Agency: Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) – Child Care Services
Website: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices
Description: The Tennessee Department of Human Services licenses and regulates child care centers, family child care homes, group homes, and school-age programs throughout Tennessee. The department provides licensing regulations, inspections, provider resources, forms, and compliance guidance.
Program: Tennessee Child Care Report Card and Quality Rating System
Website: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices
Description: Tennessee's Child Care Report Card and Quality Rating System supports continuous quality improvement through coaching, technical assistance, professional development, and quality recognition for licensed child care programs.
Registry: Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance (TECTA) Registry
Website: https://www.tecta.info
Description: Tennessee's professional development registry allows early childhood professionals to document education, credentials, training, and career advancement while accessing approved professional development opportunities.
Organization: Tennessee Child Care Resource & Referral Network
Website: https://www.tnccrr.org
Description: Tennessee's Child Care Resource & Referral network provides referrals, coaching, technical assistance, professional development, and business support for child care providers and families.
Organization: Tennessee Association for the Education of Young Children (TAEYC)
Website: https://www.tnaeyc.org
Description: Supports early childhood professionals through advocacy, conferences, networking, leadership development, and professional learning opportunities.
Organization: Tennessee Department of Human Services
Website: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices
Description: Administers Tennessee's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), providing reimbursement, nutrition guidance, training, and technical assistance.
Agency: Tennessee Department of Human Services
Website: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices
Description: Child care providers and employees must complete fingerprint-based criminal background checks and required child abuse registry clearances before working in licensed child care settings.
Program: Tennessee Voluntary Pre-K (VPK)
Website: https://www.tn.gov/education
Description: Tennessee's Voluntary Pre-K Program provides high-quality, state-funded preschool opportunities for eligible four-year-old children to support kindergarten readiness.
Program: Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS)
Website: https://www.tn.gov/didd
Description: Tennessee Early Intervention System provides coordinated services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities while supporting families.
Organization: Tennessee Department of Human Services & TECTA
Website: https://www.tecta.info
Description: Provides workforce initiatives, scholarships, quality improvement supports, grants, and professional development opportunities for Tennessee's early childhood professionals.
Training requirements include pediatric CPR and First Aid, health and safety, child abuse and neglect reporting, safe sleep practices, emergency preparedness, transportation safety (when applicable), and ongoing professional development.
Website: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices
Description: Access licensing applications, provider forms, inspection reports, regulations, background check information, and additional child care resources.
Website: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices
Description: Stay informed about licensing updates, policy changes, grant opportunities, quality initiatives, professional development, and early childhood news throughout Tennessee.
Agency: Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) – Child Care Regulation
Website: https://www.hhs.texas.gov
Description: Texas Health and Human Services licenses and regulates child care centers, licensed child care homes, registered child care homes, and school-age programs. The department provides licensing regulations, inspections, provider resources, forms, and compliance guidance.
Program: Texas Rising Star
Website: https://texasrisingstar.org
Description: Texas Rising Star is Texas' Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS), recognizing child care programs that exceed minimum licensing standards through continuous quality improvement, coaching, technical assistance, and professional development.
Registry: Texas Trainer Registry
Website: https://www.hhs.texas.gov
Description: Texas' professional development system supports early childhood professionals through approved trainers, continuing education opportunities, and workforce development initiatives.
Organization: Texas Child Care Resource & Referral Network
Website: https://childcare.twc.texas.gov
Description: Texas' Child Care Resource & Referral network provides child care referrals, coaching, technical assistance, professional development, and business support for providers and families throughout the state.
Organization: Texas Association for the Education of Young Children (TXAEYC)
Website: https://txaeyc.org
Description: Supports early childhood professionals through advocacy, conferences, networking, leadership development, and professional learning opportunities.
Organization: Texas Department of Agriculture
Website: https://www.squaremeals.org
Description: Administers Texas' Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), providing reimbursement, nutrition guidance, training, and technical assistance.
Agency: Texas Health and Human Services
Website: https://www.hhs.texas.gov
Description: Child care providers and employees must complete fingerprint-based criminal background checks and required abuse and neglect clearances before working in licensed child care settings.
Program: Texas Public Prekindergarten
Website: https://tea.texas.gov
Description: Texas provides free public prekindergarten for eligible three- and four-year-old children through local school districts and charter schools.
Program: Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)
Website: https://www.hhs.texas.gov
Description: Texas Early Childhood Intervention provides coordinated services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities while supporting families.
Organization: Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
Website: https://www.twc.texas.gov
Description: Provides workforce initiatives, scholarships, quality improvement supports, grants, professional development opportunities, and Texas Rising Star incentives for early childhood professionals.
Training requirements include pediatric CPR and First Aid, health and safety, child abuse and neglect reporting, safe sleep practices, emergency preparedness, transportation safety (when applicable), and ongoing professional development.
Website: https://www.hhs.texas.gov
Description: Access licensing applications, provider forms, inspection reports, regulations, background check information, and additional child care resources.
Website: https://www.hhs.texas.gov
Description: Stay informed about licensing updates, policy changes, grant opportunities, Texas Rising Star initiatives, professional development, and early childhood news throughout Texas.
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