Maine Childcare Required Forms & Documents (2026)

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed License application submitted via the OCFS 'Baxter' online provider portal (create/submit/manage Child Care Licensing applications, inspections, action plans) - 10-148 C.M.R. ch. 32 § 2(C) (Application) for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Center Pre-Licensing Checklist for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Zoning and Code Compliance Letter for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Authorization for Release of Personal History Information for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Serious Injury and Illness Report for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Sample Child Enrollment Form for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Sample Child Care Contract for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Sample Emergency Medical Treatment Release for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Sample Medication Administration Permission Form and Medication Administration Record for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Certificate of Immunization (per Maine Childcare Immunization Standards; on file within 30 days of admission, updated annually) for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Immunization Medical Exemption documentation (physician statement that immunization is medically inadvisable) for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Sample Health Care Consultant Agreement for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Sample Accident / Incident Report for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Provider (Parent) Handbook (required content under § 2(F)) for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

Maine childcare centers are required to collect and maintain a completed Comprehensive Background Check request per 10-148 C.M.R. ch. 34 (Child Care Provider Background Check Licensing Rule), fingerprint-based, via OCFS Background Check Unit for every enrolled child (per Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit).

What forms are required for childcare enrollment in Maine?

Maine requires the following forms for each enrolled child: License application submitted via the OCFS 'Baxter' online provider portal (create/submit/manage Child Care Licensing applications, inspections, action plans) - 10-148 C.M.R. ch. 32 § 2(C) (Application); Center Pre-Licensing Checklist; Zoning and Code Compliance Letter; Authorization for Release of Personal History Information; Serious Injury and Illness Report; Sample Child Enrollment Form; Sample Child Care Contract; Sample Emergency Medical Treatment Release; Sample Medication Administration Permission Form and Medication Administration Record; Certificate of Immunization (per Maine Childcare Immunization Standards; on file within 30 days of admission, updated annually); Immunization Medical Exemption documentation (physician statement that immunization is medically inadvisable); Sample Health Care Consultant Agreement; Sample Accident / Incident Report; Provider (Parent) Handbook (required content under § 2(F)); Comprehensive Background Check request per 10-148 C.M.R. ch. 34 (Child Care Provider Background Check Licensing Rule), fingerprint-based, via OCFS Background Check Unit.

How long must Maine childcare centers keep enrollment forms on file?

Maine 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 Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS), Children's Licensing and Investigation Unit to confirm the exact retention schedule.

What happens if a Maine center is missing required child forms during an inspection?

Missing or incomplete required forms are a citable deficiency in a Maine childcare licensing inspection. Civil penalties under 10-148 C.M.R. ch. 32, § 21 and 22 M.R.S. § 7702-B: Operating a child care facility without a license - not less than $500 nor more than $10,000 per day, each day a separate violation (22 M.R.S. § 7702-B(3)); violations regarding child-to-staff ratios - not more than $500 per incident or $500 per number of children above the limit, or both (§ 21(B)(3)(b)); violations regarding records/disclosure - $500 per violation (§ 21(B)(3)(a)). The Department may also impose intermediate sanctions and may refuse to issue/renew, condition, suspend (including emergency suspension), or revoke a license, with appeal rights under § 21.

Does TotReady provide templates for Maine required forms?

TotReady's enrollment form tool and incident report tool generate Maine-ready documents pre-filled with the required fields. Visit /tools/enrollment-form and /tools/incident-report to get started.