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Child Care Licensing

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Child Care Licensing

About the Child Care Licensing Bureau

The Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) performs state licensing regulatory duties as required by state laws and federal requirements.

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Caring For MI Future

Caring for Mi Future is a $100 million strategy to open 1,000 new child care programs by the end of 2024. This is one piece of a historic $1.4 billion investment to expand access to quality, affordable child care for families. To date, the governor has expanded access to free or low cost child care for 150,000 more kids and their families, awarded nearly $1 billion in grants to nearly 6,000 child care businesses, and provided bonuses up to $1,000 for 38,000 child care professionals.

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Our Strong Start

Resources for New Child Care Entrepreneurs

Out Strong Start is a program focusing on recruiting new child care entrepreneurs and helping current child care entrepreneurs expand. Our Strong Start supports child care professionals with a team of trained navigators who connect them with grant opportunities, help troubleshoot any barriers in the licensing process, and address any concerns about starting or expanding their business.

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Child Care Background Check

The Child Care Background Check Program is specifically for the comprehensive background check of licensed child care providers in the state of Michigan.

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Family & Group Home Capacity

Requesting Increases to Capacity and Ratio for Homes

The recent changes to PA 116 allows family and group homes to request an increase in capacity if the licensee meets certain conditions. To help streamline the process, the Child Care Licensing Bureau has developed a form for licensees to request the increase in capacity and a variance to allow for a ratio increase.

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Child Care Staffing Shortages

Rule Exception Requests

Child care staffing shortages throughout the state have made it difficult to find caregivers for our youngest Michiganders. With over 9,000 vacancies, shortages of staff are impacting the industry’s ability to serve children and families. To help meet this need the Child Care Licensing Bureau is now accepting requests for exceptions to the rules, “rule variances”, identified by child care professionals as barriers to bringing on new staff members. 

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Bureau News