About Us
The Child Development Bureau (CDB) is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and their families by:
- enhancing the quality, affordability and accessibility of high quality child care;
- supporting parent self-sufficiency and healthy child development through continuity of care; and
- protecting the health and safety of children in child care programs.
The CDB is also committed to supporting child care providers by:
- providing professional development opportunities for individuals;
- providing technical assistance to improve program quality;
- administering the credentialing systems for early childhood and afterschool professionals; and
- supporting responsive customer service for providers, parents, and DHHS staff.
The CDB also:
- helps pay for some of the cost of child care for families;
- helps child care providers offer quality care and services;
- helps families make informed consumer choices and access information to support child development; and
- helps families find child care that meets the needs of the child and the family online or via Child Care Aware of NH.
The Child Care Licensing Unit (CCLU) ensures that children attending NH child care programs are in safe and healthy environments and are provided with care, supervision and developmentally appropriate activities that meet each child's physical and emotional needs.
CCLU accomplishes this through on-site evaluations, monitoring, and investigations that ensure compliance with applicable NH Statutes and Administrative Rules, approval and issuance of licenses, and initiation of appropriate disciplinary action when necessary for compliance and the protection of children.
CCLU also provides consultation and technical assistance to help understand licensing regulations to existing licensed child care providers and persons who might consider applying for a child care program license.
CCLU licenses seven categories of child care programs: Family Child Care Homes, Family Group Child Care Homes, Group Child Care Centers, Child Care Nurseries, School Age Program, Night Care Programs, and Residential Child Care Program.
