VPK Provider Resources

As a Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) Provider, ECS4Kids supports you with a range of resources designed to enhance your program and ensure compliance with state licensing and quality standards. Explore the resources below to help manage your VPK program.

Training
Current VPK Providers
Become a VPK Provider

In Florida, anyone paid to care for children in their home on a regular basis can choose to be either registered or licensed, depending on county regulations. For child care programs serving more than 10 children, a license is required, and the center must not be located in a private residence. Some programs may be eligible to operate as preschool or licensed-exempt programs.

Why Should You Be Licensed?

Operating without a license can impact the quality of care you offer. Being licensed provides several key benefits, including:

  • Opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge at local workshops, most of which are free of charge.
  • Client listings from Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) cutting down on your vacancies.
  • Opportunities to take part in Quality Initiatives.
  • Opportunities to be a School Readiness Provider

For more information and a step-by-step guide to becoming licensed, contact ECS4Kids.

Important Licensing Updates

Effective January 1, 2008, pneumonia vaccine is required for children in child care ages 2-24 months. For more information, please click here.

Effective April 2007, the Florida Director Credential terminology and requirements have been redefined in an effort to consolidate and streamline the program. Changes include revised program titles (“Level I”, “Level II”, and “Advanced”) and consolidation of programmatic requirements. Director Credential certificates stating “Foundational”, “Temporary”, and “Permanent” are still valid for licensing purposes. The new terminology will be reflected on the DCF training transcript. Upon renewal, the new terminology will be reflected on the certificate. To review requirements or download the application, please click here.

Effective April 2007, DCF has made extensive revisions to the Florida Administrative Code in an effort to streamline the credentialing process and to enhance the programs by raising and changing requirements to model national standards. These changes affect programmatic requirements and the names of the continuing education programs that are accepted as meeting the Department’s Staff Credential requirements. For a complete copy of these changes, please click here.

Effective July 1, 2005, the DCF Child Care Training Information Center (CCTIC) was launched. A team of CCTIC Specialists are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to answer questions about state-mandated training, educational exemptions, and staff training requirements (CDA, CDAE, Director’s Credentials, VPK, etc.). CCTIC is also responsible for processing staff credential verifications and updating/creating training transcripts. Contact CCTIC at 1-888-352-2842 or CCTIC@thechildrensforum.com.

To receive a free copy of “Family Child Care: A Guide for Providers,” or other helpful information on becoming a licensed provider in your area, call us today at 904-726-1500.

Technical Assistance

ECS4Kids is proud to offer technical assistance through Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R), recognized as a Quality Assured Program by the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies. Our team provides high-quality assistance, whether you’re a new provider or an experienced one, through the following.

Individualized Technical Assistance and Program Enhancements

ECS4Kids has a team of Program Specialists who work with providers and parents to ensure children have the best chance to meet their potential.

Inclusion Specialists

  • Help ensure that children with special needs can participate successfully in child care programs.
  • Offer training on topics such as ADA compliance, inclusion strategies, and behavioral adaptations.
  • Provide technical assistance via the toll-free Warm Line: 1-800-238-3463. For Putnam and St. Johns select ext. 2227 or for Baker, Bradford, Clay and Nassau select ext. 2281.

Screening Specialists

  • Ensure all School Readiness children are screened at enrollment and annually with the Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ).
  • Make referrals to community agencies as needed.

Education Specialists

  • Assist providers with achieving high-quality child care standards.
  • Provide training and support in classroom best practices and State Performance Standards.
  • Use standardized assessment tools to evaluate and improve classroom environments.
  • Work alongside birth to 5-year-old classroom teachers, providing training, modeling best practices, and offering curriculum support. Their goal is to ensure that children are being prepared for kindergarten by best practices that expose them to a wide variety of developmentally appropriate and high-quality early childhood literacy activities, and that the State Performance Standards are being met in the areas of Language/Communication and Emergent Literacy.
  • Work alongside infant and toddler teachers providing training, technical assistance, and support to create an appropriate, language-rich, early learning environment for infants and toddlers.
  • Employ standardized assessment tools to evaluate the classroom environment. He/she can work with the director to create an action plan that will lead to overall improvement, supply information regarding accreditation, and will be available to assist with developing both indoor and outdoor environments that will increase learning and meet children’s developmental needs.

Accreditation Assistance

Accreditation represents the highest standard of quality child care. Accredited programs meet exceptional standards beyond state licensing requirements. If your program is accredited by a recognized association, you may also receive the Gold Seal Quality Care Program designation, further elevating your program’s reputation. Click here to learn more about Gold Seal Quality Care.

Referrals to Your Business

Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) offers free listings for your business, helping connect families with available child care programs in Clay, Nassau, Baker, Bradford, Putnam, and St. Johns Counties. Being listed in the CCR&R Database comes at no cost to you and helps market your services to families actively seeking child care options.

Our office maintains a database of all legally operating child care providers in the area, and we are required to update this information annually. The process, previously managed through paper forms (known as the Provider Update Form), is now handled through the Statewide Provider Portal. This online system helps administer the School Readiness, CCR&R, and VPK programs.

Benefits of Listing in the CCR&R Database include:

  • Visibility to Families: By listing your program, you can market your services to a wide range of families who may not otherwise know about your offerings.
  • Statewide Reach: The information in the Provider Portal is accessible on a statewide level, offering exposure to state agencies, officials, and the governor’s office.
  • Automatic Contract Prepopulation: If you become a School Readiness or VPK Provider, the information from your Provider Portal Profile will prepopulate into your contract, streamlining the process.

We encourage you to complete the Provider Update Process in the Provider Services Portal to ensure that your program’s most up-to-date information is available to families. This is a valuable opportunity to showcase the services, hours, rates, and special offerings that make your child care program unique.

Once you complete the registration, an ECS4Kids staff member will activate your account, allowing you to update your Provider Portal Profile. This profile can be easily updated annually or as needed to reflect any changes in your program. Keeping your profile current helps match families to providers that best meet their needs.

For any additional questions or assistance, please contact Sarah March at 904-726-1500 ext. 2206 or Sarah.March@ecs4kids.org.

Please note: CCR&R provides listings, not recommendations. Our goal is to provide families with the most accurate and up-to-date information possible, but the final choice of provider rests with the family.