Child Care Licensing

Looking for Child Care?

Contact Child Care Aware at the following numbers to access daycare information for all licensed daycares in Kansas. You can also visit the Child Care Aware website. 

  • Phone: 785-823-3343
  • Phone: 877-678-2548
  • Fx: ( 785-823-3385

Childcare Providers

Looking for CPR / First Aid classes? Please visit the Safety Training Solutions website for more information. Saving lives is everyone's business.

Early Education Portal Open

TOPEKA, Kan. - In 2010 the Kansas Legislature passed significant changes to the Child Care Act. Known collectively as Lexie's Law, the changes increased health and safety protections for children in child care settings and provided an additional resource to assist Kansas families with selecting child care. As a result, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) established an online information dissemination system that allows families to review the compliance history of a current or potential childcare provider. 

The information provided significantly increases the ability of Kansas families to research childcare facility compliance and make more informed childcare decisions. The online system can be accessed on the KDHE website.

Local Surveyor

For questions or information regarding child care licensing in Clay County or to report a concern regarding illegal child care or a licensed child care facility, please contact your local Child Care Licensing Surveyor:

  • Clay County, Heather Ritchey, 785-776-4779 Ext 7678 or by  email
     

Licensing

The original licensing law which was passed in 1919 placed the licensing authority with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The department administers the licensing law as a preventive program to assure that out-of-home care for children and maternity patients will not be exploitative, unsafe, or unhealthy. 


The main purpose of the law is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of children receiving care away from their parents and their home. The law is also a consumer protection law assuring parents that the care they are paying for meets minimum standards.