Administrative Policy and Procedure Manual Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Family Health Policy: Department of Defense Unit Installations -Family Child Care Programs:

POLICY Federal Department of Defense (DoD) child care programs operate on federal property, so they are not subject to state and local child care licensing requirements. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the state agency overseeing licensing and regulation of child care facilities, does not have the authority to license child care on any military installation/base. In some situations, military housing is not sufficient on base. This policy provides that KDHE accepts DoD licensure and oversight in lieu of state licensing for off-base child care programs if they meet the following criteria: • Home-based setting (family child care provided in a residence); and • Owned and operated by active-duty military families; and • Serving only military families/children. Kansas Child Care Licensing laws and policies do not provide any exemptions for civilian-owned child care facilities. Any civilian child care facility location must be licensed by KOH E regardless of whether the facility serves military families/children. PROCEDURES Any Family Child Care (FCC) program operating under this exception must prominently display, in a front window, the FCC Certification indicating authority to operate under the DoD. Any DoD Unit overseeing family child care off base must provide a list of active locations to the local child care licensing surveyor and notify the surveyor if a new facility opens, or an existing facility closes. A list of local surveyors is available at https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/280/Child-Care-Licensing. AUTHORITY KDHE is the state agency responsible for implementing the Child Care Act (K.S.A. 65-501 et seq.). Further, KDHE regularly reviews inquiries regarding licensure and determines whether a program is required to be licensed in accordance with state law and program policy. PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide clarity for DoD authority as it pertains to child care facilities operated on and off base and to remove access to care barriers for military personnel.