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Delaware State Profile

View Delaware's state profile in PDF format.

Key Facts About

Children birth to 3 years, their families, and the child care system that serves them

2005 estimated population: 843,524
U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

2000 population: 783,600
U.S. Census 2000

Administration for Children and Families (ACF)-Child Care Bureau Data

  • An average of 2,177 children 0-3 are served per month by the Child Care and Development Fund
    (FY 2005 ACF-801 data, Child Care Bureau)
  • In Federal Fiscal Year 2006 the Infant/Toddler Child Care and Development Fund Set-Aside = $221,774
    (FY 2006 CCDF Allocations Based on Appropriations,U.S. Dept. of HHS, ACF)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Office of Head Start Data

135 children served by 2 grantees are in Early Head Start
(2006 Early Head Start Funded Enrollment) (EHSNRC Database-September 2006)

U.S. Department of Education (DOE) - IDEA, Part C Data

985 children under 3 receive early intervention services under IDEA, Part C
(U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Ed. Programs, Data Analysis System (DANS), 2005)

Child Care Referral Data

34% of all the requests for child care to the child care resource and referral programs were for infant and toddler care
(Child Care Profile, 2006 State Facts NACCRRA)

Special initiatives within the State/Territory


Infant/Toddler Caregiver Credential: No
Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate (CDA) *: 9 issued in 2005
9 issued in 2002
3 issued in 1998
Early Learning Guidelines for 0-3: Delaware Infant and Toddler Early Learning Foundations: A Curriculum Framework
Infant/Toddler Specialist Network: No

Child Care Licensing data - Staff to Child ratios

In Center-Based Care the staff-to-child ratios are

1:4 for 0 to 12 months; 1:7 for 12 to 24 months; 1:10 for 2 to 3 years; 1:12 for 3 to 4 years
(State Licensing Regulations)

In Family Child Care the staff-to-child ratios* are

1:5 (with no more than 4 children under 2, and of these, no more than 3 children under 12 months. No school-aged children are allowed) OR 1:4 (with no more than 3 children under 12 months and 2 school-aged children allowed before and after school)
(State Licensing Regulations)

In Group Family Child Care the staff-to-child ratios* are

1:12 (with no more than 5 children under 2. School-age care and overlapping care is not allowed)
(State Licensing Regulations)

Children under the age of 3 data

125,816 Children under The age of 3 live in Connecticut

Under 1 11,177
1-2 years 11,197
2-3 years 11,169

U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

Women with Children Under the Age of 3 in the Labor Force Data

66% of Delaware Women with Children Under the Age of 3 Are in the Labor Force

Employed 66%
Not in the Labor Force 29%
Unemployed 5%

Current Population Survey, March 2001

Infant Child Care Fees data

Average annual fee for full-time child care for an infant in:

Center based care $6,515

Cost As a percent of Income Data


Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for two-parent families 9%
Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for single parent families 28%

Child Care in America: State Facts, NACCRRA, 2006

State/Territory Lead Child Care Lead Agency Information

Delaware Health and Social Services
Division of Social Services
1901 N. DuPont Hwy., Lewis Bldg.
New Castle, DE 19720

Voice: 302-255-9668
Fax: 302-255-4433
Website: http://www.state.de.us/dhss/dss/childcr.html

For the CCDF Administrator's contact information go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf

For more information about Delaware go to:
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/statepro/display.cfm?state=Delaware

*Council on Professional Recognition Back
*These ratios apply to Type II Homes, which have the option of being designated as Infant/Toddler Homes. Providers in Type II homes are more qualified based on educational, credential and/or experience requirements set forth in the regulations. Back