Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Child Care Program

Report 00-16, November 2000




Report Summary

The Child Care Program regulates child care providers, provides training for child care personnel, and provides subsidized child care services to children at-risk of abuse and neglect and children who come from economically disadvantaged families. At the end of Fiscal Year 1999-2000, the program reported regulating 14,620 child care providers and providing subsidized child care services to a monthly average of 124,793 children.

Our review of the program determined that

  • The program provides beneficial services to clients and to Florida's citizens;
  • The program's licensing function should remain with the Department of Children and Families, but subsidized child care is currently being transferred to the Florida Partnership for School Readiness;
  • The program's licensing and enforcement efforts are reasonably effective in ensuring healthy and safe child care environments;
  • The program is serving 100% of its subsidized child care clients in two priority groups;
  • The program and the Legislature have taken several steps to increase the quality of care in regulated child care settings and to address the subsidized child care needs of working-poor clients;
  • Efforts must be made to address enforcement problems that reduce the program's regulatory effectiveness; and
  • Additional steps must be taken to effectively implement the 1999 school readiness legislation.


Related Reports
  1. School Readiness Coalitions' Progress Varies in Implementing the Program Over Two Years
    Report 03-75 December 2003
  2. Progress Report: Child Care Program Implements Recommendations to Improve Licensing and Enforcement Activities
    Report 02-61 November 2002
  3. School Readiness Program's Potential Not Realized With Critical Issues Unresolved
    Report 02-07 January 2002
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, child care, day care centers, family day care centers, school readiness, subsidzed child care, child care licensing, child care regulation, enforcement, licensing standards