Essential Child Care Health and Safety Licensing StandardsNARA is developing health and safety standards for child care licensing, written in plain language and built with input from the people who write licensing rules and the people who work under them. The project began July 1, 2026. The standards and a companion implementation toolkit are scheduled for publication in fall 2027, and the project closes March 31, 2028.
Why This Work Is UnderwayLicensing requirements for child care differ across states and territories, and the words "health; and "safety" are not defined the same way from one jurisdiction to the next. A requirement that means one thing in one state can mean something different in another border. Providers, licensing staff, and families are often left to interpret what a rule actually requires. The purpose of this project is to develop clearly defined, consensus-based standards and supporting tools that establish shared understanding of health and safety, informed by research, subject matter expert engagement, and revision. What We Are Working TowardA nationally aligned, evidence-based framework of essential standards that is:
The project has three objectives: keep the focus on health and safety, work with a broad range of national organizations and individuals who support this field, and produce essential standards that jurisdictions can adopt and adapt. What the Standards Will and Will Not Address
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OUT OF SCOPE
How the Standards Are Being Developed
The work runs in several phases across roughly twenty months. It opens with a landscape scan and literature review to begin with a foundation of evidence and best practice. Findings from that review shape the structure of the first draft. Subject matter and policy experts then meet in a series of work sessions to recommend standard language that will actually work in practice and policy. Themes and insights from every session are documented and carried into the drafts. A first full draft is anticipated in early 2027. It then goes out for public comment through a targeted survey that closes in March 2027 with a final draft by May 2027. An implementation toolkit follows in August 2027, containing an interpretive guide that explains the intent behind each standard with practical examples, a crosswalk tool that maps the model standards against existing state and territorial licensing regulations, and communication materials for providers, regulators, policymakers, and families. Project TimelineCurrent Phase
Public CommentThe public comment period on the draft standards will open in early 2027 and close March 31, 2027. Comments will be collected through a structured online survey, open to anyone, with direct invitations going to professional child care organizations, licensing agencies, and provider networks. To be notified when comments open, sign up for NARA e-news at naralicensing.org or check this page. The draft standards will be posted here when the comment period begins. Other Ways to Follow the Work
ContactFor questions about this project, the timeline, or participation: About NARAThe National Association for Regulatory Administration is an international non-profit professional association founded in 1976 that represents all human care licensing, including adult residential and assisted living, adult day care, child care, child welfare, and program licensing for services related to mental illness, developmental disabilities, and substance use. NARA's mission is to promote the health and safety of children and adults in regulated settings, guided by a vision of consumer protection through prevention. Facilitation of the subject matter expert sessions and communication support for this project are provided by Transform Consulting Group. |