The Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA) requires a Certificate of Approval for any individual or entity providing early childhood development, education, and care as an approved Childcare Educator Operator (CEO) within a Childhood Development Home. This approval confirms that each home meets the standards, policies, and quality expectations established by U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority, ensuring consistency, accountability, and public trust across the U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Association. Serving as the heart of our licensed Family Day System, CDHA brings together a community of dedicated educators, entrepreneurs, and advocates who share a commitment to nurturing Virginia’s youngest learners. Through a collaborative approach, CDHA approves, trains, and supports CEOs in delivering high-quality, home-based childcare within safe, developmentally enriching environments. Grounded in professionalism, compassion, and community service, CDHA embodies the U-LAUNCH philosophy—empowering Virginians to transform their skills into opportunity and their homes into places of learning, growth, and belonging.

​

Our Role and Responsibilities

 

The U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA)—commonly known as CDHA—plays a vital role in maintaining quality, accountability, and consistency across our association of approved Childhood Development Homes. Through formal system oversight, CDHA:

• Refers children to approved Childhood Development Homes that hold a valid Certificate of Approval

• Provides ongoing training, technical assistance, consultation, inspection, supervision, and monitoring for all Childcare Educator Operators (CEOs) 

• Connects families to available health, early intervention, and social service agencies to support children and caregivers​​

​

Compliance and Monitoring

 

In accordance with Virginia Family Day System regulations, CDHA conducts quarterly visits to each approved Childhood Development Home, with a minimum of two unannounced visits per year, to ensure compliance with U-LAUNCH’s Standard Operating Procedures.

​

Both U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) reserve the right to conduct unannounced visits at any time to uphold the highest standards of health, safety, and program quality.

​

Our Standards and Oversight

 

The Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA) requires all providers caring for one to nine children (exclusive of the provider’s own children and any who reside in the home) to obtain a valid Certificate of Approval.

Care may be offered in the provider’s home or in the home of one of the children enrolled, provided that all state and local requirements are met.

​

A Childhood Development Home caring for more than four children under the age of two—including the CEO’s own children under six years of age—must receive local zoning approval prior to operation. Homes where all children in care are related to the CEO by blood or marriage are not required to be approved.

​

Regional Impact

 

U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes proudly serves as the only Licensed Family Day System operating across the Eastern, Peninsula, Central, and Piedmont regions of Virginia. This distinction reflects our deep commitment to quality oversight, strong community partnerships, and expanding equitable access to high-quality early childhood development and education throughout the Commonwealth.

 

Program Goals and Objectives

 

​The U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA) is committed to maintaining licensure as a Family Day System under the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Our goals and objectives guide daily operations and reflect our dedication to quality assurance, regulatory compliance, workforce development and community service.

​

Program Goals

The goals of U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority are to:

• Maintain full licensure as a Family Day System in accordance with all applicable Virginia statutes, regulations and standards.

• Support individuals seeking to launch a home-based childcare business by guiding them through approval as  Childcare Educator Operators (CEOs) and membership within the Childhood Development Homes Association.

• Serve as a referral system supporting families seeking high-quality, regulated childcare services within our approved network of Childhood Development Homes.

​​

Program Objectives​

To accomplish these goals, U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority shall:

• Partner with individuals and community-based service providers across the Commonwealth of Virginia who share a commitment to launching and sustaining approved home-based childcare businesses.

• Ensure that all activities and services of U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes support the health, safety, well-being, and developmental pathways of children from birth through twelve years of age.

• Refer families with children from birth through twelve years of age to approved Childhood Development Homes within the system.

• Through formal contractual agreements, centralize administrative and operational functions on behalf of Childhood Development Homes, including but not limited to:

  • Training and onboarding of Childcare Educator Operators (CEOs),

  • Data management and recordkeeping,

  • Billing, subsidy coordination, and tuition collection.

• Provide ongoing technical assistance, consultation, and professional development to applicants, candidates, and active Childcare Educator Operators to support compliance, quality improvement, and business sustainability.

• Conduct a minimum of four (4) quarterly inspections annually, including supervision, monitoring, and evaluations of all approved Childhood Development Homes to ensure regulatory compliance and continuous quality improvement.

• Connect children and families to local health, early intervention, and social service agencies to promote holistic child development and family stability.

 

Together, these goals and objectives ensure that U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority operates as a trusted, high-quality Family Day System—empowering educators, supporting families, and providing safe, developmentally rich, home-based learning environments for children across the Commonwealth of Virginia.