The Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) performs state licensing regulatory duties as required by state laws and federal requirements.
The Michigan state legislature appropriated $50 million in federal funding to reimburse districts, nonpublic schools, and licensed child care centers for the acquisition/installation of filtered bottle-filling stations, tap-mounted (faucet-mounted) water filters, water filter pitchers (filtered water pitchers), or universal cartridge water filters (replacement filter cartridges). Note: In-line filter costs do not qualify for this grant. In-line filters were not yet approved to meet the Filter First requirements at that time.
Approximately $360,000 in grant funding remains to be awarded. Grant awards will be based on priority scoring. Additionally, if grant recipients are not able to utilize their full awards, these monies will be reallocated to new awardees based on priority scoring.
The new child care licensing rules, adopted on May 7, 2025 are now in effect. All licensed providers are requires to follow the updated rules to ensure safety and high-quality care for children.
For a look at the new child care center rules please click the link: First Look - Child Care Center Rules
The Technical Assistance and Consultation Manual for the new child care center licensing rules is now available. Please click the link to access the manual: Technical Assistance and Consultation Manual
To support providers, the Child Care Licensing Bureau has already provided training, updated technical assistance and is mailing new rule books. The slides and video resources for new center rules training for providers is now available!
You can view or download the slides and videos here:
To stay informed about upcoming trainings and resources, sign up for the Child Care Licensing Bureau listserv:
The new Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) Child Care Hub Information Records Portal (CCHIRP) system has launched. This new system provides an enhanced experience for managing licenses and simplifying the way you communicate information with MiLEAP and the State of Michigan.
MiLEAP is excited to bring you this new tool to help streamline the Child Care licensing process. We understand that navigating new systems can take some time, and our goal is to support you through this transition so you can confidently complete your actions in the system.
We encourage you to read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to learn more. If you have additional questions, please reach out to your Consultant or contact our main office by calling 517-284-9730 or via email MiLEAP-CCLB-Help@michigan.gov.
Child Care Licensing has partnered with the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Fire Services to offer a pre-recorded webinar for child care providers. This informative session provides valuable insights into when plan reviews are required and guides you through the essential steps involved in submitting a plan review. Additional resources on the plan review process can be found here: Fire Safety Inspections.
Our Strong Start has a team of trained Navigators ready to support child care entrepreneurs in understanding and navigating the state child care licensing process. They are available to answer questions and to provide information about resources and training opportunities within the child care system.
The Child Care Background Check Program is specifically for the comprehensive background check of licensed child care providers in the state of Michigan.
Michigan AEYC programs to support Directors and new program staff: Director Network and Early Foundations Program.
The Michigan AEYC Early Foundations program assists with staffing challenges and provides onboarding support for busy directors. New staff and/or staff in new positions will gain immediate skills needed to feel supported and be successful in the classroom even before achieving a CDA or degree.
Directors statewide are invited to join a network of their peers and receive group and individual coaching on personalized topics relevant to their needs. Participants will engage in monthly synchronous and asynchronous meeting opportunities.
For more information about eligibility and the application process, contact miaeyc@miaeyc.org or visit www.miaeyc.org to live chat with a specialist.
Requesting Increases to Capacity and Ratio for Homes
The recent changes to PA 116 allows family and group homes to request an increase in capacity if the licensee meets certain conditions. To help streamline the process, the Child Care Licensing Bureau has developed a form for licensees to request the increase in capacity and a variance to allow for a ratio increase.
