View Single Post
Cat Herder 12:49 PM 08-21-2020
Originally Posted by e.j.:
This policy, as typed, makes sense to me.
In my state, it's not just staff that has to have background checks. All family members over 13 years of age who live in the house have to undergo a background check and fingerprinting each time I relicense, whether they have contact with the kids or not. My husband and adult kids work during the hours my day care is operating. They pretty much have zero contact with the dc kids. I'm paying an extra $105 (plus my own $35) this year to have them all fingerprinted. On the very rare day they aren't at work while I'm watching kids, they're either sick and in bed upstairs or have an appointment of some kind and are out of the house. The last thing any of them want to do is spend time with my dc kids.

CH: Exactly. My adult kids and husband are all fingerprinted. My kids because they may need to be here for a power outage in their apartments in winter or a quick load of laundry in a time pinch with crowded laundro-mats. My husband is background checked and completes the mandatory training each year so he can cover my DR. Appointments. This one I fully understand.


Most of this makes sense to me, too. Sad they feel as though they have to spell it out but I'm sure they've run into situations where providers are physically present but not paying attention to the kids in their care.

The regulation in my state is that we have to be able to see OR hear the kids at all times which makes more sense to me. I'd never be able to use the bathroom without bringing the kids in with me if I had to be able to see them at all times. I understand the importance of active supervision but there are times when nature calls and being able to hear the kids seems sufficient for those couple of minutes when I can't see them.

CH: See or hear is how I currently operate and I have never had an injury (bang on wood) operating like this. I don't want them at the stove or in the bathroom with me. I don't want to take the infants with the toddlers to potty. It isn't safe. Currently I put infants in their cribs and behind gate completely out of reach of others. The others are behind a baby gate and in their own childproofed playroom. It has worked for over 20 years, why the change now??


Crazy. I wouldn't be able to do that easily. If I'm sitting, it's usually only because I have a child who is too young to feed himself. Otherwise, I'm up and busy getting kids seconds, wiping ups spills, etc. I have a rectangular table the kids eat at. I couldn't literally be within arms reach of EVERY child sitting at the table unless one or two were sitting in the middle of it. If a child were to start choking, I'm certainly close enough to help in an instant.

CH: I don't know how I am going to make this work at all. I currently stand at the kitchen island standing with them while toddlers are all seated at the table 2 feet from me and infants high chairs are beside me. Again, it works and I have had no issues with this setup. The food is on the island for seconds and thirds if wanted...


?? As a family child care provider, are they saying you have to have standby staff to call on in case of an emergency? Here, I can call on a neighbor or friend for help in a true emergency. Under your state guidelines, they wouldn't be able to help because "at least one staff person with a satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination shall supervise Children at all times" - unless they agreed to undergo the check on the off chance you needed their help at some point. Would this regulation force you to pay someone to be "on staff" just in case you have an emergency?
I am unsure about the last part. I am covered 90% of the time if that is what they mean. I don't know how most would do it, though.
Reply