Caregivers: Must be at least 18 years old and hold a high school diploma or GED or have a CDA credential or have 3 years prior experience caring for children who are under 13 years of age and who are not related to the caregiver.
|
| Age Range |
Ratios for Center
Based Care in Mississippi |
| 0 - 9 months |
(1:5) 10 Max |
| 18 months |
(1:9) 10 Max |
| 27 months |
(1:12) 10 Max |
| 3 years |
(1:14) 14 Max |
| 4 years |
(1:16) 20 Max |
| 5- 9 Years |
(1:20) 20 Max |
| 10 years and older |
(1:20) 25 Max |
| Mixed age group |
ratio for youngest child in group |
| Age Range |
Ratios for Large Family
Care in Mississippi |
| Number of Children Allowed: |
13 or more |
| Ratio of Children to 1 Provider: |
5:1 for younger than 1 year; 9:1 for 1 year;
12:1 for 2 years; 14:1 for 3 years; 16:1 for 4 years; 20:1 for
5-9 years; 25:1 for 10-12 years |
| Age Range |
Ratios for Small Family
Care in Mississippi |
| Number of Children Allowed: |
6-12 |
| Ratio of Children to 1 Provider: |
4:1 for younger than 1 year; 8:1 for 1 year;
12:1 for 2 years; 14:1 for 3 years; 16:1 for 4 years; 20:1 for
5-9 years; 25:1 for 10-12 years |
In Home Care
An in-home caregiver is someone who comes to, or lives in, your
home. The caregiver can be a relative or a friend or can also
be someone you pay to come to your home. If you have three or
more children needing care, in-home care may be less expensive
than other kinds of care. It can also save you from the worry
of getting several children, all with different schedules, to
and from a day care arrangement outside your home. You may
also want to use in-home care if your child needs special care
because of a physical, mental or emotional problem; if you need
care for an infant or toddler, or care for a child at night;
if you need only after-school care. You should know, however,
that in-home care can be costly, especially if you have only
one or two children and are paying someone for full-time care.
In interviewing in-home caregivers, you'll want to find out
about their training and experience, their attitude toward children,
and their ability to handle children who disobey.
|
Family Day Care
This kind of day care is provided in the home of the caregiver,
who is often a mother with children of her own. You may find a
relative, friend or neighbor who is willing to care for your child
in this way. Or you may find a family day care home run by someone
you do not already know. Family day care can be a good arrangement:
if you are a single parent raising a child alone; if you live
in a rural area where family day care is likely to be the easiest
to find; if you have only one or two children needing care;
if you have a school-age child.
Keep in mind that a family day care provider may go out of
business or stop caring for children at any time. And because
many of these homes are not inspected or licensed by local or
State agencies, it will be up to you to make sure that adequate
health and safety standards are met. |
Center Based
Care
Day care centers are established settings where children are cared
for in a group away from their homes for all or part of the day.
There are many different kinds of center-based care, including
nursery schools, preschools, and parent cooperatives. Some of
these centers are set up primarily to keep children safe and secure;
others are designed to prepare children for their school years.
Center-based care is most frequently available in a town or city.
Many day care centers have an organized program of activities
to help children learn. Some centers follow a formal plan, perhaps
one developed by a well-known educator. Others use a more informal
program based on their day-to-day experience working with children.
You may be interested in center-based care: if you want to
keep your child in the same day care setting for an extended
period; if your child needs special care because of a physical
or mental handicap or an emotional problem; if you want certain
educational or religious activities for your child.
Keep in mind that center-based care may not provide the "home"
atmosphere some children like. Your child may not be comfortable
in a large group for a major part of each day.
In considering a particular day care center, check out the
facilities available, the qualifications of the staff, and the
number of children cared for by each caregiver (the "child/staff
ratio"). Talk to the director to make sure the center's
program has the approach you like and includes the kinds of
activities you want for your child. |
 |
Child
Care Licensing Agency
Mississippi State Department of Health
Child Care Facilities Licensure
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Phone: (601) 364-2827
Toll Free: 866-489-8734 (complaint line)
Fax: (601) 576-7813
Mississippi
Daycare Listings
|
Child
Care Subsidy Agency
Mississippi
Department of Human Services
Office for Children and Youth
750 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39202
Phone: (601) 359-4555
Toll Free: (800) 877-7882
Fax: (601) 359-4422 |
Head
Start - State Collaboration Office
Office of the Governor
501 North West St., 15th Floor
PO Box 139
Jackson, MS, 39205
Phone: (601) 576-2021
Fax: (601) 576-2791 |
Child
Care Food Program Agency
Bureau
of Child Nutrition
State Department of Education
500 Greymont Avenue, Suite F
Post Office Box 771
Jackson, Mississippi 39205-0771
Phone: (601) 354-7015
Fax: (601) 354-7595 |
State
Child Care Resource & Referral Contact
Mississippi Child Care Resource and Referral
Network
School of Human Sciences
Box 9745
Mississippi State, MS 39762
Phone: (662) 325-3083
Fax: (662) 325-1805
|
Office
of Child Support Enforcement
Division of Child Support Enforcement
Department of Human Services
750 North State Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39202
Phone: (800) 434-5437
Fax: (601) 359-4415 |
Child Abuse Reporting Hotline
To report suspected child abuse in Mississippi, call Toll-Free: (800)
222-8000 or Local (toll): (601) 359-4991.
For national child abuse information, call the Childhelp®, 800-4-A-CHILD
(800-422-4453), or your local CPS agency. |
Safety
and Health
Child care settings should offer a variety of activities for your
child, both alone and with other children. Activities and their setting
must be designed for safety.
What kind of playground is available? Look for fences around outdoor
areas and well-constructed equipment with soft landing places made
of sand or wood chips under swings and slides.
Emergencies: are poison control and ambulance phone numbers clearly
posted?
Are there smoke alarms throughout the building?
Are the toys kept clean? Washable toys should be washed every day
with a disinfectant cleaner.
Does the staff regularly clean all surfaces with a disinfectant?
Children and adults should wash their hands before eating, after touching
their mouths and noses, and after toileting. The staff should wash
before feeding, handling food, diapering, and washing surfaces. Hand
washing is the most important line of defense against the spread of
infectious disease.
Are the children protected from strangers? Clearly establish with
the caregiver the identity of the parent or guardian responsible for
picking up the child. |
Activities
and Environment
Look at the child care program from the perspective of your child:
Are there plenty of toys, games, and arts and crafts material?
Are the toys and materials easy to see and reach?
Is the center bright and cheerful?
Are the children there absorbed in what they are doing? Listen for
the sounds of children talking and playing. Do they sound happy?
Are adults talking to the children respectfully, encouraging them
to ask questions and express themselves?
Are the caregivers talking to, singing to, and holding infants? Do
they move to the floor to play with toddlers and preschoolers?
Are the caregivers helping school age children develop skills, talents
and creativity?
What are the center's policies on discipline?
Does the center keep its policies in writing? |
