Bath Offers Daycare Registry Class

Bolar, VA – Assistance is available for Daycare providers to help with the expenses in running day care. By becoming licensed or voluntary registered with the state of Virginia you can get help with the costs of meals and supplies. A free class is being offered at the Bolar Ruritan Club later this month to help providers learn how to become licensed or voluntary registered. Debbie Dingledine is a home specialists with the council of community services in Roanoke.

She says getting licensed or voluntarily registered sends a message that you are serious about providing excellent day care services. Currently there are no licensed or voluntary registered child care day care providers in Bath or Highland counties.

A daycare provider who is licensed or voluntary registered can be reimbursed for a portion of the cost of meals and snacks served to the children. The reimbursement gives the providers money to purchase nutritious food. The programs’ goal is to make sure all children receive nutritious meals and snacks. Grant money is also available to buy supplies, toys and other items associated with day care.

“A lot of women are kind of intimidated by the licensing and voluntary registering standards” says Dingledine. “The standards are lengthy, but length is not necessarily hard.”

She says she recently had to go through the training again herself due to changes in the standards. She also did this to be able to help others interested in going through the licensing process.

Being voluntary registered allows a day care provider to keep up to five children and licensing allows a provider to keep up to twelve children. Those who want to be voluntary registered will need to have CPR training, submit to a criminal background check and scrutiny by the Dept of Social Services to make sure the home environment is safe.

The council of community services is offering a $50 grant to new providers to help offset the costs of becoming licensed. The daycare provider class on how to become licensed or voluntary registered will be held Saturday September 18 from 1 to 3pm at the Bolar Ruritan Club. To register call 540-830-0869.