Licensing Resources
Licensing | IREE
The Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence (IREE) is responsible for providing licensing services in Arapahoe, El Paso, and Pueblo counties. IREE uses the “Community Based Licensing” model created by President and CEO Dr. Rosemarie Allen.
Community Based Licensing© focuses on providing licensing services that are culturally responsive using four Cs: Competence, Caring, and Compassion while ensuring Compliance.
Visit the IREE Website
In El Paso County, licensing questions may be directed to:
Niki Gill Adams
Executive Director of Licensing
Niki@IREEinc.com
720-209-2398
Institute for Racial Equity & Excellence (IREE)
Child Abuse and Neglect Checks (Trails checks)
The Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Background Investigations Unit (BIU) is now able to complete Child Abuse and Neglect Checks (Trails checks) for persons responsible for supervising children and who have unsupervised contact with children. This change went into effect August 2, 2019. If you have any questions about these changes, please contact the Background Investigations Unit at 303.866.2266 or by email.
Portability of Background Checks for Child Care Workers
House Bill 17-1135 made Trails background checks portable between child care or preschool locations operated by the same governing body, similar to Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) checks.
View the full legislation here.
Accessibility of Exempt Family Child Care
Senate Bill 17-110 increased the number of unrelated children a home-based caregiver can watch without obtaining a child care license from the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Early Childhood. The change allows a home-based child care provider to care for four (4) or fewer children ages birth to 18 years old and no more than two (2) of the children are under the age of two (2) years old. The children are not required to be related to each other or to the caregiver. If the provider is caring for their own children, their children is included in the four (4) children limit.
Child Care Licensing Rules | September 2019
The Office of Early Childhood recently updated the Administrative Guides for Rules Regulating Child Care Facilities. The available guides include:
- General Rules Regulating Child Care Facilities 7.701
- Rules Regulating Child Care Centers 7.702
- Rules Regulating Family Child Care Homes 7.707
- Rules Regulating Children’s Resident Camps 7.711 **NEW**
- Rules Regulating School-Aged Child Care Centers 7.712 **NEW**
These guides serve to clarify and ensure the proper, and consistent, interpretation and implementation of child care rules. They also provide the rationale behind the rules as well as resources to help programs comply.
Any questions about the guides or the rules may be directed to your licensing specialist.
The Department of Early Childhood website is available in English and Spanish.
Please contact your licensing specialist for assistance, or call the Division of Early Care and Learning at 1-800-799-5876 if you have any questions.
