Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 10:122-6.8
Parent and Community Participation

GEN (a) The center shall complete and maintain on file for each enrolledx "enrollment:early childhood" child a Children's Records Checklistx "Children's Records Checklist", signed by the director and designated by the Bureau, indicating that the center has obtained documentation of:

1. The child'sx "children's records:enrollment" name, address, birth date, and date of enrollmentx "enrollment application" \t "See children's records";

2. The name(s), home and work address(es), home and work telephone number(s) and signature(s) of the parentx "parent:address and phone number"(s);

3. The name(s), address(es), and telephone number(s) of any person(s) authorized by the parentx "parent:permission:release of child"(s) to visit the child at the center and/or take the child from the center, as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-6.5(a)1;

4. The name, address, and telephone number of the child's physicianx "physician:children's records";

5. Signed authorization from the parentx "parent:permission:emergency medical treatment"(s) for emergency medical treatment;

6. The parent'sx "parent:signature for Information to Parents document" signature attesting to the receipt of the Information to Parents documentx "Information to Parents document", as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-3.6(b); and

7. Health information for each child, as follows:

   i. For early childhood programsx "early childhood programs:health records", a record of the child's health examinationx "health examination" \t "See examination, medical" and immunizationsx "immunizations:record of child's", as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-7.3(a); or

   ii. For school-age child care programsx "school-age child care programs:health records", a record of the parent's statement concerning the child's health, as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-7.3(b).

(c) The center shall provide the parents of prospective enrollees the opportunity to visit the center to observe its operation and program activities, but may require that such visits are arranged in advance and at the convenience of the center director.

(d) Staff member(s) shall inform the parent(s) of enrolled children in advance of any field tripx "field trip:permission from parent"(s), outing(s), or special event(s) involving the transportation of children away from the center. The center shall inform parents whether a school busx "school bus", school vehicle or private passenger vehiclex "passenger vehicle" will be used, and whether the driver will be a staff member, a parentx "parent:drivers on field trips", or another person. Before taking a child on such a field trip, outing or special event, the center shall either:

1. Secure individual written consent slips signed by a parentx "parent:permission:field trips" for his or her child(ren) for each proposed field trip, outing or special event;

2. Post a notice of a proposed individual field trip, outing or special event in a place of prominence within the center, on which the parent shall be asked to sign consent for his or her child to attend; or

3. Issue to every parent a written schedule of all field trips, outings or special events to be taken during any given time frame (that is, weekly, monthly, yearly). A parent shall be asked to sign this schedule indicating his or her consent for any or all field trips, outings or special events listed.

1. Walks are within the center's neighborhood;

2. The center makes arrangements for the handling of visits or telephone calls from parentx "parent:visitation"s either by:

   i. Having someone remain at the center; or

   ii. Utilizing a telephonex "telephone" answering machine and posting a notice on the entrance door of the center to inform parents of the children's location;

3. The route of the walk involves no safety hazards; and

4. The walk involves no entrance into a facility unless the facility has been indicated on the blanket permission slip.

(g) The center should promote the involvement of representatives of the community to enhance the staff members' and the children's knowledge of community services, programs and resources.

EC (h) For early childhood programsx "early childhood programs:parent involvement", the following shall apply:

1. The center shall adopt at least one of the following options to ensure the participation of the parents of enrolled children in the activities and operations of the center:

   i. A governing boardx "governing board" responsible for approving, reviewing, and monitoring the center's policies, budget, staff recruitment and selection, physical environment, and program activities;

   ii. An advisory committeex "advisory committee" that offers advice and counsel to the center on its policies, staff recruitment and selection, physical environment, and program activities;

   iii. An annual meetingx "annual meeting" to which all parentx "parent:involvement in center operations"s and staff members are invited for the purpose of sharing goals, recommendations, and concerns. The center shall maintain on file a record of this meeting; or

   iv. An annual open housex "open house" to which parents are invited for the purpose of observing the program. The center shall maintain on file a record of the open house.

2. Centers choosing the options specified in either (h)1i or ii above shall maintain on file a listing of current members of the board or committee and documentation indicating that the board or committee is functioning. The board or committee shall:

   i. Offer at least one-third of its membership positions to parentx "parent:membership on center's board"s of enrolled children;

   ii. Include representatives from the civic, business, educational and/or child care communities; and

   iii. Meet at least quarterly during the center's operating year.

3. The center shall provide for the direct involvement of parents of enrolled children in the center's operation and activities by:

   i. Providing an opportunity for parents to volunteerx "volunteer staff" to help in the center's program; and

   ii. Holding individual parentx "parent:conferences"/staff conferences semi-annually and upon request of the parent and/or staff member(s) to discuss the child's needs and progress.

4. The center shall provide for the parents of each newly enrolled child an opportunity to attend an enrollmentx "enrollment:conference" conference, at which the center shall:

   i. Inform parents about the center's days and hours of operation;

   ii. Discuss the individual child's habits, dietary and sleep needs, activities, behavior and development, if applicable;

   iii. Discuss the center's policy on releasing children, toilet trainingx "toilet training:policy" children when applicable, and dispensing medicationx "medication:policy";

   iv. Discuss and distribute the center's policy on the management of communicable diseasex "communicable disease:policy", as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-7.11; and

   v. Discuss and distribute the Information to Parents documentx "Information to Parents document", as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-3.6(a).

1. Upon the child's enrollmentx "enrollment:school-age child care", the center shall:

   i. Inform parents about the center's days and hours of operation;

   ii. Ask parents to inform the center about the individual child's habits, dietary needs, activities, behavior and development, if applicable;

   iii. Inform parents about the center's policies on releasing children and dispensing medicationx "medication:policy";

   iv. Give parents a copy of the center's policy on the management of communicable diseasex "communicable disease:policy", as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-7.11;

   v. Give parentx "parent:Information to Parents document"s a copy of the Information to Parents documentx "Information to Parents document", as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-3.6(a); and

   vi. Inform parents about the center's policy for serving mealx "meals:school-age"s and snacks when the center is operating on days when the child's school is not in session, if applicable.

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