Approved family day homes

As an approved family day home educator working with a licensed agency, you:

• can care for up to 6 children in your home (not including your own), offering flexibility and autonomy
• qualify for federal and provincial funding to reduce childcare fees for families, making your program more accessible
• receive support from agency consultants, including guidance on meeting provincial standards
• participate in networking opportunities with other educators, fostering collaboration and shared learning
• access training and professional development opportunities, helping you grow your skills and stay current
• receive regular home visits from agency staff to ensure your program is safe and compliant
• may qualify for wage top-up funding
• get help placing children in your care through agency referrals
• receive assistance collecting parent fees, reducing administrative burden
• can use the Alberta Approved Family Day Homes logo, showing your program’s licensed status and credibility

Agency staff are certified at minimum as a Level 2 Early Childhood Educator. Agencies employ consultants (also known as home visitors) who work closely with both family day home educators and parents to support children’s safety and well-being. Agency consultants help family day home educators with several aspects of their work, including:

• developing programs for children at different stages of development
• providing advice about nutritious meal planning
• choosing safe, developmentally appropriate toys and equipment

The document below explains how agencies are funded and includes rules on the fees they can charge to educators:

• Family Day Home Agency Contract – Educator Fact Sheet

• Family Day Home Standards Manual
• Read the Licensing handbook for family day home agencies for more information about the licensing process and requirements for family day home agencies.

You will need to provide an agency with the following documents:

• current first aid certification
• proof you are at least 18 years of age
• completed criminal record check, including vulnerable sector search, for yourself and:
  • a completed criminal record check, including vulnerable sector search, for anyone who is over 18 years of age who lives in the home or who may be in your home on a regular basis during regular operating hours
  • a statement disclosing any prior criminal involvement of any person younger than 18 years who resides in your home
• 3 satisfactory personal references from non-relatives that corroborate your suitability for working with children
• physician’s note that states you are mentally and physically able to care for children
• Level 1 Early Childhood educator certification at minimum
  • if not yet certified, educators have 6 months from their approval date to do so
  • learn more about becoming an early childhood educator, including how to get certified

Licensed family day home agencies hold contracts with the Ministry of Education and Childcare to administer family day home services in their local area.

To find a licensed family day home agency near you:

• see the list of licensed family day home agencies
• use the Childcare Lookup Tool to find agencies near your home
  • for ‘Type of program’, select ‘Family Day Homes’ to get a list of nearby agencies
• call Childcare Connect toll free at 1-844-644-5165

Once you contact a local licensed family day home agency, they will take you through the steps to become a family day home educator.