Resources for Providers

Hot Weather Alert! Temperatures are on the rise.Child care providers should use increased caution when transporting and caring for children. Click Here

DHS Provider Mailouts/Communications:

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Summer Transportation Hazard Alert/Emergency
• Books from Birth Imagination Library for your agency
  • Imagination Library Registration Phone Numbers by County
• Resuming Summer Transportation and Ongoing Safety
• Summer Transportation Hazard Alert
• Notice of New Monitoring & Evaluation Pilot Program
• Requirement to Cooperate With Monitoring & Evaluation
• New Child Care Center Rules
• Notice about 2007 Vehicle Requirements (11/2006)
• Belt-Positioning Booster Seat Requirements
• FAQ’s on 2007 Passenger Restraint Requirements
• FAQ’s on 2007 Vehicle Requirements
• Notice about 2007 Vehicle Requirements
• Vehicle Alarm System Approval List & Manufacturer List

DHS offers numerous training opportunities to child care providers which enables them to offer the highest level of quality possible for the children in their care.

• Child Care Resource & Referral Centers — a network of centers across the state offering free technical assistance to providers and resources for parents.
• First Steps— a free training program for new center directors and care givers to help them meet the state-mandated training. Training is offered in all 95 counties. For information about this program, contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral Center.
• Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) —a statewide training and professional recognition system based on the belief that early childhood education program personnel should have professional knowledge and skills to provide appropriate care and education for young children. For further information contact the TECTA site nearest you.
• TN-CCPT (Tennessee Child Care Provider Training) - assists providers with meeting increased training requirements of 18 hours of training, at no cost to providers, for any DHS -licensed child care provider in the state. For details contact your local CCR & R.  
• TSU Center for Excellence
• Project T.O.P.S.T.A.R . ( Tennessee's Outstanding Providers Supported Through Available Resources) is a mentoring support system for family child care providers sponsored by the Tennessee Family Child Care Alliance and funded by DHS.
• Child Care Business Orientation Training
  Tennessee Child Care Facilities Corporation helps provide business orientation training to potential owners and operators of child care facilities statewide. For information on training dates, times and locations, contact the Child Care Facilities Program at 1-888-413-CCFC(2232).

Commonly Requested Licensing Forms

• Child Care Fingerprint Applicant Information & Criminal/Juvenile History Disclosure Form
• Summary of Center Licensing Requirements

For information on the Child Care Certificate Program, click here

Child Care Services Information Locate Your Local Child Care Provider Child Care Resource & Referral Centers Child Care Complaint Hotline: 1-800-462-8261 Child Care Licensing: (615) 313-4778