Amid Child Care Crisis, New Conn. Law Will Make It Easier To Establish At-home Day Cares
Amid Child Care Crisis, New Conn. Law Will Make It Easier To Establish At-home Day Cares - Under the new law, zoning departments are prohibited from treating at-home childcare centers differently than single - and multi-family homes, eliminating arbitrary restrictions that have hindered the expansion of small at-home daycare businesses.
Oct 01, 20232424 Shares48485 Views
A transformative new law set to take effect this Sunday promises to streamline the process for Connecticut childcare providers seeking to establish home-based daycares. Signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont in June, this groundbreaking legislation will remove barriers created by landlords and zoning departments, facilitating the expansion of licensed child care facilities across the state. The primary goal of this law is to address the pressing shortage of child care providers in Connecticut.
One of the key provisions of this legislation prevents landlords and zoning departments from imposing restrictions on the operation of licensed child care facilities within their properties or municipalities. This change is expected to unlock significant opportunities for childcare providers, enabling them to meet the growing demand for quality child care services.
Moreover, the law incorporates protections for landlords, absolving them of liability in accidents or lawsuits involving the daycare operations. This provision aims to provide landlords with peace of mind while fostering an environment that encourages the establishment of home-based child care facilities.
Jessica Sager, CEO of the New Haven-based nonprofit, All Our Kin, which specializes in training and supporting child care providers, applauded the zoning portion of the law. Sager highlighted the fact that family-friendly environments in residential buildings can enhance safety and attractiveness for families.
Sager remarked, "Having a family together in your building means it's safer and more attractive and welcoming to families."
Under the new law, zoning departments are prohibited from treating at-home childcare centers differently than single - and multi-family homes, eliminating arbitrary restrictions that have hindered the expansion of small at-home daycare businesses.
This law is a game-changer for small home-based daycare operators looking to increase their capacity and provide essential childcare services to the state. According to Sager, "Family child care educators who are running these very small programs, accommodating six children, and want to expand to slightly larger home-based programs, catering to 12 children, will no longer face the arbitrary zoning restrictions that have kept them from expanding their businesses."
Nichelle Waddell, who previously faced challenges establishing her first childcare center in her Stamford home, has been a vocal advocate for this legislation. She recounted her struggles with the city's zoning board, which resulted in significant delays and costs during the approval process for her program.
Reflecting on her experiences, Waddell expressed the positive impact the new law would have had if it had been in place when she opened her Stamford center in 2019. "I would have avoided all of that, like sleepless nights, stress on top of stress, thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars I would still have now, you know, not have the debt," Waddell explained.
The delays caused by zoning complications even forced Waddell to turn away families seeking her childcare services, resulting in a significant loss of potential revenue. Waddell estimated that the entire process, including legal fees for assistance with the zoning application, cost her approximately $11,000.
With the implementation of the new zoning law, many of the challenges Waddell faced are expected to become a thing of the past. This legislation represents a significant stride toward improving childcare accessibility in Connecticut while reducing barriers for childcare providers seeking to serve their communities.
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