Friend/Neighbor Caregivers –
Get Started! Get Certified! Take steps now for changes coming by November 2016.
Why is this happening?
A revised 2014 federal law requires that most child care providers must
become certified by November 2016 to receive subsidy payments, in an effort to support families with access
to safe, reliable child care.
What does this mean to me?
In order to continue to receive subsidy, Friend/Neighbor caregivers
will need to become certified by November 2016.*
What should I do now?
Your first steps towards becoming certified involve contacting your Regional
Certification Office or Child Care Information Services (CCIS) agency and letting them know of your interest in
becoming a certified child care provider.
The new CCDBG** law will make child
care work better for families and
providers by:
By Nov. 2016, most Friend/Neighbor
caregivers will need to be CERTIFIED in
order to get subsidy. This means that:
1. Making child care safer and higher
quality for many families! See how…
 You will have annual unannounced inspections.
 You will complete 10 pre-service trainings on
health and safety topics.
 You must provide a copy of your high school
diploma or equivalency upon the second
renewal of your Certificate of Compliance.
2. Making it easier for families to use child
care.
3. Increasing quality services for infants and
toddlers, children with disabilities and
families needing non-traditional care.
You have help!
Contact your Regional Certification Office to
attend an Orientation Training and review
the Orientation Manual.
More information on how to get started and a
list of your local contacts are provided on the
back of this flyer!
Get more information online at: www.pakeys.org/pages/get.aspx?page=regulated
Five benefits of getting
REGISTERED! You will:
 Receive higher payment rates.
 Be able to join Keystone STARS, which
means even higher payment rates.
 Be able to care for up to six (6) children
in your home.
 Be included in referrals for parents
looking for child care providers.
 Learn how to make your home safer for
children.
*Individuals who don’t receive child care subsidy can care for up to three children without becoming certified. Relative caregivers will
not be affected by this change. Relative caregivers must be biologically related to the child as the: grandmother, grandfather, greatgrandmother, great-grandfather, aunt, uncle or sibling who is over age 18 and does not live in the home.
**Child Care Development Block Grant
Here’s what Friend/Neighbor caregivers can do now to get certified!
Talk with your Regional Certification Office or Child Care Information Services (CCIS) agency about what you can do now.
Sign up for online news alerts about early learning.

Certification listserv. All updates and resources will be shared
through the Certification listserv as they become available, such as
more information on training requirements and timelines.
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
PA Early Education E-News. This e-newsletter is another great
source for information on what’s happening at the Office of Child
Development and Early Learning.
Sign up at http://listserv.dpw.state.pa.us/ocd-pachild-care-certification.html
Go to www.papromiseforchildren.com and
click on sign up for newsletters.
Contact your Regional Certification Office to ask about:

Attending an orientation session. The orientation manual is online at www.dhs.state.pa.us/provider/training/orientationtrainingforchildcareproviders
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How to get a certificate of occupancy from your local municipality.
How to get information about future inspections.
Getting to know the child care regulations, Title 55, Chapter 3290 at www.pacode.com/secure/data/055/chapter3290/chap3290toc.html
How to complete the self-registration process: getting the required
documents and filling out your signed application.
Background checks for you and all people over 18 living
in the home more than 30 days per calendar year.
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www.dhs.state.pa.us/findaform/childabusehistoryclearanceforms
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PA Child Abuse History Clearance ($8 per person)
PA State Police Criminal Record Check ($8 per person)
FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background Check ($25.75 per person)
Complete first aid training.
Find courses in the PA Keys to Quality Professional Development (PD) Registry.
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You can search and register for first aid training sessions in your area.
The PD Registry offers early learning professionals a wide variety of
trainings on relevant topics offered at appropriate skill levels. There is
no cost to sign up as a user of the PD Registry.
Contact your Regional Key if you’re interested in learning
more about the benefits of joining Keystone STARS.
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Financial help through grants, awards, subsidy tiered reimbursement
Free Technical Assistance to help you reach quality benchmarks
Free Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation services
Free marketing tools to help promote your program as a quality option
for families: sample press releases, flyers, news articles, logos
Northeast Region: 800-222-2108
Southeast Region: 800-346-2929
Central Region: 800-222-2117
Western Region: 800-222-2149
PA Child Abuse History Clearance
1-877-343-0494
www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
PA State Police Criminal Record
1-888-783-7972
epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
FBI Fingerprint Criminal Background
1-877-371-5422
www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpw.htm
To sign up as a new user (at no cost)
in the PD Registry, go to
www.pakeys.org and click the “Login”
button at the top right side of the
webpage. Next, click on “New Users
Create an Account Here” and follow
the instructions.
Northeast Key: 800-528-7222
Southeast Key: 267-773-4400
South Central Key: 800-864-4925
Northwest Key: 800-860-2281
Southwest Key: 877-349-4850
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