Region 9 - Lower Shore Office (Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties)

In response to the Governor's recent mandate for state employees to telework, the Office of Child Care (OCC) will be open to the public by appointment only, beginning March 16, 2020 until at least March 27, 2020. 

Contact Information:

Office of Child Care Region 9 (Lower Shore Office)
Maryland State Department of Education
201 Baptist Street, Suite 32
Multi-Service Building, 2nd Floor
Salisbury, MD 21801
Map This Location

Main office phone 410-713-3430
Office e-mail occ9wic.msde@maryland.gov
Office fax 410-713-3439

Anyone who is interested in starting a child care business in a home or center is required to take the face-to-face orientation training. Please contact the Office of Child Care Regional Licensing Office to schedule the Orientation Training.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. ​(Click here to go to the Orientation page)"

To obtain required local permits for a Child Care License or Certificate of Registration - Click here

For Provider Training (Pre-Service and Continuing) - please click here to find MSDE-approved training courses, trainers and training organizations.

Lead Licensing Specialist

NAME TITLE TELEPHONE
Ruark, Suzanne 
Suzanne.Ruark@maryland.gov		 Regional Manager 410-713-3430
Bell, Angelia L. 
Angelia.Bell@maryland.gov		 Secretary 410-713-3430
Handy, Teresa  
Teresa.Handy@maryland.gov		 Licensing Specialist 410-713-3430
Maull, Jacqueline 
Jacqueline.Maull@maryland.gov		 Licensing Specialist 410-713-3430
Brown, Johanna 
Johanna.Brown@maryland.gov		 Licensing Specialist 410-713-3430

Region 9 - Upcoming Events and Other Information

2020 ROUNDTABLES

  • Wednesday, January 29, 2020 6-9 pm New Regulations for Centers (POSTPONED) TBA
  • Wednesday, February 05, 2020 6-9 pm New Regulations for Family Care Providers (POSTPONED) TBA
  • Thursday, April 23, 2020 6-9 pm Mental Health in Child Care w/ Latrice Gray Lower Shore Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation/ SU
  • Wednesday, October 14, 2020 6-9- pm Child Advocacy Center

FAMILY CHILD CARE ORIENTATIONS I and II

In person Orientation:  Family Child Care: I & II

Location: 201 Baptist Street, Multi Service Building, Salisbury, MD-21801

                  Conference Room # 2136

Orientation Dates:

Family Child Care Orientation I

Tuesdays, @9:30am- 12:30 pm

                January 14, 2020                               March 10, 2020

                May 5, 2020                                       July 14, 2020

                Sept 15, 2020                                    October 20, 2020

Family Child Care Orientation II

Thursdays, @9:30- 12:30pm

                March 26, 2020 (Canceled due to Coronavirus)                             

                June 18, 2020                                   August 20, 2020                               November 12, 2020

 

CENTER ORIENTATION:

Please contact the Region 9, Office of Child Care Licensing Office at (410) 713-3430 to speak with a Licensing Specialist and schedule in person Orientation Session.

First Aid and CPR Training

Nick Morris, Instructor, offers First Aid/CPR Sessions through the American Heart Association.  His sessions will be held in the Second Floor Conference Room (Room #2136) of the Multi-Service Center.  Please contact Mr. Morris at (410) 430-2923 for cost and to register for these sessions.

CPR/ FIRST AID

Wednesdays, @8:30am- 3:30pm:

  • February 5, 2020
  • April 1, 2020     
  • June 3, 2020  
  • August 5, 2020

HELPFUL NUMBERS

  • Lower Shore Child Care Resource Center:                                                                                           

            LOCATE Line – 1.877.261.0060                                                                                                                 

            Monday - Friday, 9:30 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.                                                                                                                

            Office Line – 410.543.6650                          

  • State Fire Marshal (Somerset & Wicomico Counties):  410.713.3780
  • Worcester County Fire Marshal:  410.632.5666
  • Health Department (Environmental Health Unit):

           Somerset – 410.651.5600                                                                                                                             

           Wicomico - 410.546.4446                                                                                                                               

           Worcester - 410.632.1220

  • Permits, Planning, and Zoning:

           Call OCC @ 410.713.3430 for the phone number of the county or city office in which you reside.                   

  • Wor-Wic Community College:   410.334.2815
  • Nick Morris:  410.430.2923 – First Aid/CPR – American Heart Association - Second Floor Conference Room (Rm #2136)

 

To Apply for a Criminal Background Check

Effective April 15, 2012, the FBI moved to an all-electronic criminal background check (CBC) application process and is no longer accepting hard-copy fingerprint cards.  Because the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) follows FBI guidelines, the use of hard-copy CBC applications at the State level are also being phased out as of that date. Instead, all CBC applicants are being encouraged to submit their applications electronically. However, hard-copy applications are still being accepted by CJIS if electronic submission is not possible. Click here for a list of State-approved private electronic fingerprinting services and State-operated electronic fingerprinting locations. Electronic applications may also be submitted through many State and local police agencies. Child care programs that have their own State-certified electronic fingerprinting equipment and operators may continue to submit CBC applications.  When submitting your CBC request, you must include the appropriate OCC Regional Office authorization number. 

Online Licensing Inspection Results

Visit the Office of Child Care's online child care licensing inspection results site – www.CheckCCMD.org! The site offers detailed compliance findings from child care licensing inspections conducted since January 2011. The site may also be used to find licensed child care programs and providers, and to link to a wide variety of information about early care and education in Maryland.

To File a Complaint

If you believe a particular child care program is in violation of State child care licensing laws or regulations, you may file an official complaint against that program.  To file a complaint, contact the Regional Licensing Office covering the county where the program is located. Complaints may be filed in person, or by telephone, or in writing by e-mail, fax, or letter.  Anonymous complaints are accepted, so complainants do not need to identify themselves. Each complaint is investigated by the Regional Licensing Office.  Upon completion of the investigation, a report of findings is created. This report is available upon request if the investigation confirms that the violation occurred, or if it cannot be determined whether or not the violation occurred.

Medication Administration Training for Child Care Providers

The Medication Administration Training (MAT) is a pre-service training required for individuals seeking to acquire a Child Care Center License or a Family Child Care Registration in Maryland.  MAT is provided by licensed Maryland Registered Nurses who have completed Medication Administration Trainer training and are apporved by the Nurse Consultant in the Office of Child Care's Licensing Branch.  MAT is a six (6) hour training conducted in a classroom setting with theory and practice.  A certificate is awarded upon completetion of the course in addition to passing content and skill tests.  

Need to find a MAT trainer in your area?  Click here

Registered Nurses interested in becoming a MAT Trainer? Click here

For more information about the MAT course or training, contact the Nurse Consultant at 410-767-1853

The Family Child Care Provider Grant Program

The Family Child Care Provider Grant Program (FCCPGP) exists to help registered family child care providers offset some of the costs of opening their child care programs. For information about the FCCPGP, click here.

Click here to access the Maryland Sex Offenders Registry (SOCEM), which is maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. In addition to providing detailed offender information, the site carries "amber alerts" for abducted children and an information/resource section for parents and educators on preventing and combating youth gangs.

Click here for the Maryland Judiciary Case Search service, which provides free public access to the Maryland District Court and Circuit Court Case Management System. District Court criminal, civil, and traffic case records and Circuit Court criminal and civil case records are available. The amount of historical data may vary by jurisdiction.