Rules and Regulations
Guidelines for Safe Child Care
Arizona Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing
The DHS Bureau of Child Care Licensing licenses and monitors child care centers and child care group homes.
Child Care Centers
Child care centers are small businesses in non-residential settings that offer care for five or more children, often grouped by age. With a larger enrollment, child care centers have a dedicated director with a staff.
Rules for State-Licensed Child Care Centers
There are state statutes and rules regulating licensed child care centers in Arizona and they are enforced by AZDHS. All Licensed child care facilities are inspected at least once a year and/or upon a complaint to ensure compliance with health and safety regulatory requirements. An inspection survey report is made available to the public via DHS.
Monitoring Checklist for Licensed Child Care Centers
It is important to understand that an inspection report shows only a one-time snapshot of a child care provider’s compliance with State rules and statutes. To more fully assess the quality of care provided by a facility, it is important to review both current and past survey reports. The Bureau of Child Care Licensing maintains a public file for each child care center which contains survey reports and the provider’s Written Documentation of Corrections for the past three years. These are edited to protect children’s confidentiality. In addition, all licensed child care providers are required by state law to make these reports available for review by the public.
Child Care Group Homes
Family child care providers offer care for small groups of children in a residential building.
Rules for State-Licensed Child Care Centers
There are state statutes and rules regulating child care group homes in Arizona and they are enforced by AZDHS. All Child Care Group Homes are inspected at least once a year and/or upon a complaint to ensure compliance with health and safety regulatory requirements. An inspection survey report is made available to the public via DHS.
Monitoring Checklist for Licensed Child Care Centers
It is important to understand that an inspection report shows only a one-time snapshot of a child care provider’s compliance with State rules and statutes. To more fully assess the quality of care provided by a child care provider, it is important to review both current and past survey reports. The Bureau of Child Care Licensing maintains a public file for each child care group home which contains survey reports and the provider’s Written Documentation of Corrections for the past three years. These are edited to protect children’s confidentiality. In addition, all licensed child care providers are required by state law to make these reports available for review by the public.
Arizona Department of Economic Security
Family Child Care
Family child care homes are operated in a residential setting. They may care for up to four children for compensation at one time.
Rules for Family Child Care Homes
There are state statutes and rules regulating family child care homes in Arizona and they are enforced by DES. All family child care homes are inspected at least twice a year and/or upon a complaint to ensure compliance with health and safety regulatory requirements. Inspection reports and/or complaints can be seen through the Arizona Child Care Provider search page.
Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care Homes
It is important to understand that an inspection report shows only a one-time snapshot of a child care provider’s compliance with State rules and statutes. To more fully assess the quality of care provided by a child care provider, it is important to review both current and past survey reports. The Department of Economic Security maintains a public file for each family child care home which contains survey reports for the past three years. In addition, all family child care providers are required by state law to make these reports available for review by the public.
Family Child Care In-Home Providers
Family child care in-home providers travel to the children’s home to provide child care services.
Rules for Family Child Care In-Home Providers
There are state statutes and rules regulating family child care in-home providers in Arizona and they are enforced by DES. All family child care in-home providers are inspected at least twice a year and/or upon a complaint to ensure compliance with health and safety regulatory requirements. The public can request inspection reports and/or complaints by contacting the DES Division of Child Care by finding a local office.
Monitoring Checklist for Family Child Care In-Home Providers
It is important to understand that an inspection report shows only a one-time snapshot of a child care provider’s compliance with State rules and statutes. To more fully assess the quality of care provided by a child care provider, it is important to review both current and past survey reports. The Department of Economic Security maintains a public file for each family child care in-home provider which contains survey reports for the past three years. Inspection reports and/or complaints can be seen through the Arizona Child Care Provider search page.
The following child care data is collected and provided by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Child Care (DCC) and the Arizona Department of Health Services, Bureau of Child Care Licensing (DHS) in accordance with federal requirements listed under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Reauthorization Act of 2014. As a component of receiving federal funding, states must report aggregate data on serious injuries, fatalities, and substantiated cases of child abuse that have occurred in a child care setting.
The data reported pertains to licensed for-profit and/or non-profit child care centers and certified family child care homes that meet state licensing or certification rules and regulations and are contracted to provide care for children receiving state subsidies. In Arizona, it is not unlawful to care for up to four children for compensation in a home and not be certified and contracted to do so. These providers are not included in the data below.
Data is based on the fiscal year.
DES makes complaint information and inspection reports for DES-certified or contracted child care providers available via in-person office visits, or they may be requested via email, fax, or phone by calling 602-542-1959. Inspection reports may also be viewed when searching for a DES contracted or certified provider on the Arizona Child Care Provider Search Tool.
To view inspection reports and/or complaints, you must contact DES. Find a local DES office in your area.
Please note: It is not unlawful in Arizona to care for up to four children for compensation. If a person or entity is caring for more than four children for compensation you may contact CCR&R to get information on how to file a report.
If you have questions about any of the rules or regulations please call CCR&R at 1.800.308.9000, Monday - Friday, 8:00a to 5:00p.
Expulsion and Suspension
DES does everything possible to prevent suspension and expulsion.