Frequently Asked Questions

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Mother's Den is a licensed child care and educational facility within the Municipality of Anchorage.  This facility is governed by all the same federal, state, and local laws and regulations as a child care center.   Mother's Den received our first provisional license in April 1999 and has maintained a license since May 2000.

Mother's Den is licensed to have eight (8) children at any one time between the hours of 6am to 10pm and five (5) children between the hours of 10pm to 6am.  Children can be between the ages of Birth through twelve (12) years of age.  Of those children in care at any one time, only three (3) children can be in care under thirty (30) months of age.  No more than two (2) children may be non-ambulatory no matter the child's age.  

Please note that Mother's Den has a Night-Time Care Specialization approved by the department and fire safety approval. 

Yes, Mother's Den has a waitlist.  To be added to the waitlist simply complete the Google Form at https://forms.gle/SKbKp5Uw9ReB61vm7.  When a child care opening comes available at Mother's Den and we can match an opening up with the hours and days of care needed and the age of your child, a space can be offered to family seeking care.  

By the time you have decided that Mother's Den is the right fit for your child care needs, you would have already reviewed our facility policies and most likely visited the program.  The Mother's Den's administrator will contact you with your acceptance into our program when an opening comes available and then give you time to decide to pursue enrollment or decline it.   If family wishes to meet, arrangements can be made, enrollment form will either be given at the meeting or emailed, if a printer is available.  After the completed forms have been returned to the administrator, information will be put into the system and a contracted will be generated.  A final meeting will be set-up for the contract review and signing.  At this time, we will obtain a copy of your child's immunization records, your child's physical, copy of parent/guardian's ID, and collect fees due prior to service.   

Yes, we offer both full-time and part-time enrollment on a daily basis only, depending upon your child care needs while you go to work or school.  Mother's Den is licensed 24/7 and can offer shift during the day, evening, over-night, as well as drop-in care when space is available to accommodate non-traditional work hours.   Hourly is charged under 2 hours, Part-Time is 2 to 5 hours, Full-Time is from 5 to 10 hours, Over-Time is anything over 10 hours contracted and charged at the hourly rate.  Drop-In care is always charged at the hourly rate. 

Paying for child care can be difficult for some families making it important to accept a child care subsidy or fee assistance programs to help low-income families pay for child care so they can go to work or school.   Mother's Den accepts the following programs:

• State of Alaska Child Care Assistance Program - eligible Alaskan families.
  • PASS I - JOBS Program - Families seeking work.
  • PASS II - Families graduates of JOBS Program.
  • PASS III - Families working or going to school.
  • PASS IV - Families serving foster children.
• Child Care Aware of America - eligible DoD or Military families.
• Cook Inlet Tribal Council - CITC - eligible Alaska Native and American Indian families.

Mother's Den is a mixed-age group child care setting and children are not separated by age groups.  

Mixed-age groups have their advantages as children naturally develop at own rates.  Children have an opportunity to learn from each other in a mixed-age setting, such as with their academics, social skills, emotional well-being, and builds self-confidence.  When children are in a mixed-age setting, there is a stability of having a consistent caregiver.  Mixed-age group setting offer a real-world experience for children who will interact with others of different ages, experiences, and abilities.  

Mother's Den is an inclusive child care setting where children with all abilities are able to socialize, play, and learn with other children despite their age, abilities, and unique needs.   Staff encourage children to celebrate one another's differences and support one another through positive interactions.  *SEE our Inclusion Policy 

Mother's Den is a mixed-age group setting licensed from birth through 12 years of age.  Children do not need to be potty trained to attend care.  When appropriate, Mother's Den will assist parents with children learning to use the potty.  *SEE our Potty Learning Policy

Parents are welcomed to visit Mother's Den any time their child is in care per our Open Door Policy.  We also welcome parents to visit the classroom to join us for breakfast or lunch, read a story, or volunteer to participate in other activities such as field trips or special projects.  The ONLY time we do not wish to have visitors is during our nap time between the hours of 1 to 3 pm so our children can have uninterrupted nap.   *SEE our Open Door Policy 

Mother's Den support nursing mother's returning to work to continue their desire to breastfeed their child.  Staff will discuss the mother's desires and feeding schedule.  Nursing mothers are welcome to visit during the day to nurse their child or may send expressed milk for their child's feedings.  *SEE our Breastfeeding Friendly Policy

Alaska has laws that require all child care facilities and public schools must have a current up-to-date copy of immunizations on file for all children in attendance.   Immunizations protect children from preventable childhood diseases which is especially important in a group setting.    *SEE our Immunization Policy

We understand that working parents have the additional stress determining what to do when your child is sick.   Unfortunately, children who are sick may not attend child care as it puts staff and other children at risk of exposure to their illness.  If a child becomes ill while in care, parents will be notified to pick up their child.  *SEE our Illness Exclusion Policy or speak to the facility administrator if you have any questions regarding your child's symptoms before bringing them to Mother's Den.

Mother's Den regularly uses the CDC's "Learn the Signs. Act Early" or LTSAE to track children's developmental milestones, to communicate with parents about development, and to provide guidance on discussing developmental concerns with parents.  LTSAE is a research-based, parent-friendly resource on child development.   Mother's Den also encourages families to use the CDC Milestone Tracker app to monitor their child's development.   

It is important to provide children with nutritionally balanced meals and snacks throughout the day.  Mother's Den participates in the USDA CACFP (Child Adult Care Food Program) and must following the meal guidelines provided for program participation.  If a child has any special food accommodations such as food sensitivities or allergies, parents must make these known to the facility staff.  Mother's Den also post pictures of our lunches on our Facebook page.  *SEE our Sample Menu.  

Discipline can be a sensitive topic for parents.  It's important that you understand and be comfortable with the discipline approach used at Mother's Den.   Staff at Mother's Den understands that children have typical age-appropriate and child-like behaviors.   It is our practice to use a positive approach to discipline that allows the child to learn appropriate behaviors and expectations and not one that is demeaning or hurtful.  Steps are taken with children to prevent behavior disruptions, communicate positively with the child, redirect the child's behavior, and communicate with the family any concerns on a daily basis.  The ONLY time staff uses Time-Out is when a child has hurt another child.   If there are concerns about a child's behavior, both parents and staff will consult with each other about the behavior concerns and form a plan to prevent the behavior in the future.

It is important for parents to respect the needs others by preventing lateness when picking up their child.  When children are not picked up on time, staff may not be able to meet obligations of their own hours of care.  It could also prevent other parents from being able to drop their child off for care due to over-capacity issues it may create when a child is not picked up on time.  So, yes, there is a penalty for picking up a child late from care.  *SEE our Pick-Up Policy for more information. 

Child Care Inspection Reports are available as of January 1, 2008.  Inspection reports can be looked up by the facility name or provider's name and/or by the facility's address at hhs.muni.org/cac/.  

Contact Info:  DHHS Child Care Licensing Program, 825 L Street, Anchorage, AK 99501 

Phone (907) 343-4758 - Fax (907) 249-7840 - Email: hhsccl@muni.org 

To file a complaint against a child care provider located within the Municipality of Anchorage, please email the Municipality of Anchorage at hhsccl@muni.org or contact the Child Care Licensing Office at 907-343-4758. 

To file a complaint against a child care provider located outside the Municipality of Anchorage, please email ccpo@alaska.gov or contact the main office at 907-269-4500 or toll free at 1 (888) 268-4632.