Operating an Unlicensed Daycare

[Unregistered]

bs

More children are hurt at licensed day care than at unlicensed day care. How does a piece of paper make a difference as to what kind of care you provide?
I know parents that have pulled their children from licensed day care to put them in unlicensed. Here in our town a woman was arrested for abusing(pretty badly) her own daughter and guess what she was a licensed day care provider. Oh and hey the lady down the street has a unlicensed daycare and guess what ....she has never done time or abused any children. So abuse and neglect can happen anywhere at anytime. Just because you have had someone from the state come in and tell you what needs to be done and how to run your business doesn't mean that all Unlicensed day care are bad or hurtful to children!!! Oh and its Spell Check. Not spellcheck!

Abuse and neglect can happen anywhere however the reason you dont hear about unlicensed daycare abuses as much is because alot are covered up, providers are not held as accountable as licensed ones. parents be careful no matter where you choose to have your child left. Ask the right questions if a daycare has to many kids for one person maybe you should look else where. how much is your childs safety worth to you.

[lvt77]

can i ask why it bothers you if she is or is not?? I agree that eveyone should have to follow the rules, but maybe she is not aware of the rules....

Maybe you can ask her, help her instead of hurt her. What about all of those kids...what will happen to them...

she may be the most loving provider and it could devistate those children if they lost her...

even though it may upset you that someone is not following the rules, maybe there is a reason why..

open your heart and mind and reach out to this person so that they dont lose everything they have. If you are a person with a good heart and a soul you would help them instead of hurt them......

You never know what someone else situtaion is.........

I feel your frustration, but do you really know the providers situation?

[Unregistered]

Licensed or Unlicensed Day Care

Having a licensed day care is a huge responsibility. The larger your day care the more people you answer to on a daily basis. You have the children to care for without the children you have no day care, (if the State comes in and closes you down what happens to the children then, will the parents still feel comfortable leaving their children in your care after that?) Your staff needs to be educated and trained properly to care for the children in your care. Meet the health and safety laws that are required of a home day care. This should also include the State day care regulations. You are accountable to State Licensing Agency, Food Program, Liability Insurance company, (this protects you and your business from allegations that can be made against you by a parent or someone who chooses to call you in to Social Services because they are upset with you over something silly. The license is your way of stating that your heart and intentions should be in the right place and you are willing to put yourself and your reputation on the line to care for another persons child. The majority of providers understand whats at stake here they do go the extra mile to put themselves in a bad situation. Situations come from lack of education and not knowing how to protect yourself and your business with less liability. Most allegations are misleading, when the state comes out if your following the rules your allegations will written as unfounded. If your up front and honest with your parents and they know everything that goes on in your day care. They will back you up and support you and your day care. Have written policies in place for parents and employees that cuts down your liability. Know your laws and regulations, yeah you will slip up we are not perfect. The state will always find something that is their job. You also get all the write offs that come with the business when your licensed. Advertising requires that you show your license license number any time you advertise your business and are looking for clients. (On line or in the newspaper) you can be fined for not having a license number. Payroll for your Employees, DOJ clearance on each of your employees, If your unlicensed who is checking up on your help making sure the children in your care are safe and protected from unwanted sexual offenders? How about yourself what kind of guarantee does the parent have that you have a clean bill of health and cleared DOJ/Clear child index record on file. When your licensed, your parents know that you have jumped through all those hoops and everyone in that household over 18 years of age have been cleared and there is a record on all these people should anything go wrong, this protects you. The State keeps track of the people residing in your home. TB tests should be run on the Director to make sure their is no spreading of TB and all Directors and at least one helper should have CPR/Child/Infant, First Aid. You are also accountable to EDD, Workman's Comp, Unemployment taxes, State Disability Insurance, United States Treasury (Federal- for your Self-Employment Taxes), business bookkeeping making sure your cash flow meets the needs of your day care on a daily basis. Large day cares have to have a city permit and be approved by the Fire Department to make sure the children in your care are protected in case of an emergency. It's not fair to the providers who have set up their businesses followed all the laws, pay their taxes on their business while unlicensed providers work under the table and have no legal obligations to follow all the rules we are required to follow. You should have a daily curriculum and activities set up for the children in your care. Yes, licensed providers get written up by the State, as long as your doing your job and your records are in order, and your facility meets the major requirements of the State they are not going to shut you down. Yes, they will hold you accountable for the infractions. But, at the end of the day you have the piece of mind of not having to worry about what's going to happen if someone turns me in for running an unlicensed facility. What happens if a child has a seizure that has been fever induced or someone falls and gets hurt. You have to make an emergency phone call for help. We are required to fill out an Unusual Incident Report which covers us as licensed providers, the emergency providers will file a report with Social Services explaining in great detail the events leading up to the incident and they will report if you are in fact licensed or unlicensed along with how many children were in your care at the time. If your licensed or unlicensed you will get a follow up visit from Social Services with in day or so of that report being sent to them. It's not worth risk of something happening that is out of your control, at that point they are going to scrutinize everything about you, your business, they can talk to the parents, the children, your help, your neighbors you are opening up all areas of your life to the Department of Social Services and heaven help you if they find someone there that has a criminal back ground and no background check or Exemption Status as been issued by the Department of Social Services. I personally would rather fight with all my ducks in row, rather than go in fighting like I may have something to hide by not following the rules and giving them the upper hand in a bad situation that was out everyone's control. This can give then grounds to deny a future day care license to you for endangering the safety and well being of a child while in your care.

[Unregistered]

taking chances

And ya know that is your right as a parent to prefer a licensed daycare provider. However, it is not state law that i be licensed if i only keep certin amount of children.So I'm not breaking the law! Also what makes you think that unlicensed daycare providers donn't claim there income? I pay my taxes just like everyone else. And another thing, you don't have to "licensed" to take child care courses! I am certified CPR (Adult, infant and child) and i also have 15 years of education all related to my career. All paid for out of my pocket! I have excellent references and a clean background. Oh ya, and i did nanny for 5 years for a family. I'm sorry but just because i don't hold that LICENSE doesn't mean that I am uneducated or a bad daycare provider. FYI: i haven't had to advertise for 5 years now, i operate on word of mouth and i also have a 6 month waiting list. Hows that for UNLICENSED.

sounds like you have had alot of experience with children, so why not be legal they have laws in place to protect you as much as the children ,i had a licensed daycare for about 5 years and it was really good ,they came in ever so often to check things out,but also they pay you for each childs breakfast,lunch and a snack.the rules helped me to give the best possible care i could, I look at it like this what would i want for my own kids thats one reason that i became licensed,you may be doing everything right but there are people who really get greedy and it becomes more about the money and less about the children .To me this becomes a real problem & instead of providing great care our children become paychecks i don't know about you all but i'm not willing to take chances with precious gifts God has blessed us with , so thank about this please when you know about illegal daycares,someone has to stand up for the care of our children . precious gifts

[Unregistered]

It is our business

I agree that licensed or un-licensed you need to follow the rules of your state. Follow the law...... I have fees, training requirements, lots of paperwork, drop in visits etc... in order for me to be licensed. Who is holding un-licensed to be accountable for proper training in cpr or first aid. I am sure there is great providers and bad providers no matter if you are licensed or not.
It is the business of all if she is not reporting her income and living off of the government and getting huge tax breaks etc. I have to report my income and pay in. Everyone has a story. I would hope in either way honesty is always the best policy and do what your gut is telling you to do is right. Make sure for the kids sake she is following your state laws.

https://www.daycareheadquarters.com

[dEHmom]

can i ask why it bothers you if she is or is not?? I agree that eveyone should have to follow the rules, but maybe she is not aware of the rules....

Maybe you can ask her, help her instead of hurt her. What about all of those kids...what will happen to them...

she may be the most loving provider and it could devistate those children if they lost her...

even though it may upset you that someone is not following the rules, maybe there is a reason why..

open your heart and mind and reach out to this person so that they dont lose everything they have. If you are a person with a good heart and a soul you would help them instead of hurt them......

You never know what someone else situtaion is.........

I feel your frustration, but do you really know the providers situation?

Good points lvt!

[jen]

sounds like you have had alot of experience with children, so why not be legal they have laws in place to protect you as much as the children ,i had a licensed daycare for about 5 years and it was really good ,they came in ever so often to check things out,but also they pay you for each childs breakfast,lunch and a snack.the rules helped me to give the best possible care i could, I look at it like this what would i want for my own kids thats one reason that i became licensed,you may be doing everything right but there are people who really get greedy and it becomes more about the money and less about the children .To me this becomes a real problem & instead of providing great care our children become paychecks i don't know about you all but i'm not willing to take chances with precious gifts God has blessed us with , so thank about this please when you know about illegal daycares,someone has to stand up for the care of our children . precious gifts

If you read her post, she clearly states that she is an unlicensed, LEGAL provider. She is complying with the laws in her area.

[Unregistered]

Licensed vs Unlicensed Daycare

It is a no-brainer, folks. The laws are the laws. If your STATE requires that a home daycare be licensed if they are watching a certain number of kids, then they should be licensed. For those following the law as listed in posts here, hopefully, if you fall within the guidelines of having children over the minimum, then you will follow those guidelines and get licensed. I can't understand all the bickering back and forth about people minding their own busines, etc. My babysitter is not licensed. She should be because she has over the state limit. I've asked her if she was going to get licensed and she always said maybe. But she doesn't and refuses to giver her SS# so parents can claim taxes on their daycare costs. Now I pay taxes on my income but what, home babysitters are above the law and shouldn't have to? That is ridiculous. Instead, the babysitter is USING the system and having her kids on state medical insurance because she claims no income and her husbands income is used as the only income for a very large household. She is able to buy all new furniture, add a room, and remodel her kitchen all while I incur 1) hospital costs for a 3 day stay in the hospital for my child who got pneumonia from a baby in her care who had pneumonia 2) urgent care bills for a slammed finger in a door and 3) now that I qualify for child care assistance through the state cannot use it with her because she doesn't want to draw any attention to her predictament and take the chance of having to pay taxes on anything. Falling on deaf ears, maybe but people like me end up over-paying because of situations like this.. and YES before getting bombarded, I am looking for new daycare.

[jen]

It is a no-brainer, folks. The laws are the laws. If your STATE requires that a home daycare be licensed if they are watching a certain number of kids, then they should be licensed. For those following the law as listed in posts here, hopefully, if you fall within the guidelines of having children over the minimum, then you will follow those guidelines and get licensed. I can't understand all the bickering back and forth about people minding their own busines, etc. My babysitter is not licensed. She should be because she has over the state limit. I've asked her if she was going to get licensed and she always said maybe. But she doesn't and refuses to giver her SS# so parents can claim taxes on their daycare costs. Now I pay taxes on my income but what, home babysitters are above the law and shouldn't have to? That is ridiculous. Instead, the babysitter is USING the system and having her kids on state medical insurance because she claims no income and her husbands income is used as the only income for a very large household. She is able to buy all new furniture, add a room, and remodel her kitchen all while I incur 1) hospital costs for a 3 day stay in the hospital for my child who got pneumonia from a baby in her care who had pneumonia 2) urgent care bills for a slammed finger in a door and 3) now that I qualify for child care assistance through the state cannot use it with her because she doesn't want to draw any attention to her predictament and take the chance of having to pay taxes on anything. Falling on deaf ears, maybe but people like me end up over-paying because of situations like this.. and YES before getting bombarded, I am looking for new daycare.

So...if you are so unhappy, and she is not following the rules in your state, and your child is not safe WHY would you bring him/her back there for even one more day? Why haven't you contacted the state to report her? Why did you bring your child there in the first place???

People like you should use an unlicensed illegal provider and then have the nerve to complain about it! You are just as much a part of the problem as she it!

[Unregistered]

unregistered daycare

My son is at daycare which is unregistered, she has 6 kids in her daycare - but always on demand for money and goods that must be sent to the daycare for the kids but I can see there is no improvement as to what she does with the money. what are the laws of her being in so much demand. she refuses to get registered - Cape Town, Retreat

[Unregistered]

This strays from the Heart of the matter.

At the beginning of this strand when the poster asked what his or her state regulations,

Everyone judged and argued before truly asking why they wanted to report. Up to five kids-fine, taxes-gray area as a professional childcare provider and one subsidized daycare owner I can say we don't make much with those low ratios. But I found my way to message board to try to find out how to report an a home daycare I recently assisted at. There were regularly 15-22 children in the home, it was filthly, and her care for child 2 years and above was to put them in of two rooms to watch televison and play video games. If they came out the rooms other than to use the restroom they were lterally yelled at to go back to the room and sometimes "swatted"!

Infants and toddlers were locked in room for hours with fan on so as to dull their sreaming because as she put it "there was nothing else to do with them". When I briefly cuddled an ill infant she asked me not to hold the babies so they did not "get spoiled."

She wiped childrens faces and hands with same rags used to wipe counters, tables, and floors. Her idea of me assisting her was to leave alone all day and come there only during child drop-off and pick-up so the parents thought she was there all along. She made at $3,000 a week and didi report any. So much ,in fact, that the home daycare was her first home, the home she and family lived in is a much larger home in nearby, nicer neighborhood.

So, yes-there is for consistant oversight and liscensing. Come on people, we are talking about here!

[Unregistered]

Operating an Unlicensed Daycare

My kids were going to an unlicensed daycare. That said. My lady was really good, until she started getting greedy. She fired my daughter after leavinig her outside all day for time out. YES FOLKS OUTSIDE!!! She has about 15 to 20 kids at any given time, and about almost all of them, are under the age of 3. She doesn't pay taxes on more than $3K per child, because thats all you can benefit from in the Child Care Credit world. So this gal, is pulling in 150K a year and only claiming on about 45K per year.

It is the responsibility of the parent, as it was mine, to find the best care for my child. I kept turning a blind eye. After the incident above, I was ready to pull my baby girl anyway.
Bottom line, it is not anyone's business to decide if it is a good daycare or not based on licensing, it is our responsibility as a parents to put our children in good hands. So shame on us if we didn't/don't.

[Unregistered]

The Real Question

The real question is WHY isn't she licensed? Of course it's our business. If someone is operating a business outside of the law that requires a license then it is against the law. What if a doctor in town was running a clinic without a professional license? These protections are in place for the safety of children and respect for the market.

If she is operating a legally unlicensed child care business, then unless we see neglect or abuse it is none of our business.

Sorry for the anonymous post; I'm not registered for this site yet, but I just had to respond.

Kathy Scovill

[JenNJ]

I agree that each daycare needs to fall within guidelines from the state but until parents demand it and refuse to use those who don't follow the rules, it will continue.

In my state a provider doesn't need to be licensed for up to 5 kids. I am upfront with my clients and tell them 5 is my limit BC I don't want to take days off 6 extra days this year for ridiculous classes like diaper changing 101 when I have a CDA, tons of CE courses, and I was a preschool teacher and nanny before I became a mother.

Communication is key!!!!!

[Unregistered]

Nosey neighbor get a life

"People need to mind there business. If she is not bothering you, then why are you worried. Let that woman make her money. If she was abusing or neglecting the children, nobody would have anything to say. That's what is wrong with the world today, people report the wrong things."

First of all, get yourself a spellchecker.....it's THEIR not THERE. Further, unlicensed daycare cast a pall upon all the good care providers out there that follow the law. What's wrong with the world is people like you that think only certain laws and statutes are important. Operating an unlicensed day care is the equivalent of operating a restaurant without the proper safety and cleanliness guidelines. If the woman wants to "make her money" then let her comply with the same statutes and laws that licensed day care facilities must abide by.

...and you need to see a licensed english teacher "is the equivalent" should be is the equivalence, moving right along. who are you to make the assumption that her home isn't up to par to care for children and if you were really worried so much that you came on the internet to question the credentials of a care provider you should have saved face and called your local health dept.or family and social service office..quit meddling and hating off the next woman and her hustle! jealousy wont get you anywhere in life...she must be making more money than you