4C
to support providers as new Kentucky regulations take effect July
1
(May,
2008) Kentucky is rolling out new child care regulations
in July, and 4C is ready to help providers meet these new quality
standards. The licensing changes are the direct result of a 2007
report from the National Association of Child Care Resource &
Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) that ranked Kentucky near the bottom
of the list because of its inadequate minimum state requirements
for child care programs.
Following
the report, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services
took immediate action and revised state child care regulations.
The new licensing requirements go into effect July 1, with implementation
checks beginning this fall.
Changes to licensing
regulations include:
- Providers
must have a high school diploma or GED.
- Required
professional development hours have been increased to 15 for type
I centers and to nine for certified family child care.
- A planned
program of activities must be posted.
- Staff-to-child
ratios must be posted.
- Daily schedules
must be posted.
- Directors
are required to provide annual written staff evaluations.
- Criminal
background checks will include previous state of residence (if
within five years).
- Infants must
only be laid on their backs for sleeping.
- Cribs must
meet Consumer Product Safety requirements.
For a full list of the new regulations, visit the Division of Regulated
Child Care Web site at
http://chfs.ky.gov/oig/drcc.htm.
"We are thankful 4C has a close relationship with state
licensing," says Laura Heuser, director of 4C Northern Kentucky.
"We are offering our expertise to help Kentucky child care
providers meet the new quality standards." She reports that
4C has been called upon to train on the new rules alongside state
surveyors and she looks forward to being a "resource to guide
providers through the process."
Training
modules are currently being developed to assist providers with these
updates.
For more information and for help implementing changes, call 4C
Northern Kentucky at 859-781-3511 or visit ww.4CforChildren.org.
This
article originally appeared in the Spring 2008 Circle of Friends
newsletter
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