Originally Posted by gracepatiencelove:
Thank you!
What is HTH?
HTH means hope that helps!
If you would like for me to e-mail you my parent handbook I would be more than happy to do so. Just private message me your e-mail address and I will send it on over.
You will need a parent handbook before opening. For me, it really helps to have all of the rules in writing. When an issue comes up I can briefly touch on it and reference the parent to a page number for additional information.
My contract includes who I am caring for, what day they will begin, what meals are included, when they are paying (bi-weekly or monthly), what the fee is, when it is due by (it states in advance on or before the due date), what the penalty charge will be for not paying it on time, the times the children will be in care between and the days, the fee for care outside of business hours ($1.00 per minute, although I DO offer early day and extended day care these are not on this contract. I draw up a separate contract for those that pay a fee to have their child here an extra hour in the evening. The $1.00 a minute is a late charge.), and how many weeks notice they will give prior to leaving (2).
It has a place for their signature and my own.
I also have them sign a parent handbook agreement, they fill out an enrollment form, sign a sheet stating what our discipline and guidance policy is, fill out a health form, and they fill out a child assessment form that tells me more about their child.
Your state will likely require certain forms and you can add in your own.
I found this for West Virginia:
http://nrckids.org/index.cfm/resourc...a-regulations/
It has a packet of licensing requirements. I am seeing the option to be licensed or registered.
This is from the licensed packet:
Originally Posted by :
4.1.a. Any family child care facility that operates in West Virginia shall apply for and obtain a certificate of license from the Secretary before beginning operations and accepting children for care.
§78-18-5. Inspection and Investigation.
5.1. Before issuing a certificate of license, the Secretary shall investigate the facility, its proposed program, and any persons responsible for the custody and care of children placed in that facility. This investigation shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
5.1.a. An evaluation of a facility’s proposed services and the facility’s ability to maintain compliance with this rule; and
5.1.b. A review of information including background checks, medical records, character and financial resources of the applicant, owners, employees, and other household members.
5.2. A facility shall cooperate in the investigation of complaints against the facility including submission of items such as health or psychological examinations, and other third party verifications.
This is from the registered packet:
http://nrckids.org/default/assets/Fi..._19%2C2012.pdf
Originally Posted by :
4.1. Application for Registration.
4.1.a. Initial. The Department shall issue an initial certificate of registration to a family child care home upon application and self-certification of compliance with this rule.
4.3. Departmental Action on Applications for Registration.
4.3.a. Within sixty (60) days of receipt of an application for certificate of registration, the Secretary shall provide a written decision to the family child care home that does one of the following:
4.3.a.1. Issues a regular certificate of registration if the family child care home certifies compliance with all of the requirements of this rule;
4.3.a.2. Issues a provisional certificate of registration if the family child care home is temporarily unable to certify compliance with all of the requirements of this rule; or
4.3.a.3. Denies a certification of registration if the family child care home does not certify substantial compliance with all of the requirements of this rule.
I do not provide back up care. I have a list of paid closings (both vacation and holidays that total 16 days) and it discusses that other closings will be unpaid and credited back to their account. If I became severely ill that morning I would call and close immediately. You can't predict when you will be deathly ill and it would be unreasonable to assume you could.
I pay in quarterly taxes. I send in about 20% of my income. If you look in the tax forum you will find a lot of information! Tom Copeland is wonderful.
Tag searches are a GREAT way to obtain information around here. Type in something like "parent handbook" or "quarterly taxes" and you are bound to pull up an abundance of useful threads.
https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php
I was a real softie when I started out. I wanted to accommodate everyone and make a good name for myself. I quickly realized, especially with the help of this forum, that not having a backbone meant I got walked all over. I am still nice, but I am professional. This is my business and I do not allow the families to dictate the rules to me. I create the rules, they are reviewed prior to enrollment, and the family decides if they can abide by them or not. I usually get "tested" on my rules by clients at some point and I don't waiver anymore nor am I apologetic about the policies that are in place that they agreed to abide by. Friendly but professional has gotten me a lot more respect and allowed my love for this job to return. No one has ever left because I have used my backbone like I assumed they would so be confident in the policies you create!