Choosing a child care center is one of the most important decisions that a working parent will
make to help ensure the health, safety, and overall well being of their child while they must be
away from them. Thousands of children are treated in emergency rooms for injuries sustained at
child care centers or childcare homes each year in addition to those instances of abuse or
neglect. Sadly, some of those children will lose their lives.
There are precautions that can be taken t help ensure that a child will be properly cared for
while a parent is at work. The first question a parent should ask is whether the childcare
center or childcare home has an open door policy. If the answer is no, that provider should not
be selected. Next, a parent should ask the potential provider whether they have been licensed by
the state's childcare licensing department to operate a childcare center or home and whether the
certification is current.
Check to see that staff has been trained on blood borne pathogens. With diseases like AIDS,
Hepatitis B, etc., and anti-biotic resistant strains of various infections, make sure childcare
staff always wear plastic gloves when changing diapers and administering first aid, and that
gloves and diapers are disposed of in a separate trash container labeled bodily fluids'. All
trash cans should have plastic bags inside and locking lids. All trash should be taken out at
the end of every day.
Parents should not be afraid to ask to see the license and most recent inspection date. Find out
how many infants, toddlers, and older children they are licensed for and how many children are
currently being cared for. Make sure staff has had a background check by the local police
department and the state investigative agency. Health and Human Service agencies and local
police departments will usually submit a request for a background check on a parent's behalf for
a nominal fee.
Parents should also find out if childcare staff has been trained on child abuse and neglect and
the state reporting requirements for suspected child abuse. With an increasing number of
incidents of domestic violence and kidnapping by non-custodial parents and other caregivers,
parents should find out if doors are kept locked during the hours the center is open for
operation and how the childcare provider ascertains that only approved persons are picking up a
child and if they have a form that can be signed designating who can and cannot pick a child up?
Tag : certificate 3 in childcare
