The decline of Family Child Care in Maine

The purpose of this research will be to examine the decline of licensed family child care programs in Maine. Information gathered from Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services, (DHHS) Office of Child Care and Family Services, (OCFS) Child Care Licensing Department show a continuous decline of family child care in Maine over the last five years. Programs dropped from 1324 in July 2013 to 1109 in July 2017. (S. Bhuvanagiri, personal communication, July 17, 2018). The research will begin to identify the reasons that have caused the downturn. It will also begin to identify potential supports for family child care providers to assist them through the licensing process and in meeting additional challenges; they face in sustaining their businesses