Child Care Licensing Program
The Child Care Licensing Program (CCL) protects the health and safety of children in child care centers and homes located within the Municipality of Anchorage. Child care centers and homes are routinely inspected throughout the year. Between inspections, they can correct noted problems and demonstrate that they can comply with applicable standards and ordinances. In addition, time is spent working with centers which receive complaints or which are operating out of compliance.
Click HERE for ON-LINE Access to all Center and Home Care Inspection Results
Child Care Facilities:
A child care home or center may also frequently be referred to as a Child Care and Educational Center or Home. For general ease of understanding, all types of programs are considered to be a child care facility. These facilities fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of Anchorage Municipal Code AMC 16.55 and are routinely inspected an average of three times throughout the year. Between inspections, providers are expected to correct noted problems and demonstrate that they can comply with applicable standards and ordinances. Additional time is spent working with facilities receiving complaints or those programs that are operating out of compliance. Anchorage child care facilities offer a wide range of variety in size, location, services, and philosophy. In all facilities, the program administrator is responsible for knowing and complying with applicable regulations.
Several tools exist to help parents make an informed decision as to the best care arrangements for their child. In addition to visiting the CCL office to ask questions about child care providers regarding inspections or any possible complaints; CCL encourages all parents to visit, ask questions, and carefully compare several child care programs before making a final decision. CCL has made the following tools available to assist in the search for childcare:
A list of Licensed Child Care facilities can be accessed by clicking here :
Inspection reports for licensed facilities are available on line and can be accessed by clicking here:
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A comparison table of types of child care facilities
The Municipal Child Care Licensing program takes several measures to help reduce the risk of predictable harm in licensed childcare facilities. In addition to receiving ongoing monitoring visits from their assigned Licensing Specialist, each program is routinely inspected by the Anchorage Fire Department and may also be inspected by the Food Safety and Sanitation division of the Health Department. All individuals in contact with children must obtain background clearance and take specified child development classes each year. All facilities are required to provide proof of CPR / 1st Aid training and to maintain complete first aid kits.
Parent concerns about any child care facility can be directed to CCL at 343-4758; all complaints will be investigated by a Licensing Specialist and may involve other community agencies such as the Office of Children Services.
Requirements for Licensing:
Individuals wishing to obtain a child care license are required to contact the CCL office.
To qualify for a child care facility license, a program must meet the requirements of Anchorage Municipal Code 16.55. Compliance with applicable Fire, Food Safety, Building Safety, and Land Use standards also apply.
For Additional Information:
The Child Care Licensing Program is open to serve the public at no cost at 825 L Street, 3rd floor, Anchorage, AK, 99501. Program hours of operation are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Monday-Friday, with the office being closed each Wednesday, starting at noon. The public is welcome to review child care facility information, such as inspection reports, complaint summaries, parent policies, and staff qualifications. Copies of AMC 16.55 and child care facility directories are available at the Program office as well as in the "Related Links" Section on this web page. Contact the CCL at (907) 343-4758 or at HHSCCL@muni.org.
Table of Types of Care
|
Type
|
# of
Children Allowed
|
Typical Ages of
Children
|
Regulated by
CAC
|
Able to receive
Child Care
Subsidy
|
|
Licensed Child Care Home
|
Maximum total of 8; restricted by ages of children
|
6 weeks through 12 years
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Licensed Child Care Center
|
Maximum total determined by available square footage; restricted by ages of children
|
6 months through12 years
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Before and After School Age Care
|
Maximum total determined by available square footage
|
Limited to school age children
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Certified Pre-school
|
Not regulated
|
Limited to children 3 years or older, limit of 3 hrs per day
|
No Monitored by State of Alaska Dept. of Education
|
No
|
|
Approved or Approved Relative Only Care
|
Determined by number of related children in care
|
6 weeks through 12 years
|
No Monitored by State of Alaska Child Care Program
|
Generally yes if income guidelines are met
|
|
In-home care
|
Not regulated; care is provided in parent’s home; all children must be related
|
Not regulated
|
No
Monitored by parent
|
Generally yes if income guidelines are met
|
|
Exempt Home Care
|
Limit of 4 children unrelated to caregiver
|
6 weeks through 12 years
|
No
Monitored by parent
|
No
|
Other types of exempt care exist, please contact CCL for further information.