Rhode Island Childcare Licensing
Rhode Island Childcare Required Forms & Documents (2026)
Licensed childcare centers in Rhode Island must collect, complete, and retain specific forms for every enrolled child before care begins. The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit requires 23 distinct forms or documents — from enrollment agreements to emergency contacts to immunization records — to remain on file and available for inspection at all times.
Licensing Agency
Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit →Last updated: April 2026
Researched by the TotReady Research TeamRhode Island Required Forms & Documents: The Specifics
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Child care licensing application submitted through the Rhode Island Start Early System (RISES) Workforce Registry profile — DHS licensing system of record (no standalone 'Universal Child Care Application' PDF; application is completed digitally in RISES) for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Child Enrollment Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Child Information Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Infant-Preschool Information Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Preadmission Interview Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Physician's Reference Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Staff Immunization Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Allergy Information Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Medication Authorization Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Consent for Use of Topical Creams for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Parent Authorization for Emergency Treatment Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Injury Report Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed First-Aid Kit Inventory for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Emergency Preparedness Plan Template for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Daily Attendance Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Activities Consent Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Photo Consent Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Transportation Policy Permission Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Health Care Consultant Form for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Personnel Sheet for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Sample Visitor Log for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Family Handbook and Staff Handbook (program-developed, DHS-approved per 218-RICR-70-00-1.13(E)) for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Comprehensive background-check employer affidavit submitted to the RI Attorney General's office (BCI) for fingerprinting for every enrolled child (per Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit).
Rhode Island Required Forms & Documents at a Glance
| Child care licensing application submitted through the Rhode Island Start Early System (RISES) Workforce Registry profile — DHS licensing system of record (no standalone 'Universal Child Care Application' PDF; application is completed digitally in RISES) | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
|---|---|
| Child Enrollment Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Child Information Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Infant-Preschool Information Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Preadmission Interview Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Physician's Reference Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Staff Immunization Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Allergy Information Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Medication Authorization Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Consent for Use of Topical Creams | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Parent Authorization for Emergency Treatment Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Injury Report Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| First-Aid Kit Inventory | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Emergency Preparedness Plan Template | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Daily Attendance Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Activities Consent Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Photo Consent Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Transportation Policy Permission Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Health Care Consultant Form | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Personnel Sheet | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Sample Visitor Log | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Family Handbook and Staff Handbook (program-developed, DHS-approved per 218-RICR-70-00-1.13(E)) | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
| Comprehensive background-check employer affidavit submitted to the RI Attorney General's office (BCI) for fingerprinting | Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit |
Go Deeper
Generate a Rhode Island-Compliant Handbook
TotReady builds a fully compliant parent handbook for your Rhode Island childcare center in minutes — every required section, your branding, and regulatory citations included.
Rhode Island Required Forms & Documents: Frequently Asked Questions
What forms are required for childcare enrollment in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island requires the following forms for each enrolled child: Child care licensing application submitted through the Rhode Island Start Early System (RISES) Workforce Registry profile — DHS licensing system of record (no standalone 'Universal Child Care Application' PDF; application is completed digitally in RISES); Child Enrollment Form; Child Information Form; Infant-Preschool Information Form; Preadmission Interview Form; Physician's Reference Form; Staff Immunization Form; Allergy Information Form; Medication Authorization Form; Consent for Use of Topical Creams; Parent Authorization for Emergency Treatment Form; Injury Report Form; First-Aid Kit Inventory; Emergency Preparedness Plan Template; Daily Attendance Form; Activities Consent Form; Photo Consent Form; Transportation Policy Permission Form; Health Care Consultant Form; Personnel Sheet; Sample Visitor Log; Family Handbook and Staff Handbook (program-developed, DHS-approved per 218-RICR-70-00-1.13(E)); Comprehensive background-check employer affidavit submitted to the RI Attorney General's office (BCI) for fingerprinting.
How long must Rhode Island childcare centers keep enrollment forms on file?
Rhode Island childcare licensing rules require that child records, including all required enrollment forms, be kept on file for the duration of enrollment and for a retention period after the child leaves. Contact the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit to confirm the exact retention schedule.
What happens if a Rhode Island center is missing required child forms during an inspection?
Missing or incomplete required forms are a citable deficiency in a Rhode Island childcare licensing inspection. Per R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-12.5-7(b): operating or conducting a child day care facility without a license, after license revocation/suspension, or refusing reasonable inspection is a misdemeanor, fined not more than $500 for each week the facility was maintained without a license or for each refusal to permit inspection (family day care home without a valid registration certificate: not less than $25 nor more than $100 per week under § 42-12.5-7(c)). Under § 42-12.5-6 (Violations, suspensions and revocations of license) and 218-RICR-70-00-1.7(G), DHS may also impose progressive administrative enforcement: written notice of noncompliance, education/training, plan of corrective action, suspension of enrollment, assessment of fines, denial, suspension (up to 6 months), revocation (no reapplication for 3 years), and summary suspension when the health, safety, or welfare of children or the public is in jeopardy.
Does TotReady provide templates for Rhode Island required forms?
TotReady's enrollment form tool and incident report tool generate Rhode Island-ready documents pre-filled with the required fields. Visit /tools/enrollment-form and /tools/incident-report to get started.
Rhode Island childcare licensing rules are amended regularly. This page is compiled from published Rhode Island administrative codes and statutes for informational purposes only — always verify current requirements with the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care, Child Care Licensing Unit before relying on them. TotReady provides information and document templates, not legal or regulatory advice.