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Florida State Profile

View Florida'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: 17,789,864
U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

2000 population: 15,982,378
U.S. Census 2000

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

  • An average of 34,021 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 = $5,627,128
    (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

1,962 children served by 25 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

12,037 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

43% 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) *: 233 issued in 2005
130 issued in 2002
139 issued in 1998
Early Learning Guidelines for 0-3: Florida Birth to Three Learning and Development Standards
Infant/Toddler Specialist Network: Yes

Child Care Licensing data - Staff to Child ratios

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

1:4 for birth-12 months; 1:6 for 1- to 2-year-olds; 1:11 for 2- to 3-year-olds; 1:15 for 3- to 4-year-olds
(State Licensing Regulations)

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

1:10 (with no more than 5 pre-school age children, and of these, no more than 2 children under 1 year) OR
1:6 (preschool-age children only with none under 1 year) OR 1:6 (with no more than 3 children under 1 year) OR
1:4 (if all children are under 1 year)
(State Licensing Regulations)

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

2:8 (if all children are birth to 24 months) OR 2:12 (with no more than 4 children under 24 months)
(State Licensing Regulations)

Children under the age of 3 data

670,544 Children under The age of 3 live in Florida

Under 1 224,617
1-2 years 224,581
2-3 years 221,346

U.S. Census 2005 Population Estimate

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

65% of Florida Women with Children Under the Age of 3 Are in the Labor Force

Employed 65%
Not in the Labor Force 32%
Unemployed 3%

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 $6,396

Cost As a percent of Income Data


Cost of child care for an infant as percent of median income for two-parent families 10%
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

Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation
Office of Early Learning
107 East Madison Street
Caldwell Building, MSC 140
Tallahassee, Florida  32399-4120

Voice: 850-921-3180
Fax: 850-921-3188
Website: http://www.flready.com

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

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

*Council on Professional Recognition Back