State library · checked October 2026
Rhode Island child care, camp and ratio rules
What camps, after-school programs and child care centers in Rhode Island need to know about licensing, ratios, background checks, medication and reporting abuse, with links to the official rules.
Child care licensing
DHS licenses child care centers and school-age programs under one regulation (218-RICR-70-00-1, amended effective July 7, 2026), plus family and group family child care homes (218-RICR-70-00-2 and -7). New programs apply through the RISES online system, complete DHS orientation training, and start on a 6-month provisional license.
After-school and recreation programs: We couldn't confirm this from official sources. Ask the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care Licensing.
Licensing agency: Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), Office of Child Care Licensing
Sources: 218-RICR-70-00-1 Child Care Center and School Age Program Regulations for Licensure
Staff-to-child ratios in licensed centers
| Ages | Children per staff member | Largest group |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | 1:9 | 18 |
| 4 years | 1:10 | 20 |
| 5 years (not yet in kindergarten) | 1:12 | 24 |
| School-age (kindergarten through age 15) | 1:13 | 26 |
Rule: 218-RICR-70-00-1 §1.11(B). A 5-year-old in kindergarten counts as school-age (1:13, max 26), and a child may join a school-age K group the summer before kindergarten. The 1:13 ratio applies to every school-age band (K, grades 1–3, 4–6, and 7 and up, under 16). Mixed-age groups use the youngest child's ratio. Stricter ratios apply on field trips and during swimming.
Summer camps
RIDOH's recreational facility rules define youth camps as day or residential camps with 10 or more campers and set sanitation standards for them (water, sewage, toilets, handwashing, showers for residential camps); a RIDOH license is required to operate a recreational facility (216-RICR-50-10-3). These are environmental health rules, not a program or staffing license; no separate RI youth camp program license was found.
Camp agency: Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH)
Sources: 216-RICR-50-10-3 Licensing of Recreational Facilities and Beaches
Background checks
Every employee and volunteer working directly with children must complete a DHS comprehensive background check before starting and every 5 years: state and national criminal and sex offender registry checks (fingerprints for adults), a DCYF child abuse and neglect clearance, and out-of-state checks if the person lived outside Rhode Island in the past 5 years. Staff and volunteers under 18 need only the child abuse and neglect registry check (218-RICR-70-00-1 §§1.6, 1.12(A)).
Sources: 218-RICR-70-00-1 (§1.6 definition; §1.12(A) background checks); RI DHS background check page (cited in the regulation)
Giving medication
No medication, prescription or over-the-counter, is given without written parent permission and a written order from a physician, PA or nurse practitioner (the pharmacy label can serve) in the original container. The program administrator or designee gives medications when no nurse is on site, the parent gives the first dose, every dose is logged, and medications are stored locked and labeled; sunscreen, insect repellent and diaper cream need parent consent only (218-RICR-70-00-1 §1.9(C)).
Reporting child abuse
Any person who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected must report it to the DCYF Child Protective Services hotline within 24 hours (R.I. Gen. Laws §40-11-3; 214-RICR-20-00-1 §1.6). Licensed programs must also notify the DHS licensing unit right after reporting if the incident happened at the program.
Rhode Island child abuse hotline: 1-800-742-4453 (1-800-RI-CHILD) (how to report). In an emergency, call 911.
Sources: 214-RICR-20-00-1 Child Protective Services (§1.6 Reporting); 218-RICR-70-00-1 §1.9(E) (hotline number); Child Welfare Information Gateway: Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect
Checked October 2026 against Rhode Island's official rules and federal sources. Rules change and have exceptions, so confirm with the agency before you rely on them. This is general information, not legal advice. Rhode Island has 519 youth and community program nonprofits, according to our analysis of IRS data.
FAQ
Rhode Island questions
What is the staff-to-child ratio for school-age children in Rhode Island?
In licensed child care centers, 1 staff member for every 13 school-age children, with groups of up to 26 (218-RICR-70-00-1 §1.11(B)). Camps and license-exempt programs can follow different rules.
Do summer camps need a license in Rhode Island?
RIDOH's recreational facility rules define youth camps as day or residential camps with 10 or more campers and set sanitation standards for them (water, sewage, toilets, handwashing, showers for residential camps); a RIDOH license is required to operate a recreational facility (216-RICR-50-10-3). These are environmental health rules, not a program or staffing license; no separate RI youth camp program license was found.
Who has to report suspected child abuse in Rhode Island?
Any person who has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected must report it to the DCYF Child Protective Services hotline within 24 hours (R.I. Gen. Laws §40-11-3; 214-RICR-20-00-1 §1.6). Licensed programs must also notify the DHS licensing unit right after reporting if the incident happened at the program. Rhode Island's hotline: 1-800-742-4453 (1-800-RI-CHILD).
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