Broward County Licenses All Child Care Facilities

Across America, there are 13 million children under the age of six who are spending at least part of their day in a child care program. In Broward County, there are 93,000 children in daycare in over 800 licensed and registered child care sites. Whether it is a single parent home or because mom and dad both work, it is important that our children and grandchildren are in a safe environment.

Broward County Child Care Licensing and Enforcement (CCLE) has been nationally recognized because of its exceptional performance. It is the only child care regulatory agency in the country to be accredited through the National Council on Accreditation (COA). Agency staff has received highly specialized training in investigation practices and are certified.

CCLE licenses and monitors all child care facilities and family child care homes in Broward County. Inspections happen at least three times a year at every licensed provider including non-public schools and religious institutions. CCLE also helps parents make an informed choice as to which facility is best for their child. Go to the CCLE website and search all the licensed child care facilities in Broward to see what each offers and find out if they have had any past violations.

Business owners use CCLE to find information on child care, how to provide a more stimulating environment and improve services they offer. CCLE also offers information to prospective providers, reviewing floor plans and doing pre-licensing inspections.

And remember, “day care” is not always during the day. There are child care facilities which operate 24 hours a day for those who work around the clock. And every child care worker in Broward must pass a detailed screening process, including FBI, FDLE and local criminal background checks.

I urge you to check out the CCLE website and report any suspected unlicensed child care facility by calling 954-357-4800. The agency follows up on all complaints about facilities and suspected unlicensed services.

Above all, CCLE wants to be sure your child or grandchild is in a safe, comfortable and secure environment.

Everglades Holiday Park

Work continues on improvements to Broward County’s Everglades Holiday Park, made famous nationwide thanks to the program Gator Boys on Animal Planet. Broward took over management of the park in June from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and you can already see the changes at the 29-acre recreational area.

Work is underway to upgrade the main building, renovate restrooms, fix the fishing pier and construct a new rental pavilion. You can still take a ride on an airboat, purchase bait and tackle, rent a boat and buy all sorts of items from the concession area.

“Like” the park on Facebook to see all sorts of upcoming events and improvements.

Board Appointments

Broward County is always looking for good citizens to volunteer for the various Boards and Committees that help improve our community. Feel free to go to our website and look through the various boards. There is a description for each along with a list of current members and openings. You might find something of interest for yourself! If you would like to be appointed to one of these boards, please let me know. As soon as there is an available opening, I would be happy to consider appointing you.

New Broward Courthouse Groundbreaking

On the morning of August 21, a shovel hit the dirt in a ceremony marking more great progress for Broward County. It was the groundbreaking ceremony for the new 20-story Broward County Courthouse and parking garage. I’m proud to say that as Mayor of Broward County in 2008, I created the task force that moved this necessary project forward, bringing some 800 jobs to Broward by the time the entire project is completed in 2015.

You can watch my portion of the groundbreaking ceremony on YouTube.

Follow the progress of the courthouse at broward.org/newcourthouse or sign up for the e-newsletter by sending an email to newcourthouse@broward.org.

More of Broward County on Social Media

Broward County environmental programs have joined other government and environmental agencies across the country in using social media networking as a way to reach the community. Broward Environment has launched pages on both Facebook and Twitter. Watch for community events, educational competitions, daily tips to save energy and protect our natural resources, videos, educational resources and more. Be sure to “like” and “follow” Broward Environment.

You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter. My website is broward.org/StacyRitter.

Stacy reads a proclamation during a County Commission meeting honoring 17 year-old Haley Moss, who raised awareness for Autism by donating $30,000 worth of her own artwork to charity. Haley was diagnosed with High-Functioning Autism. See her art at HaleyMossArt.com.

Stacy tours the Broward County Sexual Assault Treatment Center which operates 24/7 with crisis and counseling units to help victims of sexual assault and adult survivors of childhood abuse. Pictured (L-R) Dir. of Human Services, Michael Elwell, Stacy and Mandy Wells, Dir. of the Community Partnerships Division.

Stacy gets a tour of the new Fire Station 71 in Coral Springs, the second busiest fire station in the city. She is in the kitchen with Lt. Oscar Gomez.

The Broward County Convention Center officially becomes a LEED certified facility from the U.S. Green Building Council. Stacy pictured with Nicki Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.