Friday, October 2, 2026
Table of Contents
- October Child Care Licensing Regional Office Hours
- Fingerprinting Cost and Renewal Process Updates
- Action Needed: 2026 Health and Safety Refresher Training Due by November 2, 2026
- New CDC Scholarship Billing Requirement Resources Available
- Nurturing Note: Getting Back Into the Routine
- Michigan College Month is Prime Time for Students, Families to Complete the Federal Application for Free Student Aid (FASFA)
- Sign Up Below and Stay in the Know!
Have Questions? Need Answers? Don't Miss Our Office Hours!
Please join us for the CCLB Regional Office Hours hosted by the CCLB area managers! This is an opportunity to stay informed, connected, and engaged within your child care licensing region. Whether you're a seasoned provider or just starting out, these sessions are a great opportunity for conversation and connection.
Please see the coverage map below to ensure you attend the correct office hours for your county.
Child Care Coverage Map
Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect, learn, and thrive within your child care community. We look forward to seeing you there!
Upcoming Office Hours:
Southwest Region with Charnell Lennox
Thursday, October 8th, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link - Southwest Region
**Grand Rapids Region with Katrice Sweet
Wednesday, October 14th, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link - Grand Rapids Region
Wayne Region with Paris Howard
Thursday, October 15th, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link - Wayne Region
*Pontiac Region with Jackie Sharkey
Thursday, October 22nd, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link - Pontiac Region
Northwest & Northeast and UP Regions with Candice Case-French & Erin Kidd
Thursday, October 22nd, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link - Northwest and Northeast Regions
Flint-Macomb Region with Crecendra Boone
Tuesday, October 27th, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link - Flint-Macomb Region
Southcentral Region with Darlese McConnell
Wednesday, October 28th, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Zoom Registration Link - Southcentral Region
*Please note that the Pontiac Regional Office Hours have a new date and time for the month of October to accommodate a scheduling conflict.
**Please note that the Grand Rapids Regional Office hours will now be held on the second Wednesday of each month beginning in October.
The Child Care Licensing Bureau (CCLB) provided free fingerprinting services beginning March 2026 through September 2026. The cost of renewal fingerprints completed prior to the expiration date of the 5-year renewal period for eligible individuals will continue to be covered through CCLB.
Beginning October 1, 2026, providers will return to the previous process of either using coupon codes or applicants paying for fingerprinting onsite with a credit/debit card, business/cashier’s check, or money order.
New facilities will each get two free coupon codes from Child Care Licensing.
These coupons must be used electronically when scheduling an applicant for fingerprinting. No physical coupons will be provided, instead they are pre-loaded into the Child Care Background Check (CCBC) system.
- The coupon codes may only be used for applicants who need to be fingerprinted for the facility that the coupon codes are issued to.
- The coupons cannot be shared amongst facilities.
- Providers have the option of adding additional coupon codes at the provider’s expense through Idemia’s No Charge Authorization Code (NCAC) process.
Cost Increase for Fingerprinting
Effective October 1, 2026 the cost for fingerprinting has increased by $3.00, from $65.50 to $68.50, due to a fee increase imposed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Eligibility Renewal Process
- Providers/Users will receive an email from MiLEAP-CCBC-Info@michigan.gov when an applicant is due for a Reprint for Eligibility Renewal.
- To ensure receipt of important communications, please update your email account settings to allow you to receive messages from this address.
- Notifications are emailed 90, 60, and 30 days prior to the expiration of the applicant’s eligibility.
- Providers/Users must log into their CCBC account at www.michigan.gov/ccbc to initiate the renewal process upon notification.
- Once the Provider/User logs into their CCBC account, they will see a list of applicants due for an Eligibility Renewal under the “In Progress” tab showing any individual whose eligibility will expire within the next 90 days.
- The cost of the renewal fingerprint will continue to be covered by MiLEAP. Applicants and providers will not need to pay out of pocket.
- Applicants with expired eligibility are not eligible to continue working, and cannot be connected to a child care facility. They will need to pay for fingerprinting.
- Eligibility renewal fingerprinting cannot be scheduled after the expiration date. Individuals who expire must be fingerprinted under a new fingerprinting application.
To learn more about how to complete an Eligibility Renewal, please click the button below:
Fingerprint Scheduling Guidelines
When scheduling your background check, it is very important to use the CCBC system. Our system links directly to the IdentoGO website and will include the child care licensing fingerprint reason code in your request automatically. Scheduling your fingerprinting appointment separately from our system may cause delays or require fingerprinting to be rescheduled if the incorrect reason code is used. Fingerprinting can not be shared between different agencies when done for different purposes.
Once onsite at the fingerprinting appointment, the applicant should confirm with the fingerprint vendor that their fingerprints are being taken for Child Care Licensing. The pre-filled Fingerprint Request Form is available within the CCBC system for each applicant getting fingerprinted.
For any questions or concerns regarding these updates, please submit a support ticket online by going to www.michigan.gov/ccbc and selecting Help Desk, or by calling 844-765-2247.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant requires child care providers to receive ongoing health and safety training. The rule to meet this requirement is below. This bulletin serves as OFFICIAL notice that licensed child care providers have the specified timeframe indicated in the notice from May 1, 2026, to complete the training in MiRegistry. The information provided in this bulletin explains how to find that required training.
Licensing Rule information: R 400.8216a(13) for centers "When the department publishes a notice that a new health and safety update document or a new health and safety update training activity is published on MiRegistry, the licensee shall ensure that all identified staff or volunteers in the notice read and acknowledge the document or complete the activity within the timeframe indicated in the notice."
Licensing Rule information: R 400.1924(11) for homes “When the department publishes a notice that a new health and safety update document or a new health and safety update training activity was published on MiRegistry, the licensee shall ensure that all applicable personnel and unsupervised volunteers read and acknowledge the document or complete the activity within the timeframe indicated on the notice."
Deadline for training completion: Licensed Child Care Providers will have until November 2, 2026 to complete this training.
The online Michigan Ongoing Health & Safety Training Refresher 2026 is being hosted in Michigan Virtual’s online professional learning portal. To access the training, providers who do not already have a Michigan Virtual account, will need to create a Michigan Virtual account. When a provider creates their Michigan Virtual account, there is a space to list their MiRegistry ID. Providers should provide their MiRegistry ID and select “I want all of my eligible courses to be sent to MiRegistry” so completion will transfer to their MiRegistry profile.
Providers can register for this training by visiting either the MiRegistry Statewide Training Calendar or Michigan Virtual Professional Learning Portal. For step-by-step instructions, review the Navigating to the Michigan Ongoing Health and Safety Training Refresher 2026 Course guide.
Please contact your consultant should you have any questions.
Beginning October 1, 2026, new requirements have taken effect for how licensed providers bill the Child Development and Care (CDC) Scholarship program for absence hours. Please review the resources below to help you prepare for these changes.
For more resources and information and resources about billing, visit the CDC's Provider Billing Guidance webpage.
Still More Questions:
- Call Child Development and Care at 866-990-3227 and choose option: 3 for PIN, or billing payment issue.
- Call MDHHS at 844-464-3447 for authorizations (child assignments), number of hours approved, or service begin and end dates.
Transitioning out of summer and into fall can signal to our brains: ‘It’s time to get back into my routine’. We might remember a time when fall meant that our TV shows were finally coming back on, or that Saturdays were for cheering on our favorite football team, or even enjoying fun outdoor activities like picking apples and carving pumpkins. These are all exciting examples of things we can predict from the season.
However, you probably already have many ordinary routines that you do on a daily basis. Just as we have important routines in place to help bring order to our lives, children need to follow routines to bring order to their lives as well. Routines are an important way to help children transition to a new activity, learn a skill (hand washing, writing their letters, bathrooming, etc.), and feel safe in their environment.
According to Zero to Thrive, “Routines help children develop self-regulation skills, which are essential for managing emotions and behaviors. When children know what comes next, they can better cope with transitions and challenges, leading to increased resilience and confidence.
Think of some of the routines you already have in place in your classroom: are they working for your students? Are there any times of the day that feel hectic that might benefit from a new routine? If you’re wanting to make some changes, here’s a few suggestions for building a strong routine:
- Start small and specific, then gradually build on skills students have learned
- Use visual schedules or cues
- Involve students when creating a new routine to increase cooperation (and creativity)
- Give advance notice of changes in routine (life happens!)
- Be consistent, but flexible when necessary
Tessa Miller, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant
To learn more about Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation and resources for Child Care Providers, click HERE
September 30, 2026
Completing the FAFSA helps expand access and affordability for those seeking a degree or skills certificate
LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently proclaimed October as Michigan College Month and the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) is encouraging students and families to take this opportunity to complete the 2027-28 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which opened Oct. 1.
Michigan College Month is a state-wide effort that raises awareness for high school seniors to complete college applications. Many colleges and universities waive application fees during this period.
“Michigan College Month is an opportunity to celebrate the transformative power of a college education and encourage students to take the next step toward earning a degree or credential,” said Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, executive director of MiLEAP. “Every student deserves an opportunity to pursue a college education, and I want students to be excited about attending college, completing their education and all that can mean for their future. Completing the FAFSA helps students and families understand the financial aid available and take an important step toward making that education a reality.”
Learn more about how Michigan College Month is expanding support and resources to students to help them succeed in college and beyond in the full press release below.
Below, you will find helpful resources designed to support child care providers. Click the links to access and subscribe to informative newsletters, discover a variety of useful tools, and explore a wealth of helpful information from each resource.
Michigan has set a bold goal to deliver access to high-quality pre-k to all 4-year-olds in the state. Pre-k for all encompasses Head Start, and the Great Start to Readiness Program (GSRP).
Click here to subscribe to the Pre-K for All Newsletter.
The Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children (MIAEYC) aims to promote high-quality early learning for children from birth to age 8 by connecting practice, policy, and research. Michigan AEYC advocates for high-quality learning experiences for young children and supports early childhood professionals.
Check out their Knowledge Center and connect with them here.
Great Start to Quality (GSQ) helps strengthen high quality early learning experiences for Michigan children by supporting early care and education providers and helping families connect with the best options for their children.
Click here to sign-up for information, news and resources from Great Start to Quality!
Below are instructions for subscribing or re-subscribing to MiRegistry.
If you have an account in MiRegistry and have opted in as “Subscribed to MiRegistry communications” on the Personal Tab of your Individual Profile you should be receiving News for Now and Training Spotlight to the email address listed on your account. However, even if you correctly subscribed in the MiRegistry system, if you have clicked the “Unsubscribe” button on any of the MiRegistry emails you may not receive them.To update your preferences, go to the Personal Tab of your Individual Profile, Click Edit Personal, scroll down to Communication Preferences and Click Subscribe and then Click Save. Additionally, some spam filters and other email security measures may automatically block MiRegistry’s emails from landing in your inbox. Be sure to watch your junk/spam folders and mark support@miregistry.org as a safe sender.
You can also explore MiRegistry’s News and Events page for exciting updates, upcoming events, and exclusive news! Copies of past newsletters including News for Now, Tips for Trainers, and Training Spotlight are just a few of the resources you can find featured on that page. Stay engaged and in the know – visit MiRegistry’s News and Events page today!
|
