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Benefits of Approved
Childhood Development Homes

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Why Choose an Approved Childhood Development Home?

Every parent wants their child to be safe, happy, and thriving. Choosing an Approved Childhood Development Home through U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes (U-LAUNCH: CDH) is one of the best ways to support your child’s early learning, development, and well-being.

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Approved Childhood Development Homes are part of Approved HOMES—U-LAUNCH: CDH’s Home Operations, Monitoring & Evaluation System—which means these home-based programs are not only licensed and compliant, but also continuously monitored, supported, and held to higher standards for both child development and business operations.

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Research shows that about 90% of brain development happens in the first five years of life. What children see, hear, touch, and experience during these early years shapes how they learn, grow, and succeed in school and in life. Approved Childhood Development Homes provide enriched, nurturing environments that support healthy development, curiosity, and a love of learning.

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Benefits of Choosing an Approved Childhood Development Home

 

Families choose Approved Childhood Development Homes because they:

  • Support healthy brain development and early learning

  • Promote social and emotional skills

  • Encourage curiosity and a love of learning

  • Build confidence and positive self-esteem

  • Help prepare children for school

  • Strengthen early math and reading foundations

  • Provide safe, nurturing, and consistent care

  • Are monitored regularly, not just at licensing

 

Choosing an Approved Childhood Development Home is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a parent. Approval is not a one-time event—it is earned and maintained through ongoing inspections, HOME Visits, and public HOME Report Cards that show how each home is performing.

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In addition to regular inspections, HOME Visits, and HOME Report Cards, every Approved Childhood Development Home is operated by a CEO who is enrolled in U-LAUNCH’s CEO Apprenticeship Program, working toward a nationally recognized Certificate of Apprenticeship.

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What Does “Approved” Mean?

 

When you choose an Approved Childhood Development Home, you are choosing a program operated by a Childcare Educator Operator (CEO) who is part of the U-LAUNCH: CDH system and meets standards for:

  • Child development and learning

  • Health and safety

  • Daily program operations

  • Family communication and engagement

  • Responsible business practices

 

Each Approved Childhood Development Home participates in Approved HOMES, which includes:

  • Quarterly compliance and safety inspections

  • HOME Visits using the HOME Tool (Home-based Observation, Monitoring & Evaluation)

  • Quarterly HOME Report Cards that are posted for families to see

  • Ongoing coaching and support to keep improving over time

This means families can trust that Approved homes are not just licensed, but actively monitored and supported.

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Trained Operators Through the CEO Apprenticeship Program

 

Every Approved Childhood Development Home is operated by a Childcare Educator Operator (CEO) who is required to enroll in the CEO Apprenticeship Program as part of the approval and launch process.

This means families can trust that their child’s caregiver is not only approved and monitored—but also actively trained, supervised, and developed through a structured workforce program.

The CEO Apprenticeship Program provides:

  • On-the-Job Training (OJT) in real home-based childcare settings

  • Instruction in child development, health and safety, and quality learning practices

  • Training in program operations and responsible business practices

  • Ongoing coaching and performance support through the Approved HOMES system

As CEOs progress through the apprenticeship, their training leads to a nationally recognized Certificate of Apprenticeship, demonstrating that they have met established workforce standards for their role.

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What This Means for Your Family

 

Because every Approved Childhood Development Home CEO is an apprentice:

  • Your child’s caregiver is continually learning and improving

  • Training is not optional or one-time—it’s built into the system

  • Quality is embedded into daily practice, not just checked during inspections

  • Operators are prepared to deliver safe, nurturing, developmentally appropriate care

  • You’re choosing a program backed by both oversight and workforce training

 

In short: Approved homes aren’t just monitored—they’re professionally developed.

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Approved vs. Licensed: What’s the Difference?

 
Approved Childhood Development Homes (U-LAUNCH: CDH)

Approved child day care programs under U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes operate within an Approved Childhood Development Home and are regulated by the Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA).

 

Each Approved home receives:

  • Four inspections per year, including at least two unannounced visits

  • Ongoing oversight by U-LAUNCH: CDH to ensure compliance with system standards

  • Additional inspections if there are concerns, complaints, or identified issues

 

Some Approved homes also participate in the Child Care Subsidy Program, which means they may receive additional inspections from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE).

 

All Approved homes must meet requirements related to:

  • Background checks

  • Education and training

  • Orientation

  • Health and safety standards

  • Ongoing compliance with U-LAUNCH: CDH policies and procedures

 
Licensed Child Care Programs (VDOE)

Licensed child care programs regulated directly by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) may operate in:

  • Child day centers, or

  • Family day homes

Licensed programs receive:

  • An initial inspection before opening

  • At least two unannounced inspections per year

  • Additional inspections in response to complaints or violations

They also must meet requirements for background checks, training, orientation, and health and safety standards.

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Who Conducts Inspections?

 

  • The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) inspects licensed child care programs and conducts at least two unannounced inspections each year, plus additional inspections as needed.

  • U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes is a VDOE-licensed Family Day System and is itself inspected by VDOE at least twice per year to ensure compliance with state regulations.

  • Approved Childhood Development Homes within the U-LAUNCH system are not individually licensed by the state. Instead, they are regulated and directly inspected by U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA), which conducts quarterly inspections of each Approved home, with at least two unannounced visits per year.

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This layered system of oversight helps ensure strong accountability, safety, and quality across all Approved Childhood Development Homes.

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How Can I See Inspection Reports or Violations?

 

For Approved Childhood Development Homes that participate in the Child Care Subsidy Program, subsidy inspection reports are available on the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website. Families can search for a program and view:

  • Contact information

  • Assigned inspector

  • Inspection history

  • Any violations and required corrective actions

 

Inspection reports are listed with the most recent inspection first and include:

  • Areas reviewed

  • Technical assistance provided

  • Inspector comments

  • Details about any violations, if applicable

 

In addition to state-required inspections, U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes also conducts inspections in response to concerns, complaints, or identified issues to protect children’s safety and well-being. Copies of U-LAUNCH inspection reports may be requested by contacting the Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA) through our website.

 

To report a concern about health or safety, or to report a potentially illegal operation, families may:

  • Complete the CDHA Online Complaint Form, or

  • Call 571-552-2793

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How Can I Tell If a Home Is Operating Legally?

 

A business license issued by a locality is not the same as being an Approved Childhood Development Home.

Every Approved Childhood Development Home must display:

  • A Certificate for Approval issued by U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes Authority (CDHA)

  • A current HOME Report Card posted for families to see

If a home does not have a Certificate for Approval posted, it is not an Approved Childhood Development Home under the U-LAUNCH system.

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Why Families Choose Approved HOMES

 

Families choose Approved Childhood Development Homes because they want:

  • Safe, well-monitored care

  • Transparency through HOME Report Cards

  • Ongoing oversight—not just one-time licensing

  • Programs that keep improving over time

  • A trusted, system-regulated network of home-based providers

 

To learn more about the standards and oversight behind this system, visit:
About → Approved HOMES

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How to Get Started

 

If you’re looking for a safe, nurturing, and accountable home-based childcare option, choose a program that is part of Approved HOMES and look for:

  • The Certificate for Approval

  • The posted HOME Report Card

  • A provider who is part of U-LAUNCH: Childhood Development Homes

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