DHS Licensing Orientation for Family Child Care Home Providers (English)

The DHS Licensing Orientation for Family Child Care Home Providers is the first step for anyone interested in becoming a Licensed Family Child Care Home Provider (FCC). The goal of this page is to outline the steps required to become a licensed FCC provider. This training does not provide Professional Development (PD) hours, but it does offer a certificate on completion of the training.

Prior to taking the orientation, please take into consideration your ability to meet the following required documentation for initial licensure: Document Checklist.

In addition to the above, please consider that there may be some costs associated with preparing your home for a family child care program.

Please contact the Center for Early Learning Professionals if you have questions about the above requirements: info@center-elp.org or (401) 736-9020.

If you feel you are unable to complete any of the above requirements and are still interested in working in the family childcare field, please contact Stephane Sochacki at stephane.sochacki@seiuesf.org or (413) 239-4425 at the SEIU Education & Support Fund to learn how you can become a paid, state-approved family child care substitute. 

Instructions

This page has Three simple tasks you need to complete to begin the process of becoming a licensed FCC provider.

• Task 1 is to Create a Center Account
• Task 2 is to register and complete the DHS Orientation Webinar
• Task 3 to Create an Account in RISES and add a family child care program

To open and view the PDFs posted on this page, be sure to install the free Adobe Reader.

Task 1: Create a Center Account

The first step in the process of becoming a licensed FCC, is to create an account with the Center for Early Learning Professionals so that you can take the required DHS Orientation Webinar and additional required trainings. Keep in mind the following when creating your account:

• Fill out all the fields and write your name as it appears on your state ID or driver’s license
• When asked to select your “Program,” choose “Orientation for Pre-Licensed Providers“
• When asked “Are you a program director or site leader?” select “No“
• Write down your username and password in a safe place so that you can get back into your account in the future
• When setting up your profile, please call or email us to exempt you from the Workforce ID requirement for now.
• Click here to create your account with the Center

Please contact the Center for Early Learning Professionals if you require assistance in setting up your account: info@center-elp.org or (401) 736-9020.

Task 2: Take the DHS Licensing Orientation Webinar

Once you have created an account, you are ready to register for and take the DHS Licensing Orientation for Family Child Care Home Providers webinar.

• Click here to register for and take the webinar

Task 3: Create an Account in RISES

After completing the webinar, please review Next Steps to Becoming a Family Child Care Provider.

• Click here to review the Next Steps to Becoming a Family Child Care Provider (PDF)
• Enroll in Rhode Island Start Early System (RISES) at Enroll in RISES  and add your Workforce ID to your CELP account
• You will have to wait 24/48hrs after completion of the Orientation and the addition of the Workforce ID into your account to complete the next step
• Log into your RISES account, from here you will Click ‘View/Add Child Care Program’ on your dashboard. Then scroll down to the Family Child Care box on the page. Begin the process by selecting “Add Family Child Care”
• Notify the Center for Early Learning Professionals when you have completed adding a Family Child Care program in RISES
• The Center for Early Learning Professionals will confirm your eligibility for the First Steps course
• Upon confirmation of eligibility for First Steps we at the Center for Early Learning Professionals will assign a Technical Assistance Specialist who will contact you to set up an initial Zoom meeting to review the First Steps process and to provide you with the link to the course
• You will receive assistance with completing your application in RISES from the Center for Early Learning Professionals during the required First Steps Pre-Service training

Please be aware that DHS will no longer receive paper applications.