Child Care Licensing Process Innovation

2022-2023

We worked with stakeholders to shorten the time required to apply for an in-home childcare license by 60 days and reduce associated fees by $230.

The Need

The city heard from small, in-home child care providers that the city’s licensing process, intended to keep children safe, was time-consuming and expensive. We knew we needed to make the licensing process for in-home childcare providers more accessible, providing more clarity and helping providers complete requirements in a timely manner.

The Solution

We consulted city licensing staff, community-based organizations, and childcare facility owners to develop an understanding of the specific problems that childcare providers were facing during the licensing process. Through a bottom-up process improvement project, city staff recommended changes to simplify licensing and reduce fees. Staff who work most closely with in-home childcare facility licensing were empowered to make changes and improve customer service based on their firsthand knowledge of the problem.

We were excited to be a part of this process. Based on the feedback of many stakeholders, the city did a great job of implementing strategies that helped the child care community in Boise complete licensing more easily and decrease barriers that were sometimes cumbersome. We really appreciate their work on behalf of such a vital part of our community, child care providers.

Lisa Just, IdahoSTARS Project

In the Media:

‘Customer focused’: Boise cutting red tape on in-home childcare licensing, BoiseDev
May 3, 2023

Full Article

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Child Care Licensing Process Innovation