Janean Vineyard and Dr. Bobbie Biggs Early Care and Education Projects University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

1. Trainers will be made aware of the proposed changes in the licensing manual. 2. Trainers will be able to educate participants about these changes as they teach CCOT.

 Proposed changes have been made to the licensing manual with a revision date of 4/21/2014.  Changes have been made to all licensing manuals; Child Care Centers, Licensed Family Home and Registered Child Care Homes.  The Division is also intending to publicize a new regulation book for Out-of-School Time Facilities.

 Public meetings were held around the state in five locations during the months of May and June.  New regulations must go through many steps before they are officially adopted. Roll-out date will be sometime in  The proposed policies are available for review on the Division website icensing.aspx. icensing.aspx

 2. The following staff child ratios shall be maintained:  Providers licensed prior to the effective date of this rule have two years from implementation of this rule to comply with the revised ratios. Ages of ChildrenNumber of Staff Number of Children a. Birth to 18 months15 b. 18 to 36 months18 c. 2 ½ to 3 years112 d. 4 years115 e. 5 years to Kindergarten118 f. Kindergarten and above118

2. Directors shall be twenty-one years or older, and provide documentation of one of the following educational level. a. Bachelors Degree or higher Degree in Early Childhood. Child Development or a related field. and from a regionally accredited college or university. ◦ b. Bachelor’s Degree in a non-related field from a regionally accredited college or university plus one of the following:  Four years of experience in early childhood education.  Birth – Pre K Credential.

The entire section on professional development is new to the licensing manual. 1. All directors, site supervisors, and staff who provide direct care to children shall be registered with the Registry within 30 days of hire and all training shall be registered with the Division and DCCECE Prof. Dev. Registry, or Dept. of Education or Higher Ed. approved.

 All new staff shall have a probationary period of at least 30 days during which they are closely supervised, mentored, and evaluated.  All new staff shall receive a basic orientation to facility management policies, center schedules, and emergency procedures prior to providing care.

◦ a. proper supervision of children ◦ b. behavioral guidance practices ◦ c. safe sleep practices for infants ◦ d. shaken baby syndrome ◦ e. responding to crying/fussy infant/child ◦ f. emergency procedures ◦ g. mandated reporter training ◦ h. administering medication ◦ i. caring for children with special needs/care plans ◦ j. transportation and car seat safety ◦ k. policies regarding release of children to authorized individuals.

 Trainer Note on page 14 mentions the Top 10 Basics developed in  These top 10 licensing items now make up the mandatory 8 hours of introductory orientation.

There are many additions to the manual concerning the kind of care given to infants and toddlers. 3. Infants and toddlers shall have a learning/play environment with staff on their level, interacting with them when they are awake. 4. The facility shall implement relationship-based practices. This goes on to list specific things teachers can do to interact with very young children. (a. – f.) 5. The facility should promote continuity of care for infants and toddlers by maintaining consistency in staffing.

 The proposed manual shows considerably changes to the general health section  Changes made regarding the illness which call for a child to be excluded from the classroom. It gives the caregiver and directors specific guidelines.  now has 19 sub points (diseases or symptoms), the present manual lists 11 distinct diseases.

Health related subject matter of the licensing or registration standard CentersFCC Homes Reg. FCC Homes 1. Pertinent medical history of the child g 603.3b b 2. List of contagious diseases. States that no child or staff shall be admitted if they have one of these diseases The sections that contains information about immunizations h e e Policy for dealing with soiled diapers, garbage and trash Policy in the event a child becomes ill in the center or FCC Home Washing of sheets, covers and crib bedding Handwashing 1102 (all items) Diaper changing 1107 (all items) Two items that deal with the reporting of communicable diseases within 24 hours and how to report List of immunization requirements Pages 78 & 79 Page 66Page Regulation for using sun screen

QuestionsAnswerLicensing # 1. The Attorney General’s Office sends Child Product Recall Notices to child care centers and FCC homes and there must be a log kept of these. What are they in regard to? Child product recall and safety notice (C), (FH), (RFH) 2. What is checked on arrival for possible hazards as described in regulation ? All bags belonging to children (C) 3. Licensing regulation (centers) and (FCCH) has to do with the guarding of what? Electrical outlets (C) (FH), (RFH) 4. What is used to check children on and off a vehicle?Transportation rosters & 12 (C), (RFH) & 11 (FH) 5. What is the age and weight for a child who must be restrained in a child passenger safety seat? Less than 6 years and weighs less than 60 pounds (C) (FH) (RFH) 6. What is the reason that the transportation roster is compared to the attendance record? To insure that children have safely arrived in the classroom (C) (FH) (RFH) 7. Licensing regulation lists items to be placed in what type of a pack? How many items are listed? Evacuation pack should have 13 items listed (C), (FH), (RFH) 8. What height shall climbing equipment for preschoolers not exceed? Free standing arch climbers shall not be used for preschoolers (C), (FH) 9. What type of hook (and others like it) shall be securely tightened and closed? Why? S-Hook; Children have been known to get clothing caught (C), (FH) 10. How often are fire and tornado drills to be practiced? Each month (C), (FH), (RFH) Activity Lesson 5 Sheet 1 Arkansas Minimum Licensing – Safety Review

 1. Register the course on TAPP  2. Fill out a Course Submission and it to ecepinfo.uark.edu  3. READ the LESSONS in the Manual  4. Prepare your materials