Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 10:122-6.5
Policy on the Release of Children

GEN (a) The center shall maintain on file and follow a written policy on the release of childrenx "release of children:policy", which shall include:

1. The provision that each child may be releasedx "release of children:to authorized persons" only to the child's parentx "parent:permission:release of child"(s) or person(s) authorized by the parent(s), as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-6.8(a)2, to take the child from the center and to assume responsibility for the child in an emergency if the parent(s) cannot be reached;

2. The provision that, if a particular non-custodial parentx "parent:non-custodial, access to child" has been denied access, or granted limited access, to the child by a court order, the center shall secure documentation to this effect, maintain a copy on file, and comply with the terms of the court order;

3. Written procedures to be followed by staff member(s) if the parentx "parent:failure to pick up child at closing time"(s) or person(s) authorized by the parent(s), as specified in (a)1 above, fails to pick up a child at the time of the center's daily closing. The procedures shall require that:

   i. The child is supervised at all times;

   ii. Staff members attempt to contact the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the parents; and

   iii. An hour or more after closing time, and provided that other arrangements for releasing the child to his or her parent(s) or authorized person(s) have failed and the staff member(s) cannot continue to supervise the child at the center, the staff member shall call the Divisionx "Division of Youth and Family Services:reporting parent failure to pick up child to"'s 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline to seek assistance in caring for the child until the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the child's parent(s) is able to pick up the child; and

4. Written procedures to be followed by a staff member(s) if the parentx "parent:impaired"(s) or person(s) authorized by the parent(s), as specified in (a)1 above, appear to be physically and/or emotionally impaired to the extent that, in the judgment of the director and/or staff member, the child would be placed at risk of harm if released to such an individual. The procedures shall require that:

   i. The child shall not be released to such an impaired individual;

   ii. Staff members attempt to contact the child's other parent or an alternative person(s) authorized by the parent(s); and

   iii. If the center is unable to make alternative arrangements, as noted in (a)3ii above, a staff member shall call the Division's 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline to seek assistance in caring for the child.

1. No child shall be releasedx "release of children:unsupervised" from the program unsupervised except upon written instruction from the child's parentx "parent:permission:release of child".

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