Indiana State Requirements

Qualifications:
Teaching Staff: Must be at least 18 and have a high school education or equivalent. If working with an infant/toddler group, must be at least 21 and have a high school education or equivalent, and 1 year experience.

Provider/Child Ratio:
Age Range     Ratio For Center-based Care in Indiana State
Infants     (1:4)
Toddlers     (1:5)
2 years     (1:5)
3 years     (1:10)
4 years     (1:12)
5 years     (1:15)
6 years and up     (1:20)

Age Range     Ratio For Family Child Care in Indiana State
Birth to 24 months     (1:6) two of the 6 children must be at least 16 months and walking.
Otherwise the ratio is 1:4
Birth to 6 years     (1:10) No more than 3 of the 10 children may be under sixteen months
of age and must be walking
3-10 years     (1:12)
All ages     (1:12) the maximum capacity in a child care home is 1:12 plus 3 children
during the school year who are enrolled at least in Grade 1

Becoming Licensed/Registered Provider:
Licensed Child Care Center
    Child care center
Sec. 28.4. "Child care center", for purposes of IC 12-17.2, means a nonresidential building where at least one (1) child receives child care from a provider:

(1) while unattended by a parent, legal guardian, or custodian;

(2) for regular compensation; and

(3) for more than four (4) hours but less than twenty-four (24) hours in each of ten (10) consecutive days per year, excluding intervening Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

Licensed Child Care Home
    Child care home
Sec. 28.6. (a) "Child care home", for purposes of IC 12-17.2, means a residential structure in which at least six (6) children (not including the children for whom the provider is a parent, stepparent, guardian, custodian, or other relative or any child who is at least fourteen (14) years of age and does not require child care) at any time receive child care from a provider:

(1) while unattended by a parent, legal guardian, or custodian;

(2) for regular compensation; and

(3) for more than four (4) hours but less than twenty-four (24) hours in each of ten (10) consecutive days per year, excluding intervening Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

(b) The term includes:

(1) a class I child care home; and

(2) a class

Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministry
    Child care ministry
Sec. 28.8. "Child care ministry", for purposes of IC 12-17.2, means child care operated by a church or religious ministry that is a religious organization exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Important Contact Information:
Child Care Licensing Agency
Division of Family Resources
Bureau of Child Development - Licensing Section
402 West Washington Street, Room W-386
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 232-1144
Toll Free: (877) 511-1144
Fax: (317) 234-1513

Child Care Subsidy Agency
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration
Division of Family Resources
402 W. Washington Street, W-392
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Phone: (317) 234-3313
Toll Free: (800) 441-7837
Fax: (317) 233-6093

Head Start - State Collaboration Office
Bureau of Child Development
Division of Family and Children
402 West Washington Street, Room W386
Indianapolis, IN, 46204
Phone: (317) 233-6837
Fax: (317) 233-6093

Child Care Food Program Agency
Division of School and Community
Indiana Department of Education
State House, Room 229
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2798
Phone: (317) 232-0850
Fax: (317) 232-0855

State Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
3901 N. Meridian St., Suite 350
Indianapolis, IN 46208
Phone: (317) 924-5202
Toll Free: (800) 299-1627
Fax: (317) 924-5102

Office of Child Support Enforcement
Child Support Bureau
Department of Child Services
402 West Washington Street Rm W360
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2739
Phone: (317) 233-5437
Fax: (317) 233-4932