The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Office of Child Care Regulation and Background Screening is statutorily responsible for the administration of child care class I licensing throughout the state of Florida. Its purpose is to ensure that children are well cared for in a safe, healthy, positive and educational environment by trained, qualified child care staff.

The DCF program currently regulates licensed child care facilities, licensed family day care homes, licensed large family child care homes, and licensed mildly ill facilities in 62 of the 67 counties throughout the state. Additionally, the Office of Child Care Regulation and Background Screening administers the registration of family day care homes.

The DCF department or the Child Care Class I Licensing Boards regulates the operations of licensed child-care centers and family child-care homes. They conduct periodic announced and unannounced licensing inspections, investigate complaints filed against the child-care facility, and take enforcement action as they deemed necessary. Depending on the nature of the violation a Class Violation I (One), II (Two) or III (Three) may be issued against the Child Care Center.

Upon the issuance of a Class I violation, the Child Care Center has the option of filing an administrative appeal. Unfortunately, often times, the Child Care Director is not aware of the long-term financial implications of a Class I violations, that are issued in accordance to the Florida Administrative Codes 65-C22, Child Care Standards and the Florida Statutes; 65-C20, Family Day Care Standard and Large Family Day Care Homes; and the Florida Statues, Chapter 402, specifically 402.281 (Gold Seal Program). Additionally, the Child Care Center is not aware that the Early Learning Coalition may also terminate their contract, depending on the nature and severity of the violation.

What the Early Learning Coalition Does.

Florida's Early Learning Coalitions oversee early care and education from birth to kindergarten. They manage the School Readiness program and administer Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) at the state-wide level. They decide which child care providers receive contracts and which contracts get terminated. They also fund care for eligible families and monitor providers for compliance. For many centers, that contract is the backbone of the business.

A Class I Violation Can Threaten Your School Faster Than You Think.

A single Class I citation from DCF gives the Coalition grounds to act. It can refuse to contract with you or revoke your eligibility to serve School Readiness children. The law does not require it to wait for your DCF case to be resolved. A termination notice can arrive while you are still contesting the violation. Lose that funding and many centers cannot stay open.

That is why the first days after a citation matter most. Call us before the Coalition acts.

The law firm of Lucy C. Pineiro & Associates has aggressively represented Child Care Centers throughout the state of Florida, in their administrative appeal and defense of child care class I licensing violations. Ms. Pineiro has expansive knowledge in this area and uses her experience and legal skills to help her clients resolve their child care class I licensing violations equitably and fairly.