Staff

Staff. (1) Definition. In this section, the “Wisconsin Registry” means a brand of The Registry, Inc., a professional development recognition agency. (2) Staff records. A licensee shall maintain a file for each provider, employee, volunteer, or substitute and shall make the file immediately available for review by a licensing representative at the center. The file shall contain all of the following: (a) The employee’s name, address, date of birth, education, position, previous work experience in child care, including the reason for leaving previous positions, and the name, address, and telephone numbers of persons to be notified in an emergency. (b) Documentation from the department, either paper or electronic, that indicates that a child care background check was completed in compliance with the timelines and requirements specified in s. 48.686 , Stats., and ch. DCF 13 , and the person is eligible to work in a child care program. (c) Documentation of the actual hours a provider, substitute, employee, or volunteer worked if the hours were used to meet the applicable staff-to-child ratio under Table DCF 250.055. (d) 1. Except as provided under subd. 2. , a physical examination report completed within 12 months before or 30 days after the person became licensed or began working with children in care. The physical examination report may be a printout of an electronic record from a medical professional or on a form provided by the department. The report shall be dated and signed by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, or other EPSDT provider and shall indicate all of the following: a. The person is free from illness detrimental to children, including tuberculosis. b. The person is physically able to work with young children. 2. The health examination requirement under subd. 1. does not apply to a provider who requests an exemption from subd. 1. based on the provider’s adherence to religious belief in exclusive use of prayer or spiritual means for healing in accordance with a bona fide religious sect or denomination. (e) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2. , a certificate from the Wisconsin Registry that indicates the person is qualified for the position the later of 6 months after becoming licensed or beginning to work with children in care. 2. a. A person is exempt from the requirement under subd. 1. if the person has been licensed or provided care for children in licensed child care continuously since December 31, 2008, including any combination of licensure or employment in a family child care center licensed under this chapter, a group child care center licensed under ch. DCF 251 , or a day camp licensed under ch. DCF 252 . b. A substitute is not required to have a certificate from the Wisconsin Registry until the substitute has worked for 240 cumulative hours. (f) Documentation of compliance with continuing education requirements under sub. (4) (c) . (g) Documentation of compliance with orientation requirements under sub. (4) (a) . (3) Qualifications of staff. (a) A provider shall meet all of the following conditions: 1. Be physically, mentally, and emotionally able to provide responsible care to all children, including children with disabilities. 2. Be at least 18 years of age. (b) Before receiving a license or beginning to work with children in care, a licensee or provider shall satisfactorily complete one of the following: 1. All of the following: a. Three credits in early childhood education or a department-approved, non-credit course in early childhood education. b. A noncredit, department-approved course in operating a child care business or 2 credits in business or program administration. A person is exempt from this requirement if the person has been licensed or provided care for children in regulated child care continuously since December 31, 2008, including any combination of licensure under s. 48.65 , Stats., certification under s. 48.651 , Stats., or employment in a licensed child care center or for a certified child care operator. 2. The Registry Family Child Care Credential. 3. A child development associate credential in family child care issued by the Council for Professional Recognition. (c) A substitute or volunteer that is used to meet the required staff-to-child ratio shall meet the training requirements specified in par. (b) after the substitute or volunteer has worked in the center for 240 hours. (cm) A volunteer that is used to meet the required staff-to-child ratios under s. DCF 250.055 shall be at least 18 years of age. (d) If more than one provider is needed to meet the required staff-to-child ratio, each additional provider shall meet the training requirements in par. (b) within 6 months of beginning to work with children in care. (e) 1. Within 3 months after licensure or date of hire, each licensee and provider shall obtain a certificate of completion for a department-approved course in infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation, including training in the use of an automated external defibrillator. 2. Each licensee and provider shall maintain a current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification as specified under subd. 1. 3. The time spent obtaining or renewing cardiopulmonary resuscitation training may be counted towards the required continuing education hours under sub. (4) (c) . (f) Each licensee and provider shall have satisfactorily completed at least 10 hours of department-approved training in the care of infants and toddlers within 6 months after becoming licensed or working with children in care under 2 years of age. (fm) Prior to working with children in care and at least every 2 years thereafter, each provider and substitute shall complete training in all of the following: 1. Child abuse and neglect laws. 2. How to identify children who have been abused or neglected. 3. The procedure for ensuring that all known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect are immediately reported to the proper authorities. (g) Prior to obtaining a license or working with children in care under 5 years of age, a licensee, provider, substitute, volunteer, emergency back-up, or any other person providing care and supervision shall satisfactorily complete department-approved training in shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing, or distraught children. (gm) A program aide shall meet all of the following conditions: 1. Be at least 16 years old. 2. Work under the direction and supervision of a child care provider. 3. Satisfactorily complete at least one of the following no later than 6 months after assuming the position: a. An assistant child care teacher training program approved by the Wisconsin department of public instruction. b. A noncredit department-approved course on early childhood education. 4. A program aide may not be counted in the required staff-to-child ratios under Table DCF 250.055. (h) No person or agency may offer non-credit child care training as specified in this subsection unless the person or agency and the course have been approved by the department. The department may at any time withdraw its approval of a non-credit course. Instructors of non-credit department-approved courses shall be approved by the department prior to teaching a course. (4) Staff development. (a) Orientation of employees, volunteers, and substitutes. Each employee, volunteer, or substitute shall receive an orientation before the individual begins to work with children in care. The orientation shall be documented on a form initialed and dated by the staff person and trainer. The orientation shall cover all of the following: 1. The names and ages of all the children in care.