Opinion ID: 2453230
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: First Mathews FactorPrivate Interest

Text: ¶ 15 Providing care to children is an enormous responsibility and an occupation that merits great societal respect. However, a license for a home child care facility is not a personal interest that compels a standard of proof beyond a preponderance of the evidence. A license to operate a home child care business adheres to the facility and not the individual provider. WAC 170-296-0020 (defining family home child care as a facility licensed to provide direct care to children). Unlike a professional license, the Department can revoke a home child care license for the misconduct of a resident other than the provider. WAC 170-296-0210, -0215. A provider can obtain a license for a home by completing a mere 20 hours of state approved training. WAC 170-296-1410(5)(d). Further, an individual who wishes to care for children but who lacks the requisite qualifications to obtain a license, can still potentially work in the field as a child care staff member. WAC 170-296-1410(6) (defining the less stringent requirements for child care staff). Someone who loses her license but continues to feel a vocational calling to provide child care can still work in the field under the supervision of another licensed child care provider.