The Florida Department of Health, Palm Beach County Environmental Health Child Care Unit is proposing amending the rules and regulations regarding Family Day Care and Large Family Child Care homes pursuant to Chapter 59-1698, Special Act, Laws of Florida.

The Child Care Unit is holding a public comment workshop on its proposed amended rules to which all persons are invited.

The workshop will be held on:

Date and Time: January 16, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Place: 800 Clematis Street, 1st Floor West Palm Beach, FL 33401

General Subject Matter to be considered/anticipated affected parties:

The Department of Health, Palm Beach County is the regulatory authority for Family Day Care homes and Large Family Child Care Homes.

DOH-PBC is required to be as strict or stricter than the Department of Children and Family Services. DCF regulates sixty-three counties in the State of Florida.

In an effort to simplify the rules for providers, while still maintaining safe and thriving family day care homes, DOH-PBC is proposing adopting rules which are more in line to the current rules for DCF.

This will allow us to have equitable care with the rest of the State, a user-friendly manual, allow for thriving childcare businesses, while maintaining safety and stricter regulations where DOH-PBC believes necessary.

DOH-PBC is also proposing adding links to forms and additional sources to make the entire manual more accessible to providers and parents alike. Child Care Rules governing facilities will be held at a different time.

The public can make comments or propose changes at the public workshop.

If members of the public are unable to attend, they can make public comment through the Department’ electronic form.

The website will be open for comments from December 16, 2024 to January 3, 2025.

At the Palm Beach County Child Care Advisory Council’s and DOH-PBC’s discretion, it will be determined if another public workshop is needed.

Person(s) needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding, should contact. LaToya Barnes at 561-837-5971 so appropriate arrangements can be made.