Childcare Center:
Established licensed setting where children are cared for in a group away from their homes for all or part of the day. Childcare Centers include nursery schools, preschools, and Parent Cooperatives. The objectives of Centers vary, from taking care of children whose parents are working, to preparing the children for school. Childcare Centers provide care for groups of children ranging in an age from infancy through school age.

Family Childcare Home:
A private home where a childcare provider provides childcare services for children from infancy through school age. The care is provided at the home of the childcare provider (not in the child's home). Family Day Care is licensed or registered by the State in which the childcare provider resides. The number of children allowed in a Family Day Care Home varies depending on the number of adults providing care in the home setting.

Group Childcare Home:
A private home where two or more childcare providers provide childcare services and education for (7) or more (usually a total of about 12) children in a private home and who employ one or more paid assistants to meet child-to-staff ratio requirements. Group Day Care is licensed or registered by the state in which the Childcare providers reside.

License Exempt Centers:
Certain states may allow certain licensing exemptions for centers if they are part of a public or private organized educational system (a school or facility operated by a religious institution caring for children during short periods of time). Also, recreational center based programs whose purpose is to provide social, recreational, or religious activities for school age children, such as scouting, boys club, girls club, sports, or the arts may also be license exempt. Please check with GAP Solutions to learn about specific license exemptions allowed by your state.

School Age Program:
A program offering before and or after school care to children enrolled in kindergarten or higher grades. These programs may operate from school buildings or other licensed facilities and may be operated by the school itself, parent groups or local Childcare Centers. The purpose of School-Age Programs is primarily to provide care for children during such times of the day when regular school classes are not in session. They are not intended to extend or replace regular school classes.

In-Home Childcare:Care is provided by a non-relative who comes into the child's home to provide care. Sometimes the childcare provider brings his/her own children. Generally speaking, the childcare provider provides services through a personal agreement with the parent(s) and works without training or professional affiliations. (May not be legal in your state).

Relative Care:Care usually provided by an aunt, uncle or grandparent of the child. Care may be provided in the relative's or the child's home. (May not be legal in your state. Contact GAP Solutions, Inc. for more information) or refer to your state's CCDF Plan.