Types of Child Care Providers

There's a shortage of licensed child care providers in Weld County, and that means there's a big opportunity for you! Licensed child care providers may care for children from more than four families in their own home, in another licensed provider's home or in a child care center. They are licensed and closely monitored, regulated and supported by the state of Colorado. They can also contract with the Weld County Department of Human Services (DHS) to be reimbursed for providing care for children of parents receiving financial support through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP).

This is an ideal career for those who:

• Enjoy working with young children
• Want to help young children learn, thrive, grow and be happy
• Are patient and understanding
• Like the idea of owning your own business and even being your own boss
• Want to be able to stay at home with your own children and earn extra money

Weld County is proud to partner with United Way of Weld County to assist and support child care providers in the licensure process. United Way also provides information and guidance on increasing the quality of participating licensed child care providers through their Child Care Quality Improvement Project, by assisting participating providers in making quality improvements in their child care facilities and in attaining a quality rating or accreditation.

Requirements:

To become a licensed child care provider, you will need to complete 28 hours of coursework about early childhood development, health, nutrition, safety, CPR and basic first aid. In addition, you must pass a background check. When offering child care in your home, you may need to pass a zoning inspection and obtain a zoning permit.

Learn More:

For more information or for questions about becoming licensed, email childcare4weld@unitedway-weld.org or call (970) 304-6165.

It’s always a good idea to learn as much as possible about a new career opportunity before you sign up for classes. That’s why United Way of Weld County offers a question and answer session where you’ll hear more about the classes you’ll take, the process of getting your license and be able to ask questions. Visit the Reading Great by 8 website for more information. 

REACH (Realizing Economic Advancement through Caring Homes) refers to caregivers who provide child care either in their own residence or in a family’s home. These professional providers care for children who are related to them, or may care for up to four non-related children, and are exempt from licensing requirements. REACH providers contract with the Weld County Department of Human Services (DHS) to be reimbursed for providing care for children of parents receiving financial support through the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP).

At the heart of our program, REACH is a partnership between a caregiver and a family to work together so both can achieve financial advancement and stability. As a child care provider, you can earn extra money for your family by doing something you love, while also helping other families become successful. REACH providers enable parents to work or go to school, allowing them to better support their children.

REACH may be a perfect fit for those who:

• Care about children and want to see them grow, thrive and become the best they can be
• Have a heart for community service and helping others
• Want to help strengthen and empower families
• Already provide child care for relatives, friends or neighbors
• Want to be able to stay at home with your own children while earning income providing child care for others
• Want to be your own boss and make your own schedule

Requirements:

To become a contracted REACH provider, you will need to complete a county fiscal agreement, pass a background check and attend a CCCAP orientation.

Learn More:

For more information, email childcareprovider@weldgov.com, call (970) 400-6594 or download our REACH booklet here(PDF, 1MB).

FFN (Family, Friend and Neighbor) providers care for children belonging to their family, friends and/or neighbors, either in their own home or in other's homes. These providers have all different types of educational and professional qualifications varying from years of life experience to credentials and trainings.

This informal form of child care can be a great first step toward attaining licensure with the state of Colorado or contracting with the Weld County Department of Human Services (DHS) to be reimbursed for providing care for children of families receiving financial assistance (CCCAP). In fact, all that FFN providers need to do is contract with DHS and they're automatically a REACH provider!

Requirements:

To become or identify as an FFN provider, the only requirement is to care for children of a family member, friend and/or neighbor.

Learn More:

If you would like to become or currently are an FFN provider and would like to receive more information about resources available to you, please email childcare4weld@unitedway-weld.org, call (970) 304-6165 or visit the Reading Great by 8 website.