Contact Information:
Office of Child Care Region 6 (Howard County)
Maryland State Department of Education
3300 N. Ridge Road, Suit 190
Ellicott City, MD 21043
Main office phone | 410-750-8771 |
Office e-mail | occ6how.msde@maryland.gov |
Office fax | 410-750-0324 |
For Provider Training (Pre-Service and Continuing) - please click here to find MSDE-approved training courses, trainers, and training organizations.
NAME | TITLE | TELEPHONE |
Afework, Sharon Sharon.Afework@maryland.gov |
Regional Manager | 410-750-8779 |
Shaw, Bryan Bryan.Shaw@maryland.gov |
Secretary | 410-750-8771 |
Leffson, Patricia Patricia.Leffson@maryland.gov |
Licensing Supervisor | 410-549-6495 |
Newell, Susan Susan.Newell@maryland.gov |
Licensing Supervisor | 410-750-7940 |
Bronson, Michelle Michelle.Bronson@maryland.gov |
Lead Licensing Specialist | 410-750-8775 |
Greene, Keisha Keisha.Greene1@maryland.gov |
Licensing Specialist | 410-549-6493 |
Brooks, Kellie Kellie.Brooks@maryland.gov |
Licensing Specialist Trainee | 410-750-1196 |
Moran, Sara Sara.Moran@maryland.gov |
Licensing Specialist | 410-750-8601 |
Smith, Ebonie Ebonie.Smith@maryland.gov |
Licensing Specialist | 410-750-8773 |
Skoda, Paul Paul.Skoda@maryland.gov |
Lead Licensing Specialist | 410-750-8953 |
Thompson, Jennifer Jennifer.Thompson@maryland.gov |
Licensing Specialist | 410-750-8395 |
Region 6 - Helpful Contact Information
Maryland EXCELS - Monique Dawkins
Monique.Dawkins@maryland.gov
410-750-9034
Howard Co. Child Care Resource Center
(Provider Training & Child Care Referral Service)
9830 Patuxent Woods Drive, Columbia, MD 21046
Office: 410-313-1940/ Fax: 410-313-1430
Child Care Scholarship - go to Money4ChildCare.com or call 877-227-0125.
Howard Co. Health Department
10630 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia, MD 21044
Office: 410-313-7500/ 410-880-5888
Howard Co. Dept. of Social Services
9780 Patuxent Woods Dr., Columbia, MD 21046
Main Line: 410-872-8700
Child Protective Services: 410-872-4200
Howard Co. Office of Planning & Zoning
George Howard Building
3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043
Office: 410-313-2393
Permits: 410-313-2436 or 2455
https://www.howardcountymd.gov/planning-zoning
Howard Co. Family Child Care Association (HCFOCC)
P.O. Box 2154, Columbia, MD 21045
https://www.hcfcca.org
Howard Co. Department of Fire & Rescue Services
Fire and Rescue Services
2201 Warwick Way
Marriottsville, MD 21104
410-313-6000
Maryland Dept. of Public Safety - CJIS Customer Service Center (Fingerprinting)
6776 Reisterstown Road Plaza, Suite 200,
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-764-4501
(Mon. - Fri., 8 am - 3:30 pm, Sat., 9 am - 4 pm)
Upcoming Events and Other Information:
REGIONAL ONLINE ORIENTATIONS
Anyone who is interested in starting a child care business in a home or center is required to complete an orientation training. Please email the office at occ6how.msde@maryland.gov or call the office at 410-750-8771 to express your interest in completing an orientation.
Include your name, phone number, which orientation you would like to attend, and your email address. The upcoming dates are listed below.
Family Child Care Orientations:
As a new applicant, you are required to attend an orientation session offered by the Office of Child Care (OCC) before the OCC can conduct an initial inspection of your home.
Child Care Center Orientations:
As a new applicant wishing to open and operate a licensed child care center you must attend an orientation session offered by the MSDE Office of Child Care (OCC).
Regulation Review for Child Care Centers (Director’s Training) IN PERSON:
As a new Center Director, you are required by COMAR 13A.16.06.05B (5) to attend a Director/Regulation training session within six months after being hired as the director of the facility.
Family Child Care Regulation Review:
Regulation review for currently registered Family Child Care Providers - Because of limited space you must call 410.750.8771 to register to attend. The orientations dates are as follows:
The orientation dates are as follows:
Date | Time | Type |
---|---|---|
January 8, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Regulation Review/Directors |
January 22, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
February 5, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Orientation |
March 5, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
March 19, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Regulation Review/Directors |
April 2, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
April 30, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Regulation Review/Directors |
May 28, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Orientation |
June 11, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
July 9, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Orientation |
August 6, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
September 10, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Regulation Review/Directors |
September 24, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
October 8, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Orientation |
October 22, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
November 5, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Regulation Review/Directors |
November 19, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Family Child Care Orientation |
December 10, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. | Center Orientation |
To prepare for your orientation session, you may wish to view the on-line orientation preview. This does not replace the face-to-face orientation session you are required to attend at your regional Office of Child Care. You may take the appropriate virtual informative online orientation at:
For Provider Training (Pre-Service and Continuing) - please click here to find MSDE-approved training courses, trainers, and training organizations.