Child Care Licensing Standards Comparison Child Care Licensing & Enforcement Local county child care licensing agencies must meet or exceed state minimum standards. Below is a comparison of the standards enforced by the Broward County Child Care Licensing & Enforcement Program which exceed state minimum standards. Accreditation: Child Care licensing & Enforcement is the first and only public child care licensing regulatory agency to pursue and receive accreditation from the National Council on Accreditation (GOA) in the United States. GOA accreditation attests that an organization meets the highest national standards and is delivering the best quality services to the community it services. The Florida Department of Families (DCF) Child Regulatory Agency is not accredited. Standard Application No Specific Requirement All applications for new and renewal licenses shall Staff Credentials are include a requirement that the applicants identify all accessible to Parents employees by their full legal names and any educational and training credentials issued by DCF at the time of submittal of the a lications Background Screening - Board No Specific Requirement If a child care facility is owned by a corporation, Ensures that Board Officers including a limited liability company, all corporate Officers comply with officers, or members of the limited liability company Background_ Screening who reside locally, or are involved in the operation requirements of the child care facility and have authority to be at the facility during any hours of operation when children are present shall comply with all background screening requirements. For the purpose of this requirement, persons who reside in Broward, Miami Dade, Palm Beach, Collier, or Hend counties shall be deemed to reside locall General Liability Insurance No specific requirement. A minimum amount of $100,000 in comprehensive Ensures that child care general liability is required. facilities have liability insurance protection.
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Supervision: Person in Charge in Director's Absence Minimum Age.Requirements. In the absence of the operator, there must be a staff person at least 21 years of age in charge of the child a care facility, and on the premises at all times. Any person who is left in charge of a child care facility (otherthan the director) must have a CDA credential or equivalent. Ensures that the person in charge has a higher level credential
Discipline: Personnel Receipt of Discipline Policy Handling of Reptiles All child care personnel must comply with the facility's written disciplinary policy. No specific requirement. Child care facility must have documented proof of personnel receipt of discipline policy. Reptiles will no longer be permitted to be handled b children. Ensures all staff are knowledgeable of the discipline policy Ensures a higher level of, safet for children
Proof of Immunization Health Examination for Personnel Child Discipline : Physical Activity All children are required to have proof of immunization within 30 da s of enrollment. No specific requirement. Children may not be denied active play as a consequence of misbehavior. Infants are required to have proof of immunization prior to enrollment; for older children proof must be provided within 15 da s. Prior to the first day_ of being employed by a facility, all child care personnel shall have.a signed statement from a physician or authorized agent of the Health Department attesting the employee is in ood health in order to care for children. Children shall not be prohibited or required to participate in physical activity as a method of punishment Ensures a higher level of safety for children Ensures a higher level of Ensures a higher level of by prohibiting additional means of disci line Planned Activities: Electronic Media for School Aged Children Physical Activity: Time and Duration Limit electronic media time to no more than 1 to 2 hours per day No Specific Requirement Electronic media use in after school programs shall be limited to ninety minutes per week for educational purposes and ninety minutes per week for instructional physical activity except computers used solely for school-related assignments and educational e-books. - Preschool Age Child Care: A minimum of.40 minutes of combined indoor and outdoor physical activity for every 3 % hours.in care excluding nap time.. School Age Child Gare: A minimum of40 minutes of outdoor physical activity for every 3 % hours of care weather permitting. o Out of School Time: A minimum of 40 minutes of combined. indoor and outdoor ph sical activi for Ensures age appropriate activities Improves physical health and well-being of children
State every 3 % hours in care excluding field trips. Value of the Higher Standard Physical Activity: Policy No Specific Requirement There shall be a written policy on physical activity participation signed by each child's parent, and maintained at the facility which describes the types and duration of physical activities provided and the recommended foot wear and clothin. Ensures children have adequate physical activities Food and Nutrition: Milk.Provided for Children Food and Nutrition: Sharing No Specific Requirement No Specific Requirement Milk provided to children two (2) years of age and older shall be fat~free milk or 2% milk unless there is documentation that a child requires a special diet. Meals or snacks furnished by a parent for sharing with other children shall be limited to commercially prepared foods. A signed parental permission form is required prior to a child's participation in multicultural learning
State Food and Nutrition: Supervision No Specific Requirement events that involve the sharing of home operated oods. Child care personnel shall promote table manners and reinforce healthy food choices during meal times. Value of the Higher Standard
Physical Examinations for No specific requirement. Prior to licensing of, or employment in, a family Personnel child care home, a statement shall be on file, from a licensed physician or authorized agent of the Health Department, attesting that all family child care home personnel are physically qualified to care for children. Physical examinations for family child care home personnel shall be renewed eve two ears. Background Screening: CAHRS CAHRS screening conducted In addition to the owner and household members, (Central Abuse Hotline Records on owner and household conducts a CAHRS screening on Search) members. the substitute and em lo ee.
No specific requirement. No specific requirement. Toys or other materials small enough to be swallowed shall be kept out of the reach of infants and toddlers. Each infant shall be removed from his or her crib or playpen for all feedings and other intervals during the day for individual attention. An infant, while awake, shall remain in the crib or playpen for no longer than one hour at a time. Play materials shall be arranged in an orderly manner so that children may select, remove, and replace materials with a minimum of assistance during appropriate times throughout the day. Permission for Swimming Activities No specific requirement. Ensures a higher level of At least one operable flash light shall be provided in a location accessible to the operator/ rovider for Ensures a higher level of safet for children
State use in the event of a power failure. Napping/Sleeping Space No specific requirement. Males and females must sleep in separate rooms for a es three and older durin ni ht care. Nighttime Care No specific requirement. The operator/provider shall notify the parents of the type of supervision at night; parents must be provided with a written policy that they must sign, indicating the supervision at night and must be maintained on site. Meals must be served to children who are in the family child care home at ordinary meal times and who have_not been served an evening meal before arrival or who remain through the time when breakfast is served. Nutritional Practices: Alternate No specific requirement. If food or formula is to be supplied by the child's Nutrition Plan Agreement parents, there shall be a written agreement on file at the home with a copy given to the parent. Department Form 5019, alternate Nutrition Plan Agreement (May 82), which is incorporated herein be reference, shall define the responsibilities of the parent and the family child care.home in meeting the child's nutritional needs and shall be signed by the parent and the operator of the family child care home. Nutrition Practices: Feeding No specific requirement. Children shall be individually fed or supervised at feedings and offered foods appropriate for their age. There shall be no propped bottles for infants. Formula shall be refrigerated and handled in a sanitary manner. Bottlesshall not be warmed in microwave appliances. Nutritional Practices: Seating No specific requirement. Homes shall provide sufficient age-appropriate seating at tables, such as highchairs, chairs and benches so that all children can sit safely at tables whenever eatin. Value of the Higher Standard Ensures age appropriate sna in arran ements Ensures that parents are knowledgeable about the program Ensures the comfort of children
Food Preparation and Services No specific requirement. At least one person working in the family child care home who prepares and serves food shall have read the Health Department food No specific requirement. No specific requirement. Diaper Changing No specific requirement. Transportation: Inspection of Seat No specific requirement. hygiene pamphlet entitled "Disease Free Food." All family child care personnel shall wear clean garments and shall'keep their hands clean at all times while engaged in preparing and serving food. and drink. Family child care persor:mel in the food preparation service area shall have access to hand washing facilities in the food preparation area. Disposable gloves shall be worn and changed after each individual diaper change and shall be dis osed of romptl. The Operator/Provider of the family child care Belts/Child Restraint Devices home shall inspect the seat belts and child restraint devices used in the vehicle to ensure equipment is in proper workin condition. Health Maintenance: Physician's The family day care home operator After fifteen days of attendance at the family child Statement is responsible for obtaining, for care home, each child under elementary schooleach child in care, a current, a e must have a written statement on file from a
State complete and properly executed Student Health Examination form, DH 3040 (June 2002), incorporated herein by reference and may be obtained from the local county health department, or a signed statement by an authorized professional that indicates the results of the components of the form are included in the health examination from the custodial parent or legal guardian, within 30 days of enrollment. The Student Health Examination shall be completed by a person given statutory authority to. erform health examinations. licensed physician or authorized agent of the Health Department attesting that the child is in good health, or that any known medical condition or health problem is under treatment. Value of the Higher Standard