Start a Religious Organization Child Care Center
A Child Care Center operated by a Religious Organization is a regulated, license-exempt facility, where care is provided for any number of children for any part of the 24-hour day, that is maintained and operated under the exclusive control of a religious organization, such as a church, synagogue, or mosque, or an entity that qualifies for federal tax exemption status as a not-for-profit religious organization.
Program Evaluation
If you are interested in opening a License-Exempt Religious Organization Child Care Center, the first step is to complete the Program Evaluation Questionnaire (PEQ). The purpose of this form is to provide information to the department to show that the ownership of the child care program is a religious organization.
- Child care programs maintained and operated under the exclusive control of a religious organization are license-exempt under Section 210.211, RSMo. These types of license exemptions require a program to comply with certain child care laws and regulations in accordance with Section 210.252, RSMo.
Review Initial Inspection Checklist
Once you complete the PEQ and receive a determination letter from the Regulation section, carefully read through the Steps to Becoming License-Exempt for Religious Organization Child Care Centers. This is an interactive document, with hyperlinks to resources, forms, and templates, as well as text boxes and check boxes for completion, that outlines each step along your journey to becoming an approved license-exempt program. It will help you stay organized and ensure you complete all the requirements.