|
Ohio
Legislators Propose Regulation to Increase Safety of Children
4C supports new bills
to extend licensing to home-based child care businesses
COLUMBUS,
OH (Sept. 26, 2008) —Legislation
to ensure greater safety for children cared for outside of their
homes was introduced Sept. 25 at a press conference at the State
House in Columbus by State Senator Steve Stivers (R-Columbus)
and State Representative Jon Peterson (R-Delaware). They are sponsoring
legislation that will require licensing of anyone using his or
her home to care for three or more unrelated children for pay.
Ohio is one
of only five states that does not require this level of licensing.
Ohio law currently requires only those who care for seven or more
children to be licensed.
“This
new legislation will provide many important benefits,” says
Elaine Ward, chief operating officer of 4C for Children. “The
biggest benefit is that it will help keep young children safe
by requiring basic health and safety standards, criminal background
checks and training.” 4C for Children is the child care
resource and referral agency for 23 counties in Southwest Ohio,
the Miami Valley and Northern Kentucky.
“Most
parents assume that these basic safety features are already in
place,” says Ward, based on a survey done for the Child
Care Home Business Work Group, a statewide group formed four years
ago to make recommendations to protect the health and safety of
children in care and to improve the quality of child care.
“This
legislation is greatly needed,” says Ward, who has been
a member of this statewide group since its inception in 2003 and
who has worked at 4C for 20 years, “People providing
child care as a business need to meet basic standards and have
basic training in the care of children. This legislation will
truly make a difference in the lives of children in Ohio.”
“In
Ohio a person cannot run a dog kennel without a license but can
care for up to six unrelated children for money without having
to notify anyone,” points out Diane Bennett, executive director
of Action for Children, the Columbus-area child care resource
and referral agency that has led this licensure effort.
Proponents
of this new licensing effort expect that, with strong bipartisan
support, these bills will move forward in October.
Who will
be affected if the new legislation passes:
- All home–based
child care business caring for three or more unrelated children.
- All adults
(18 and older) living on the premises where such a business
is located. (They will now have to undergo criminal background
checks.)
- All child
care consumers who will have greater assurance that providers
meet minimum standards for health and safety.
Who will
not be affected:
- Family
members caring for related children.
- Those
caring for fewer than three unrelated children.
- Those
who do not accept payment.
- Babysitters,
nannies or au pairs coming to a child’s home.
- Those
providing care for less than 10 hours per week for less than
four weeks per year
|
