The Childcare Commission was formed to oversee the rules and regulations of the City of Coeur d’Alene regarding licensed childcare in-home and facilities. The Commission was formed to ensure the City meets the need of both parents and providers within the City limits to promote a safe and healthy environment for childcare with ongoing education required for providers.

The Childcare Commission consists of 9 voting members, appointed for a four-year term. Meetings are held monthly on the fourth Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Conference room 6. All meetings are open to the public. For information, please call the Deputy City Clerk at 769-2229 to confirm meeting times and dates. Click the "Agendas" link on the left of the screen to view the current Childcare Commission agenda.

The Commission consists of representatives from Head Start, North Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Family Child Care Association, Center Child Care, Department of Health and Welfare, Panhandle Health District, Child Care Resource Center, one city resident who has been or is currently a consumer of childcare within the city limits, and a high school student who attends school within the boundaries of school district 271 and is between the ages of fourteen (14) and eighteen (18).

Current Childcare Commissioners

Iris Siegler, Chairman
Susie Freligh
Kim Torgerson
Jolie Wenglikowski
Beth Ann Fuller
Stephanie Goss

Duties of the Childcare Commission

1. Make recommendations to the City Council for licensing criteria that promote safety and health needs in both home care providers and facility providers.
2. Incorporate recommendations that fall within City and State guidelines.
3. Determine selection criteria for providers that wish to apply for the Mayor’s Excellence in Quality Childcare Award.
4. Receive public comments and hold meetings on issues arising from implementation and enforcement of licensing criteria.
5. Distribute educational materials and items of public interest regarding childcare via the City website.

Resources - Education Classes

• Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Childcare Resources
• For information about Idaho STARS approved training, visit their website at http://www.idahostars.org/, or the Idaho Training Clearinghouse website at http://www.idahotc.com/.
• CPR/First Aid Training Centers

• ALERT CPR, (208) 664-0839, http://www.ezytrainingsolutions.org/
• American Red Cross, (800) 853-2570, http://www.redcross.org/
• Workforce Training Center, (208) 769-3333, http://www.nic.edu/
• CPRCentral, (208) 620-1949, CPR4work.com

The Child Care Resource Center has a Lending Library available to child care providers. Training DVDs are available (for IdahoSTARS approved training hours!), curriculum books, education books on various child development topics, themed curriculum tubs, and much more! Please visit the Panhandle Health District's website for a catalog of items: http://panhandlehealthdistrict.org/child-care. Providers can check out materials for one month at a time, and the fee is $20.00 per year. The Lending Library is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Child Care Training.org - Online courses - Idaho STARS approved.

Child Care Lounge

Care Courses

ClassesOnline4U

"Building Blocks for Literacy" training. Visit http://www.idahotc.com/ to register for training.

Panhandle Health District - www.panhandlehealthdistrict.org - childcare resources information

Idaho Stars - www.idahostars.org - training and safe sleep information

Public Safety Playground Handbook

Choose Safe Places For Early Child Care and Education

City Guide to Planning and Evaluating Childcare Facility Playgrounds

Free online training webinars: https://www.naeyc.org/events/trainings-webinars/recorded-webinars

Childcare Solutions for Working Parents: https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/early-childhood-education