Title | Fund | Dollars | Positions |
---|---|---|---|
PROGRAM: FAMILY SAFETY PROGRAM | |||
FAMILY SAFETY AND PRESERVATION SERVICES |
1,918,557,353
|
3,864.00 |
|
TOTAL |
1,918,557,353 |
3,864.00 |
Early Learning and Early Grade Success. Chapter 2021-10, Laws of Florida, revises statewide governance and accountability for early learning programs by repealing the Office of Early Learning and establishing a Division of Early Learning within the Department of Education (DOE), placing oversight and rulemaking authority with the State Board of Education. Additionally, the law provides for a type two transfer of the Gold Seal Quality Care Program from the Department of Children (DCF) and Families to the DOE and revises requirements to become an accrediting association. For purposes of accreditation under the Gold Seal program, new standards will be based on nationally recognized standards rather than only those established by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the National Association of Family Child Care, and the National Early Childhood Program Accreditation Commission.
Child Care Facilities. Chapter 2021-120, Laws of Florida, requires that after January 1, 2022, all vehicles used by child care facilities to transport children must be equipped with an approved alarm system that prompts the driver to inspect the vehicle for the presence of children before leaving the area. DCF will adopt minimum safety standards for reliable alarm systems and maintain a list of alarm manufacturers and alarm systems that are approved to be installed in vehicles.
Other Reports
Selected Administrative Activities and Child Care Provider Regulation Prior Audit Follow-Up. Report No. 2021-082, December 2020.
The Auditor General reports on department operations are available on its website.
Office of Child Care Should Strengthen Its Oversight and Monitoring of Program-Integrity Risks, U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-20-227, April 2020
Most State Offer Preschool Program and Rely on Multiple Funding Sources, U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO-19-375, June 2019
State Child Care Actions in Response to COVID-19, Hunt Institute, March 2020
Trends in Child Care Center Licensing Regulations and Policies, National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, March 2020.
State Early Childhood Data Systems, Child Trends, The Early Childhood Data Collaborative, September 2018
Coordinated State Early Care and Education Data Systems, National Conference of State Legislatures, October 2010.
Websites of Interest
National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations
Department of Children and Families, Provider Search
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care Technical Assistance
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Care
Child Care and Early Education Research Connections
Early Childhood Data Collaborative
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education
Performance Information
Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan and Planning and Performance Measures, which reports the department's performance on external and internal measures for its various programs. The measures allow the user to view performance at both a statewide and geographic region level.
ss. 402.26 through 402.319 and s. 1002.55, Florida Statutes
Child Care Program Office, 850-488-4900
Child Care Training and Credentialing Information, 1-888-352-2842
Background Screening Information Center, 1-888-352-2849