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Child Care Updates - May 2004

We hope all of you are beginning to enjoy the beautiful spring weather. This is the first Update for 2004 and begins the eleventh year of our efforts to keep the child care community informed about licensing programs and services. The Updates continue to be an important method for sharing information. We appreciate your support in sharing these Updates with those in your organization and others interested in child care issues.

As you can see, the Update has a new look. In addition to some color graphics, we have added an index summary feature which follows this introduction. Now, those of you who receive these Updates via email can find the topic of your choice in each Update without scrolling down. Just put your cursor over the blue highlighted subject heading that you wish to review, hold down the control button and click your mouse at the same time, and you will be taken to that area of the Update. We hope you will find this useful.

If you are not already receiving the Child Care Update via email and would like to, please email your request to Linette Villalobos at: Linette.Villalobos@dss.ca.gov

SUMMER SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

Keeping the children in your care safe is important all year long, however, the following risks are increased during the summer months, and require special attention:

Water Safety

Drowning is a major cause of death among children under five years of age in California. It can happen quickly and silently in as little as two inches of water. Extra supervision is important when children play near water - not just around pools and hot tubs, but also near buckets, wading pools, and toilets.

Licensing regulations require that providers use covers or fences to make pools and other bodies of water inaccessible to children. Licensing policy requires that fencing must be permanently in place to make sure the pool or body of water is not accessible. Covers, fences and gates used to prevent access to swimming pools must be inspected and approved by licensing staff before their use. Licensing staff will be especially vigilant in reviewing water safety when they visit facilities with pools, spas, or other bodies of water. All deficiencies, including such things as gates not being locked, or covers not correctly installed, will be taken very seriously, as even minor problems can have tragic consequences. If you have added a pool, made changes to your fencing arrangements, or have any questions about whether your pool meets all licensing requirements, please contact your local licensing office.

Please remember, in addition to having these safeguards in place, proper supervision is a key ingredient to keeping children safe.

Children in Vehicles

Licensees are responsible for providing supervision to children at all times while in care. This responsibility includes never leaving children unattended in motor vehicles. On a warm, sunny day, even at temperatures as mild as 60 degrees Fahrenheit, a closed vehicle can heat up to dangerous levels within minutes, and children left in this environment can face serious injury or even death. Because heat affects children more quickly and severely than adults, they are especially vulnerable.

To address these dangers, the Unattended Child in Motor Vehicle Safety Act (also known as "Kaitlyn's Law") was incorporated into the California Vehicle Code (Division 6.7), and became effective on January 1, 2002. This law makes it an infraction, punishable by a fine of $100, for a parent, guardian or other person responsible for a child six years of age or younger to leave that child in a motor vehicle without supervision. In addition, any care provider who endangers a child in this manner can expect action against their license.

Please be mindful of these increased summertime risks to children. Take the precautions necessary and provide the supervision required to keep our children safe.

NUTRITION AND OBESITY PREVENTION AWARENESS

Given the new Administration's interest in promoting nutrition and physical fitness, the Secretary of the Health and Human Services Agency, Kimberly Belshé, has requested state departments to identify and encourage activities related to obesity prevention, healthy eating habits, and an active lifestyle. Unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity have led to a national obesity epidemic. This can lead to cardiovascular disease and cancer; Type 2 diabetes in adults, teens and children; inability to meet minimum standards to be considered physically fit; increasing disability rates due to obesity; rising health care costs; and low self-esteem, social stigma and depression.

In this fast-paced, high tech world, it is difficult for individuals to maintain healthy eating practices and to find the time and space for active play both at school and at home.

The Child Care Program is particularly interested in nutrition and obesity prevention in children and infants. There are a multitude of internet web sites that providers and parents can be directed to for information and training on proper nutrition and exercise for children and infants. Below are several web sites and information you may find useful:

Project SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids), a successful research grant, has evolved into the SPARK Programs, dedicated to improving the quantity and quality of physical activity for children and teachers everywhere. The Program has been selected by many universities and organizations to meet the goals of their research studies and/or projects. SPARK has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. SPARK has developed an early childhood program for Head Start, public and private preschools, day care/childcare providers, and WIC agencies. There are both Federal and private grants available. The SPARK web site is: www.sparkpe.org .

The Children's Health and Fitness Coalition of Santa Clara County offers a conference, Helping Children to Eat Well in Child Care and at Home, for parents and child care providers of young children. It is currently not free, although very low cost ($25), which includes a book by the presenter (renowned Ellyn Satter) and 9 follow-up support meetings. They also grant a limited number of scholarships for the registration. Information is available in both English and Spanish. For information contact:
(408) 779-1943, Extension 200.

Virtual Teachers Lounge-health and nutrition lesson plans and classroom resources:
www.virtualteacherslounge.org/

Dairy Council of California-Nutrition Education for Healthy diets:
www.dairycouncilofca.org/

Mayo Clinic, Childhood Obesity: Parenting Advice; etc:
www.mayoclinic.com/

California Project Lean:
www.californiaprojectlean.org/about/local/

Government Nutrition Sites:
www.nutrition.gov

Center for Health and Health Care in Schools:
www.healthinschools.org/sh/obesity.asp

In addition, the American Dietetic Association recommends the following web sites:

American Dietetic Association:
www.eatright.org/

American Academy of Pediatrics:
www.aap.org/

American Academy of Family Physicians:
www.aafp.org/

American Medical Association:
www.ama-assn.org/

Centers for Disease Control:
www.cdc.gov/

Department of Agriculture, Team Nutrition:
www.fns.usda.gov/tn

Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Information Center:
www.nal.usda.gov/fnic

Weight Control Information Network:
www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm

ACTIVATE:
www.kidnetic.com/

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK PROCEDURES

There have been questions raised recently regarding responsibilities of licensees when they choose not to request an exemption on behalf of a prospective employee who has a criminal record. Licensees are reminded that if they elect not to request a criminal record exemption for an employee/prospective employee, they must provide him/her with the Individual Exemption Request Letter . The individual then has the right to proceed with an exemption request on their own behalf. Without this exemption, the individual cannot work in, live in, or be associated with the child care facility.

When an employee/prospective employee has a criminal record, the Community Care Licensing Division Caregiver Background Check Bureau sends two letters. The first letter is addressed to the licensee and asks if the licensee wants to request an exemption on behalf of the individual. The second letter (Individual Exemption Request) is sent to the employee/prospective employee in care of the facility address. If the licensee chooses to request an exemption on behalf of the individual, the licensee is to check the yes box on page two of the Exemption Needed Letter, sign and send the information to begin the exemption request process. If the licensee does not want to request an exemption on behalf of the individual, he/she is to check the no box, sign and return the second page of the letter. In that situation, the individual is disassociated from the facility and cannot be present in a licensed facility. If the individual seeks an exemption for him/herself and is approved for an exemption, the exemption may be transferred to any licensee who wishes to hire him/her. (Note: Foster Family Agency Certified Home foster parents are not eligible to apply for an Individual Exemption).

TRANSFER OF CRIMINAL RECORD EXEMPTIONS

Some licensees are requiring individuals who have already obtained a criminal record exemption to go through the fingerprint process again. Doing so is unnecessary, expensive and will significantly delay the exemption transfer. Prior to allowing individuals who have a current exemption to work in a new facility, the licensee must request that the exemption be transferred by completing the Criminal Record Exemption Transfer Form (LIC 9188) and sending the completed form to their Community Care Licensing Division Regional Office. The Regional Office will forward the LIC 9188 to the Caregiver Background Check Bureau for processing. This form is available on-line at: www.dss.cahwnet.gov/forms/english/LIC9188.PDF

NEW FACILITY SEARCH FEATURE ON THE CCLD WEBSITE

The Community Care Licensing Division website has changed. Now someone can order a statewide list for any category except Foster Family Homes and Small Family Child Care Homes. This was not possible previously. People can still also sort by city, county or zip code. www.ccld.ca.gov/docs/ccld_search/ccld_search.aspx

CHANGE IN DIRECTOR IN CHILD CARE CENTERS

The question has been raised concerning what should be submitted to the licensing analyst when a change of Director occurs?

The following items are required to be submitted:

• Designation of Administrative Responsibility (LIC 308).
• Coursework verification and summary of experience to meet qualification requirements.
• Personnel Record (LIC 501).
• Health Screening and TB clearance (LIC 503).
• Criminal Record Statement (LIC 508).
• Personnel Report (LIC 500).
• Fingerprint Clearance or Fingerprint Clearance Transfer request.
• Disaster Plan (LIC 610), as the Director is integral to this plan.

Copies of the above items should also be maintained at the facility along with verification that the Director has completed CPR/First Aid/Preventative Health Practices coursework, if applicable.

PHONE NUMBER CHANGE

The Fresno Child Care Regional Office has a new phone and fax number. The new numbers:

(559) 243-4588 Telephone
(559) 243-8070 Fax

LICENSING MANAGEMENT CHANGES

We want to welcome several new Regional Managers to the Child Care Licensing Program. Maria Hendrix was recently appointed to the Regional Manager position in our Los Angeles East office in Monterey Park, where she was previously a Licensing Unit Manager. Mary Iroz was appointed to the Regional Manager position in the Los Angeles Northwest Office in Culver City. Mary was most recently in our Technical Support Program, and before that was a Licensing Unit Manager. The Regional Manager is responsible for the entire operation of a licensing office. We are pleased to have both these folks in their new positions.

CHILD CARE ADVOCATE PROGRAM

We mentioned in our last update that the Child Care Advocate Program was being significantly reduced because of budget constraints. This was a tremendous loss to the Child Care Licensing Program, but we are pleased that we were at least able to retain two Advocate positions. Betsy Rutana, who is located in the Bay Area Regional Office in Oakland, will represent the northern part of the state; she can be reached at (510) 622-2623. Dana Lovelace, who is located in the Mission Valley Regional Office in San Diego, will represent the southern part of the state and can be reached at (619) 767-2212. They obviously will not be able to do everything that the Advocates assigned to each office were able to do, but will be working on improving communication through the web site and other publications, and will still be our liaisons with the provider community and other organizations, working primarily through regional and statewide groups.

We want to once again express our appreciation to the former members of the Advocate Program, and to Linda Nissen who was the manager of the Advocate Program for the last seven years. Their many valuable contributions and the important roles they've played in the Child Care Program and their local child care communities will be greatly missed. All are currently working in other positions in the Department. Linda has taken a position as a manager in our Caregiver Background Check Bureau.

LICENSED CHILD CARE STATISTICS

Enclosed are the most recent statistics on licensed child care facilities and capacities. Further breakouts by category and location are available. Please direct your requests to Jeffrey Hiratsuka, Chief, Central Operations Branch, at (916) 322-4875.

SUMMARY

If you have questions about items included in this Update, or suggestions for future topics, please contact Melissa Miller at (916) 229-4500. You may also visit our internet website at www.ccld.ca.gov to obtain copies of licensing Updates, office locations, provider letters, regulations, forms, the Licensing Evaluator Manual, or to learn more about licensing programs and services.

Sincerely,

(original signed by D. Dodds)
DAVE DODDS
Deputy Director
Community Care Licensing Division

Enclosures