did all the paperwork on her computer while she was still at my house so that it could be forwarded today to whoever does the next step.

I thanked her over and over for responding so quickly. And I really am thankful! And she provided helpful feedback about a past issue I had asked about and had never received and answer. Feeling better about how all of this works! I'm looking forward to working with her more, I have a better feel for how the communication should work.

Now I just have to wait for the state to process the paperwork. Hoping it won't take too long. I have two potential families interested in enrollment once my license is changed.