Standards for family child care and in-home child care

Standards for family child care and in-home child care. (1) Qualifications of providers. (a) Ability, age and health. 1. A provider shall be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to provide responsible child care and shall be at least 18 years of age. 2. Each child care operator shall demonstrate that the operator is free from tuberculosis prior to initial certification. Each provider shall demonstrate that he or she is free from tuberculosis prior to the date the provider begins working with children in care. The certification agency may accept the results of a test administered up to 12 months before the certification date or the date the person began to work with children in care. (b) Training. 1. Training in the most current medically accepted methods for reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome is required as follows: a. Prior to certification for each child care operator. b. Prior to beginning to work with children in care for each provider, including volunteers, substitutes, and emergency back-up providers, or any other person who provides care and supervision for children under one year of age. 2. Department-approved training on shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing, or distraught children is required, as follows: a. Prior to certification for each child care operator. b. Prior to beginning to work with children in care for each provider, including volunteers, substitutes, and emergency back-up providers, or any other person who provides care and supervision for children under 5 years of age. 3. Each certified child care operator and each provider shall comply with s. 48.651 (1d) (b) , Stats., and successfully complete all of the following training by the applicable date specified in subd. 4. : a. At least 2 credits in early childhood education or a department-approved non-credit course in caring for children. b. A department-approved non-credit course in operating a child care business or a course for credit in business or program administration. c. Training in child abuse and neglect laws and identifying, documenting, and reporting child abuse and neglect. d. Obtain and recertify as necessary to maintain current certification in infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The CPR training must result in a certificate of completion. If the certificate of completion does not have a date specifying the length of time for which it is valid, the CPR training must be renewed every year. Time spent renewing cardiopulmonary resuscitation may be counted towards the required continuing education hours under subd. 5. 4. a. A regular child care operator shall complete department-approved preservice training under subd. 3. prior to the certification agency granting regular certification. b. A provisional certified child care operator shall complete department-approved preservice training under subd. 3. within 3 months after provisional certification. c. A provider working in a regular or provisional certified child care program shall successfully complete department-approved preservice training under subd. 3. by 3 months after work commencing. d. A substitute shall complete the training specified in subd. 1. and 2. but need not meet requirements under subd. 3. until the substitute has worked for 240 cumulative hours. 5. After completion of preservice training under subd. 3. , a child care provider shall receive and document receiving at least 5 hours of qualifying continuing education annually. Continuing education qualifies under this subdivision if it covers any of the following: a. Prevention and control of infectious diseases. b. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices. c. Administration of medications, consistent with parental consent. d. Prevention of and response to emergencies due to allergic reactions to food or other allergens. e. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from electrical hazards, bodies of water, vehicular traffic, and other hazards that can cause bodily injury. f. Prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma. g. Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from natural disaster or human-caused events. h. Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants. In this subd. 5. h. , “biocontaminants” includes blood, body fluids, or excretions that may spread infectious disease. i. Transportation safety, if appropriate. j. First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. k. Identification and reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect. L. Caring for children with disabilities. m. Nutrition. n. Other topics that promote child development or protect children’s health and safety. 6. Continuing education hours completed in excess of the 5 hour requirement in subd. 5. may be used to meet the continuing education requirement for the following year. (1m) General conditions of approval and operational requirements. (a) Administration. 1. A certified child care operator shall be a responsible, mature individual who is fit and qualified. In determining whether an applicant is fit and qualified, the certification agency shall consider qualifications under sub. (1) and any information listed under s. DCF 202.02 (7m) by the applicant, operator, household member, or other individual directly or indirectly participating in the operation of the certified child care. 2. Prior to receiving or continuing certification, an applicant or operator shall complete all application forms truthfully and accurately and pay all fees that are due to the certification agency or to the department. 3. A certified child care operator shall ensure that any action, by commission or omission, or any condition or occurrence relating to the operation or maintenance of the child care premises does not adversely affect the health, safety, or welfare of any child in care. 4. A certified child care operator shall comply with all laws governing the certified child care program and its operation, including s. 48.686 , Stats., and ch. DCF 13 and ensure that all employees and volunteers comply with these laws. 5. A certified child care operator shall comply with all requirements in this chapter and ch. DCF 13 and with any conditions or restrictions placed on the certification. 6. A certified child care operator shall include in its personnel or operating policies a provision that requires a provider to notify the child care operator as soon as possible, but no later than the child care program’s next working day, of the reporting requirements under par. (b) 5. to 7. 7. A certified child care operator shall ensure all information provided to the certification agency and the department is current and accurate. 8. A certified child care operator shall maintain a current written record on each child in care, including the provider’s own children under 7 years of age, and make the record available to a child care certification worker upon request. 9. A certified child care operator shall permit a child care certification worker to have unrestricted access to the premises, including access to children served, child records, and any other materials related to compliance under this chapter. 10. A certified child care operator shall comply with all of the following conditions of the operator’s certification: a. The number of children in care at any time may not exceed the number specified. b. The age of the children in care may not be younger or older than the age range specified. c. The hours, days and months of operation may not exceed those specified. Care provided in excess of the specified hours is unregulated. d. The certification is non-transferrable, is granted only to the designated operator, and is limited to the stated location. (b) Reports. A certified child care operator shall report all of the following to the certification agency as soon as possible, but no later than the certification agency’s next working day: 1. An accident or incident that occurs while a child is in care of a provider resulting in an injury requiring professional medical evaluation. 2. The death of a child in care of a provider. 3. Any damage to the premises that may affect compliance with this chapter, or any incident at the premises that results in the loss of utility service.