Blog for 9-27-08

The new Article 47, NYC Regulations for Child Care services, that went into effect on September 1,2008 has significantly expanded the training requirements for child care center staff. According to guidance from DOHMH, Section 47.37 is modeled on the child care staff training requirements of the NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS).

Initial and ongoing in-service training of child care center staff is now the responsibility of the Educational Director in each center. Through my contacts at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, I have learned that certain trainers will have to be approved by DOHMH and/or certified by the state. So when hiring a training consultant you should seek the advice of your DOHMH Education Consultant to make sure that the trainer’s credentials meet qualifications.

Minimum training in child abuse and maltreatment recognition and prevention is required for all staff. Teaching staff is required to receive training in infection control and reporting infectious diseases.

In addition to child abuse and maltreatment prevention, Infant/Toddler and Night Care service staff is required to complete sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and “shaken baby” identification and prevention training.

In addition to child abuse and maltreatment prevention , Assistant Teachers shall receive 15 hours of training every 24 months in various subjects related to child health and safety and early childhood development.

The Educational Director shall develop a training curriculum based on the assessment of the professional development needs of individual assistant teachers. The curriculum should include, but is not limited to the following topics:

a) preventing, recognizing signs of, and reporting injuries, infectious diseases, other illnesses and medical conditions, b) first aid and CPR, c) Lead poisoning prevention, d) Physical activities, scheduling and conducting guided and structured physical activity, e) Asthma prevention and management, f)Setting up and maintaining staff and child health records including immunizations, g) Growth and child development, (i) Early intervention, (ii) Early childhood education curriculum development and appropriate activity planning, (iii) Appropriate supervision of children, (iv) Meeting the needs of children with physical or emotional challenges, (v) Behavior management and discipline, (vi) Meeting nutritional needs of young children, (vii) Parent, staff, and volunteer communication and orientation: roles and responsibility, (viii)The selection of appropriate and classroom arrangement, (ix) Safety and security procedures for fire safety, emergency evacuation, playgrounds, trips and transportation.

The DOHMH and OCFS have begun a train the trainer initiative that will greatly expand the number of trainers available to do this work.

Become a premium member of www.ccbcny.com and we will keep you informed about training resources. For comprehensive information about the new child care regulations go to
www.nyc.gov/html/doh

Group Child Care Regulations in NYC

Effective today, September 1, 2008 the recently reenacted Article 47 of the New York City Health Code will guide the regulation and operation of group child care programs in New York City. The changes in the code reflect an update on how the various modalities of child care services are delivered in NYC and several changes in the process for program operators to obtain or re-new their license or operating permit.

It is important for every child care business owner to thoroughly know and understand the regulations for operating a safe and quality child care business. Throughout September and October we will use this blog to discuss the highlights of changes to the DOHMH child care regulations.

Child Care services are, and should be, highly regulated. Pre-school age children in group settings without their parents are totally dependent upon the preparation, planning and best judgment of their care givers. Over time regulators have used experience, observation, anecdotal information, and sadly, the results of tragedies to determine staffing ratios and operating procedures that will best protect young children when things are going as planned, as well as when something out of the ordinary happens. According to 47:23 of the regulations, the minimum ratio of staff to children and group size is as follows:

For children under 12 months old the adult/child ratio is one adult for every 4 children (1:4) or (1:3) with no more than 8 children per group; For children 12 to 24 months , the adult/child ratio is one adult to five children (1:5) with the group size limited to 10 children. The ratio for children 2 years to under 3 years is one adult to every 6 children (1:6) with the group size limited to 12 children. The adult/child ratio for children 3 years old to under 4 is 1adult to every 10 children (1:10) with the group size limited to 15 children. For children 4 years to under 5, the adult/child ratio is one adult for every 12 children, with group size limited to 20 children. And finally for children 5 years old to under 6 years old the adult/child ratio is one adult to every 15 children (1:15) with the group size limited to 25 children.

Basically there was no change in the regulations for staff/child ratios and group size except in the case of children under 12 months of age. When the staff/child ratio in 1:4 the program must demonstrate that it has enough staff on the premises to bring the ratio to 1:3 in case of an emergency.

Of course there are other considerations that affect the number of children allowed in a group and the maximum group size. You will be guided through these issues by the DOHMH consultant assigned to your program.

The staffing ratio and group size allows for each child to be observed and receive individualized attention and nurturing throughout the day. It also increases the likelihood that in an emergency staff will be able to move all of the children to safety. The required staffing in the classroom at all times, plus a well rehearsed emergency plan for evacuation and/or crisis management is the responsible way to go. Over enrollment of children is a risk that none of us should be willing to take. Not only does it jeopardize your liability, it puts lives at greater risk should something un-thinkable happen.

To get much more information and commentary about the reenacted Article 47 child care regulations…. become a premium member of the CCBCNY.com website.
You may also go directly to the DOHMH website at www.nyc.gov/dohmh.com