The U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA) serves as the oversight and support division of the U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes licensed Family Day System.

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CDHA helps ensure that Approved Childhood Development Homes operate within a structured system focused on health, safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement.

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Through centralized support, monitoring, technical assistance, and workforce development pathways, CDHA helps Childcare Educator Operators™ (CEOs) build and sustain high-quality home-based childcare programs within their communities.

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What is a Certificate of Approval?

 

A Certificate of Approval authorizes a Childcare Educator Operator™ (CEO) to operate within the U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes system as an Approved Childhood Development Home.

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Approval confirms that the home has met the operational, training, health, safety, and system standards established through the U-LAUNCH Licensed Home-Based Child Care System structure.

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Approval is maintained through ongoing participation in monitoring, training, and quality support systems.

 

Our Role 

 

CDHA provides centralized oversight and support across the U-LAUNCH system by:

• Approving Childhood Development Homes

• Conducting monitoring and quality visits

• Providing technical assistance and operational guidance

• Supporting workforce development pathways

• Coordinating referrals and family support connections

• Maintaining centralized administrative systems

• Supporting continuous quality improvement

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CDHA also works alongside the U-LAUNCH CEO Apprenticeship and CEO Academy to support professional development and competency-based growth for Childcare Educator Operators™ (CEOs) throughout the system.

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Monitoring & Quality Support

 

As part of the Licensed Home-Based Child Care System structure, CDHA conducts ongoing monitoring and support visits to Approved Childhood Development Homes, including quarterly visits with at least two unannounced visits annually.

 

These visits help support:

• child safety,

• operational accountability,

• quality improvement,

• and adherence to system standards.

 

During monitoring visits, CDHA also evaluates professional practice and workforce competency development utilizing the Virginia Competencies for Early Childhood Professionals. This competency-based approach helps support continuous growth in areas such as child development, family engagement, health and safety, learning environments, professionalism, and program operations.

 

Participation in the Approved HOMES quality system helps ensure that approval remains active while supporting continuous quality improvement and professional development across the U-LAUNCH network.