New School Readiness Requirements Child Care and Development Block Grant CCDBG Act of 2014 signed into law 111914 Reauthorizes Child Care and Development Fund CCDF program for first time since 1996 ID: 707902
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Child Care Regulation Updates
New School Readiness RequirementsSlide2
Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014 signed into law 11/19/14Reauthorizes Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program for first time since 1996
CCDF
is $5.3B block grant that gives funds to states to provide access to child care services; in Florida - School Readiness ProgramSource: ACF Office of Child Care
2
What is it?
CCDF ReauthorizationSlide3
Health and Safety Monitoring (School Readiness Providers)Annually conducted by licensing staffTraining Requirements
(School Readiness Providers)
Timeframes for completion of training (Pre-Service)Annual in-service trainingGroup Size and Staff-to-Child Ratio (School Readiness Providers)Establish Group Size and Staff to Child RatioBackground Screening (All Providers)New components used to determine qualification
New School Readiness RequirementsSlide4
Contracted to Participate in School Readiness with local ELC:Licensed Child Care FacilitiesLicensed Family Day Care Homes
Large Family Child Care Homes
Registered Family Day Care HomesReligious-Exempt Child Care FacilitiesNon-Public SchoolsPublic SchoolsInformal Child Care ProvidersOther exempt/non-licensed provider types4
Provider Types ImpactedSlide5
Any provider who accepts school readiness funds must allow the department or local licensing authority to perform inspections to verify compliance with health and safety standards established by Office of Early Learning (OEL.)
This applies to licensed and license-exempt
providers.5
Health and Safety MonitoringSlide6
Specific School Readiness templates have been issued for license exempt providers - Inspected Annually.
Licensed Providers
have additional standards added to current templates - Inspected Annually; Group Size, Training, Expulsion, and Emergency Prep Policies.Health and Safety standards have been adopted by OEL in rule.6
The InspectionSlide7
New School Readiness standards that were adopted in rule 6M-4.620, F.A.C. became effective on October 24, 2016.
Technical Assistance will be given on first visit.7Technical AssistanceSlide8
To access the new health and safety requirements visit the following link: https://www.flrules.org/gateway/RuleNo.asp?title=Office%20of%20Early%20Learning%20-%20School%20Readiness%20Program&ID=6M-4.620
8Technical AssistanceSlide9
Current providers whose School Readiness contract was signed on or before December 31, 2016 must achieve compliance with the standards according to the following sequential deadlines:
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Technical AssistanceSlide10
March 31, 2017 Pre-service training Requirements. -June 30, 2017 All other health and safety standards. -October 25, 2018 Active Credential Requirement related to group
size.
10Technical AssistanceSlide11
Pre-Service Training - Training must be completed within 90 days of the date of hire, with a program participating in the School Readiness program.
11
Pre-service TrainingSlide12
Training must be documented on the Department’s training transcript Or
the
‘Early Learning Florida’ transcript. 12Pre-service TrainingSlide13
This is referred to as pre-service training and personnel who have not completed all pre-service training requirements may not be allowed any unsupervised contact with, or care of children in a school readiness program
Due
March 31, 2017.13Pre-Service TrainingSlide14
This is referred to as pre-service training, and personnel in a LFCCH who have not completed all pre-service training requirements may not be allowed any unsupervised contact with or care of children in a school
readiness program
Due March 31, 2017.14Pre-service TrainingSlide15
Establishes a maximum number of children that can be in one classroom area.Group size does not apply during times of outdoor play, provided that ratios
and the
applicable square footage requirements are maintained at all times. 15
Group Sizes/RatiosSlide16
Prior to making changes to classroom set-up by adding stable walls/barriers to divide classroom space you are encouraged to reach out to your local fire department for guidance
and assistance
Due June 30, 2017.You must also have your Licensing Counselor come to re-measure the facility when changes are needed..16
Group SizeSlide17
Birth -12 months not to exceed 12 children1 y -24 months not to exceed 12 children2 y – 3 y not to exceed 22 children
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y – 4 y not to exceed 30 children4 y – 6 y not to exceed 40 children17Group SizeSlide18
• In groups of mixed age ranges, where children one year of age but under two years of age are included, the group size for the youngest population present applies.
• In groups of mixed age ranges, where children two years of age or older
are included, the group size for the majority population present applies.18Group SizeSlide19
Important! As the group size increases and requires additional staff to meet ratio, one staff must possess at a minimum an active credential. Due
October 25,
2018.19Group SizeSlide20
Group Size for FDCH and LFCCH – Establishes a maximum number of children that can be in one classroom area and
is the same as the ratio categories
required for licensing.Due June 30, 2017.20Group Size For FDCH and LFCCHSlide21
A maximum of four children from birth to 12 months of age.A
maximum of three children from birth to
12 months of age, and other children, for a maximum total of six children.A maximum of six preschool children if all are older than 12 months of age.A maximum of 10 children if no more than 5 are preschool age and, of those 5
, no more than 2 are under 12 months of age.
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Group Size For FDCH Slide22
A maximum of 8 children from birth to 24 months of age.• A maximum of 12 children, with no more than 4 children under 24 months of age.
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Group Size For LFCCHSlide23
Expulsion Policy - Each school readiness program must have written policies and procedures regarding discipline and expulsion
of
children in care. 23Expulsion PolicySlide24
A copy of the current policies must be available to the inspection authority to review.
24
Expulsion PolicySlide25
Verification that the program has provided the parent or guardian a written copy of the disciplinary and expulsion policies used by the program must be documented in the child’s file with the signature
of the custodial parent or legal guardian
Due June 30, 2017.25Expulsion PolicySlide26
Emergency Preparedness - The plan must facilitate parent/guardian reunification onsite and offsite.
26
Emergency PreparednessSlide27
The plan must include accommodations for infants and toddlers, if applicable.The plan must describe how the facility will meet the needs of all children, including children with special needs or with chronic medical conditions, during and following an emergency event
Due June
30, 2017.27Emergency PreparednessSlide28
The results of this inspection will be shared with the ELC as a component of the program’s School Readiness contract file. If you
have additional questions concerning the new rule changes you may contact
your licensing counselor or local licensing office.28Sharing Of The InspectionSlide29
29
BACKGROUND SCREENING
CHANGESSlide30
Requires state to conduct criminal background checks on all child care providers and their staff members.
Includes child care staff members who don’t care directly for children but have
access to children.Conducted at least every five years.Includes state criminal and sex offender registry and state child abuse and neglect registry in any state where staff member has resided over past five years.
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Criminal background checks…Slide31
Employment history checks must be completed for preceding 5 years.Search of criminal history records, sexual predator and sexual offender registry, and child abuse and neglect registry for any state in which the applicant resided in the past 5 years
All background screening for child care must go through the Clearinghouse.
This includes child care personnel working in programs within public and non-public schools, including before/after school programs31
Background ScreeningsSlide32
All child care personnel must be rescreened under the new law requirements by May 31, 2017:Child Care Program Office and the Background Screening unit created a public awareness campaign on the new law changes
From September 2016- May 2017, child care providers are to begin rescreening personnel hired prior to July 1, 2016
Technical Assistance will be provided during each inspection during that time periodBeginning June 2017, the Department will begin monitoring/enforcement for compliance32
Background ScreeningsSlide33
The Clearinghouse is a one-stop shop for screening. Advantages to using the clearinghouse include:Ability to share results of criminal history checks among the specified agencies.
Ability for current employers of the individual to view subsequent arrest information for employees with retained fingerprints
.Ability to track screenings from the time the screening request is initiated in the Clearinghouse until a determination is made.Provides email notification to the user regarding status updates to requests initiated.33
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide34
Providers need to establish a Clearinghouse account in order to:Initiate screenings/set up appointmentsView screening resultsMaintain employee roster (add/remove employees)
Receive important alerts
Cost Savings34Get Access!
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide35
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Clearinghouse Home Screen
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide36
Steps:Complete Search in the Clearinghouse prior to sending staff to live scan providerIf the individual is not found after a search, there is not prior screening in the Clearinghouse, select “Initiate Screening”
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Provider Process
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide37
37Search Screen
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide38
38
Initiate a New Screening
July 1, 2016 all screening must be processed through the Clearinghouse
Must
use LIVESCAN vendor that is Clearinghouse compatible
List all states where the individual has lived in the preceding 5 years
Maintain employee roster (must be updated within
10 days of a change)
Remove employee(s) from roster when employment ends
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide39
39
Appointment Request Form
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide40
If the individual has a profile already in the Clearinghouse, with a Clearinghouse screening available status (“Yes’) and a status of DCF Child Care Eligible, the individual does not have to go to a live scan vendor for fingerprinting again.
Just add the individual to your employee
roster.If the eligibility indicates an Agency Review is required select initiate agency review.If there has been a break in service of 90 days, select initiate resubmission.IMPORTANT: All Employees, Substitutes, volunteers, or household members must be immediately added to your roster
40Individual has a Profile
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide41
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Person Profile
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide42
All fingerprinting must occur through a Clearinghouse Compatible vendor. Check the listing in the Clearinghouse prior to initiating and scheduling an appointment with a vendor.
Fingerprinting
from a vendor that is not Clearinghouse compatible cannot be processed by DCF for the purposes of a clearance for child care employment.42
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Background Screening ClearinghouseSlide43
The Department’s Responsibility:Issue a determination of Eligible or Non Eligible for employment in Child Care based on federal and state criminal history recordsSearch the National Sex Offender Registry
Search Florida’s Child Abuse and Neglect Registry
Send a Letter to Employer advising of the search of Florida’s Child Abuse and Neglect Registry43New Elements
Background ScreeningSlide44
44
Child Abuse and Neglect Search
Background ScreeningSlide45
45Clearinghouse Screening Result
Background ScreeningSlide46
Employer/Provider/Operator Responsibility:Conduct an employment history check(s) for the last five years. Document attempts (dates, times, contact number or method) to contact each employer
At least three attempts must be made to obtain the reference
46New Elements
Background ScreeningSlide47
Employer/Provider/Operator Responsibility:If the employee lived outside of Florida in the preceding five years:Request State Criminal History Records from other states where the individual resided in the preceding five
years
Must send a request to each state requesting a search of the state’s child abuse and neglect registry for recordsMust check the applicants name on the sexual offender/predator website, for each state lived in for the past five years.47
New Elements
Background ScreeningSlide48
Background Screening- Maintain Documentation in Personnel file (on-site):Clearinghouse Background Screening Results Employment history checks and attempts for the five year period
Affidavit of Good Moral Character
Letter from the Department of the search of the Child Abuse and Neglect Registry searchDocumentation of search request and findings of the following:Out of State Child Abuse and Neglect SearchesOut of State Sexual Predator/Offender website Searches48
New Elements
Background ScreeningSlide49
Make a Plan to rescreen all child care personnel hired prior to July 1st, 2016 under the background screening requirements/ elementsOwners, operators, employees, substitutes, volunteers, and household members
Deadline May 2017
State must certify compliance49Employer/Provider/Operator :
MAKE A PLANSlide50
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Samantha Wass de Czege
Director, Office of Child Care Regulation
Department of Children and Families
Samantha.WassdeCzege@myflfamilies.com
850-717-4374
Background Screening and Child Care Training Information Center
Help Desk
1-888-352-2842
www.dcf.state.fl.us/programs/backgroundscreening/
Katerina Maroney
Supervisor, School Readiness Policy
Office of Early Learning
OELquestions@oel.myflorida.com
850-717-8550
Molly Grant
Project Manager, School Readiness
Office of Early Learning
Molly.Grant@oel.myflorida.com
850-717-8550
Questions?