Located in Knoxville, Tennessee, Cokesbury Childrens Center develops the whole child spiritually, intellectually, physically, socially and emotionally. It also supports the development of healthy families. Smart Steps participants can choose from more than 2,400 DHS licensed child care facilities. They can use the Find Child Care tools and other resources offered by DHS to find a provider that suits their needs.

Preschools

Preschools offer children a safe, stimulating environment that provides them with the foundational skills they need to succeed in school and life. They are designed to help children develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills, and promote positive family relationships. Preschools are available in most Tennessee communities and can be found in a variety of locations, including private schools and public preschools.

Last year, Tennessee parents, businesses and taxpayers lost $2.6 billion due to child care problems. In Knox County alone, families experienced a loss of $108 million. Over 80% of working parents surveyed said that childcare issues affected their work productivity or limited their career opportunities. Many also quit, were fired, or turned down a job offer or promotion because of their childcare problems.

The Department of Human Services has several tools to help parents make informed decisions about their child’s daycare. These include the Find Child Care tool on the DHS website and the Star Quality Program, which recognizes providers who exceed state minimum licensing standards. You can find more details on childhood education on the site kidcityusa.com.

Early learning solutions

In Tennessee, parents, employers and taxpayers lost $2.6 billion last year because of lack of access to child care. And the problem is getting worse. Two-thirds of parents cite access and affordability as their top challenges. And 48 percent live in a child care desert, where there are three times more children than licensed slots.

Dedicated to supporting Tennessee’s family child care educators, the statewide Tennessee Family Child Care Network (TFCCN) provides training and support using a relationship-based peer mentoring model, where seasoned family child care providers mentor new and aspiring home-based child care professionals. The program is free of charge.

ChildcareTennessee Shared Services connects child care agency owners and directors with local, regional and national businesses that provide products and services that support high quality early learning and development. These partnerships can help achieve meaningful cost savings for products and services regularly used by child care agencies. These discounts can be as high as 40 percent.

Licensing requirements

The Tennessee Child Care Regulations require that certain persons at a child care facility pass background checks and receive training on health and safety topics. Moreover, there are building code and local zoning requirements to meet before a child care operation can open.

The state requires that child care agencies be inspected four to six times a year. These inspections are to ensure that the child care agency meets certain minimum standards, such as the staff-to-child ratio and safe sleep procedures. They also check whether or not children have been exposed to communicable diseases.

Exempt programs are required to post a sign that reads, “This program is not licensed by the Department of Health as a child care agency.” They must also provide parents with a written statement that states, in at least 16-point type, that the parent, custodian or guardian has been advised and understands that the exempt program is not subject to the rated licensing system and report card regulations.

Resources

If you are a parent in Tennessee, there are many resources available to help you. You can find information on child care licensing, health and social services, and financial assistance. You can also get help finding child care from the Employee Assistance Program or your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency.

Across the state, 48 percent of families live in a child care “desert” where there are three times more children than licensed child care slots. These shortages have real consequences. Parents who struggle to find quality child care miss out on work opportunities or lose pay. In addition, they may turn down education or training.

To address these issues, the Tennessee Family Child Care Network is working to support and strengthen family child care providers. This statewide program uses a relationship-based peer mentoring model where seasoned family child care educators share their expertise with new educators. The program is free of charge and is open to all licensed family child care providers.