IMPORTANT NOTICE!  The FBI has moved to an all-electronic criminal background check (CBC) application process and no longer accepts hard-copy fingerprint cards.  Because the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) follows FBI guidelines, the use of hard-copy CBC applications at the State level is also being phased out.  Instead, all CBC applicants are being encouraged to submit their applications electronically.  However, hard-copy applications will still be accepted by CJIS if electronic submission is not possible.  Click here for a list of State-approved private electronic fingerprinting services and State-operated electronic fingerprinting locations.  Electronic applications may also be submitted through many State and local police agencies. Child care programs that have their own State-certified electronic fingerprinting equipment and operators may continue to submit CBC applications.

ONLINE LICENSING INSPECTION RESULTS:
Visit the Office of Child Care's online child care licensing inspection results site – www.CheckCCMD.org!  The site offers detailed compliance findings from child care licensing inspections conducted since January 2011.  The site may also be used to find licensed child care programs and providers, and to link to a wide variety of information about early care and education in Maryland.

PROVIDER TRAINING (Pre-Service and Continuing):
Please visit www.mdchildcare.org to find MSDE-approved training courses, trainers, and training organizations.

NOTICE TO PARENTS AND PROVIDERS:
Maryland's Child Passenger Safety Law was changed effective October 1, 2012.  Under this change, every child under 8 years old must ride in an appropriate child restraint unless the child is 4 feet, 9 inches or taller.  Every child from 8 to 16 years old who is not secured in a child restraint must be secured in a vehicle seat belt.  If you would like to learn more about this law, or would like information on selecting or using child restraints, please call Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (Maryland KISS) at 410-767-6016 or log on to www.mdkiss.org.

REGION 10 - Upcoming Events and Regional Information

Steps to Becoming a Family Child Care Provider:
- How to Open a Licensed Child Care Center
- Roundtables
- Helpful Numbers
- OCC Region 10 Staff
- Training for Child Care Providers - PDF Version

Steps to Becoming a Registered Family Child Care Provider

1st Step - Attend Family Child Care Orientation. Family Child Care Orientations are held monthly at local libraries. Please call the Region 10 Office at 301-475-3770 or 1-800-874-6797 for Family Day Care Orientation dates, times and locations. There is no charge and you do not have to register to attend. Please be prompt, stay through the entire three-hour session, and do not bring children to the orientation. You will receive an application packet and an explanation of the application process.

How to Open a Licensed Child Care Center

Please click here for detailed information on the license application process.

Call the OCC Region 10 Licensing Office for consultation. Required orientations are held monthly at the Regional Office. You can register by calling the Office.

Roundtables

Roundtables are training opportunities offered by the Region 10 Office of Child Care at no cost to attendees. They are offered periodically.
Click here for upcoming Roundtable information.
Updated: May 2013


Helpful Numbers

The Promise Resource Center:
Office Line - 866-290-0040
Local Line - 301-290-0040
FAX Line - 301-290-0050
www.thepromisecenter.org

Southern Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal:
443-550-6820 (local)
866-629-9882 (toll-free)

Environmental Health Department:
Calvert - 410-535-3922
Charles - 301-609-6900
St. Mary's - 301-475-4330
Additional Water Testing Sources for Region 10

Permit, Planning and Zoning:
Calvert - 410-535-2348 (Planning and Zoning)
410-535-2155 (Permits)
Charles - 301-645-0692
St. Mary's - 301-475-4200 ext.1500
Region 10 Zoning Permit Information for Family Child Care

Department of Social Services:
Calvert - 443-550-6900
Charles - 301-392-6400
St. Mary's - 240-895-7000

Child and Adult Care Food Program
Southern Maryland
Toll-free 1 800-477-3993 ext.5040
www.theplanningcouncil.org

Family Child Care Associations:
Calvert - 410-535-3749, Bonnie Drayer, President
Charles - 301-392-3481, Wendy Dingus, President
St. Mary's – 301-862-1848, Opal Lay, President

Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services
Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS):
1-888-795-0011 or 410-764-4501
www.dpscs.state.md.us/publicservs/fingerprint.shtml

Child Care Center Association Groups:

National Association for the Education of Young Children
1-800-424-2460
www.naeyc.org

Maryland Family Network (MFN)
Child Care referral information can be obtained by calling:
LOCATE toll-free at 1-877-261-0060 or go to:
www.mdchildcare.org

Notice to All Family Child Care Providers and Child Care Centers:

The OCC has received notice from the Office of the State Fire Marshal that all "anniversary cycle" fire inspections will be unannounced, effective immediately. Initial inspections before licensure will have to be scheduled but all others will be unannounced. Please understand that the Fire Marshal will not be calling to schedule any "anniversary cycle" fire inspections.

Also, please be sure that all payments to the Fire Marshal's Office are made in a timely manner so as not to delay any future inspections. Formal requests for inspections are made by the OCC to the Fire Marshal's Office well in advance of anniversary dates. It is important to notify the Office of Child Care if you are planning to close so that a request will not be made to the Fire Marshal's Office for an unnecessary inspection.

Please contact the Office of Child Care if you have any questions.


OCC Region 10 Staff