The original licensing law which was passed in 1919 placed the licensing authority with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The Department administers the licensing law as a preventive program to assure that out-of-home care for children and maternity patients will not be exploitive, unsafe, or unhealthy. The main purpose of the law is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of children receiving care away from their parents and home. It is also a consumer protection law assuring parents that the care they are paying for meets minimum standards of good care.

Registration or Licensure (depending on the number of children in care) is required regardless of the motivation for providing care, and whether or not there is advertisement of or payment for services. The essential fact is that a child or children receive care away from their own homes.

Basis and purpose of child care regulations

Child Care Facility Requirements

Policy Regulation Exceptions

• Child Care Centers and Preschools
• Exception to Use Any Child Health Assessment Form (.pdf)
• Storage Soap Provided for Hand Washing, Disinfectant Solution and Diaper Changing Supplies (.pdf)
• Licensed Day Care Homes and Group Day Care Homes
• Exception to Exceed the Licensed Capacity for School Age Children (.pdf)
• Exception to Exceed the Licensed Capacity During the Noon Hour (.pdf)
• Exception to Exceed the Licensed Capacity for Children 11 Years of Age and Older (.pdf)
• Exception to Use Any Child Health Assessment Form (.pdf)
• Exception for the Use of Cribs and Playpens fro Children Over 12 Months (.pdf)
• Storage of Soap Used for Hand Washing (.pdf)
• Registered Family Day Care Homes
• Storage of Soap Used for Hand Washing (.pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions (.pdf)

KDHE contracts with local health departments (some are multi-county) to provide local regulatory services for: 

• Registered Family Day Care Homes
• Licensed Day Care Homes
• Group Day Care Homes
• Child Care Centers
• Preschools
• Head Start Centers
• School Age Programs

Inclusion of Children with Special Needs in Child Care Environments