For childcare providers
Resources for current and aspiring providers
Licensing, state standards of care, required training, and local support for opening or running a child care program in Scott County.
Licensing & state standards
Whether you are just exploring the idea or already caring for children, these are the state resources that set the rules for child care in Indiana.
State licensing & becoming a provider
Indiana's official starting point for child care licensing — applications, your local licensing consultant, inspection information, and step-by-step guidance for opening a licensed home, licensed center, or registered ministry.
State standards of care
The laws and administrative rules for child care centers, homes, and ministries — covering ratios, health, safety, and building requirements.
Required training
Indiana requires every caregiver to complete health and safety orientation training in ten topic areas — CPR and safe sleep are the two providers ask about most.
CPR & first aid
Certification in infant, child, and adult CPR and first aid keeps your team ready for emergencies. The American Red Cross offers in-person and blended classes.
Safe sleep & SIDS prevention
Indiana's Safe Sleep program explains the safe sleep rules for infants — including the free crib distribution program for eligible families.
Health & safety orientation training
The full list of the ten required training topics and the approved ways to complete them, through Indiana Learning Paths on I-LEAD.
Free online trainings with certificates
Brightwheel's roundup of free online child care training opportunities — many offer certificates you can keep on file for your program's training records.
CDA credentialing
The Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential is a nationally recognized credential for early childhood educators — a great step for growing your skills, your program's quality, and your career.
Indiana Community CDA Programs
Indiana AEYC's Community CDA Programs support early childhood professionals through every step of earning a CDA Credential — from portfolio help and test prep to scholarship opportunities for providers across the state.
Ivy Tech — Early Childhood Education
Ivy Tech's Early Childhood Education program offers courses and credentials that align with the CDA — a flexible, affordable way to earn college credit while you work in the field.
Paths to QUALITY
Paths to QUALITY is Indiana's voluntary quality rating and improvement system for child care programs. It gives providers a step-by-step path to higher quality — and gives families an easy way to recognize quality care at a glance.
What Paths to QUALITY is
Every program starts at Level 1 by meeting basic health and safety standards. From there, the levels build toward national accreditation at Level 4: Level 2 builds learning environments and daily activities, Level 3 adds curriculum and professional development planning, and Level 4 is national accreditation. Moving up the levels shows families — and supports you in — the quality of care you provide.
Why participate
Participating programs get coaching, training, and technical assistance at no cost, a visible rating families can find in Child Care Finder, and eligibility considerations for programs like On My Way Pre-K and CCDF that value quality ratings.
Local support
You don't have to figure it out alone — your county health department and statewide partners are here to help.
Scott County Health Department
1296 N Gardner St, Scottsburg • (812) 752-8455. Immunizations, health records, and local public health guidance for your program, Monday–Friday 8 am–4 pm.
Help paying for care (CCDF)
Families using CCDF vouchers can only attend eligible providers. Becoming CCDF-certified opens your program to more Scott County families.
Find child care
Looking for care in Scott County? Indiana's Child Care Finder lets you search licensed providers near you — including availability, ages served, and Paths to QUALITY ratings.
Indiana Child Care Finder
The state's official search tool for licensed child care. Filter by location, ages, and quality rating to find programs with openings for the families you serve.
Looking for care instead?
If you're a family searching for childcare in Scott County, our family page walks through what to look for and lists local programs.
Childcare for familiesNot sure where to start? That's okay.
Search the directory for what you need, or talk with a real person at Indiana 211. They will listen to your situation and point you to the right local program — free and confidential, any hour of the day.