Daycare Deals

I just learned of this, so I am trying to get this out to as many providers as I can before Wednesday.

• a stronger, more explicit warning label to prevent slump-over deaths. The warning advises consumers to use a swing in the most reclined position until an infant is 4 months old and can hold up its head without help;
• a stability test that prevents the swing from tipping over;
• a test that prevents unintentional folding;
• tests on restraint systems, which are intended to prevent slippage and breakage of the restraints during use;
• the cradle swing surface to remain relatively flat, while in motion, and while at rest;
• electrically-powered swings to be designed to prevent battery leakage and overheating.;
• toy mobiles to be designed to ensure that toys do not detach when pulled;
• swings with seats angles greater than 50 degrees to have shoulder strap restraints; and
• dynamic and static load requirements to ensure that the infant swing can handle specified loads without breaking.

So, I was reminded of something today when a family member called me. I've never actually written a post on how to go about starting a daycare. I am humbly apologetic to those who may have found the blog and needed to know how to begin a daycare. I started the blog in May 2010 (on a different website even) without thinking about the prospective providers. I will now remedy my error. :) ***Please note that regulations that will change daycares in KS are being proposed. The current regulations may change a little in the middle of you starting your daycare.

To start a KS daycare (or just start looking into it), these are my best recommendations.

1. Find out your local contact information for daycares in your county/area. The local contacts can be found here, listed by county. If it directs you to a website, you should find the childcare licensing information by going to the part about the health department.

2. Schedule or attend (an already scheduled--SG county has monthly scheduled orientations) orientation at your local health department. (Less populated areas of KS may do these over the phone.)

3. Call your local contact to see who your local fire marshal is. I would schedule a walk through of the area you are planning to use. *This is important because the fire marshal will inform you of how many/where fire alarms should be located. They can be expensive, so you'll know how many to expect. Also, you may plan to have the kids in the basement, but your basement may not be acceptable as a place for the kids. (It has to have two means of egress.)

4. Review this checklist. This is the same list that an inspector uses to evaluate your house. This will guide you in what needs to be locked up/stored high.

5. If you are ready to go on with your daycare, fill out the paper application and mail it to your local office or fill out the online application here.  *The fire marshal should have come out a second time to complete your official inspection before you send off your application. The orientation class and CPR/First Aid are also requirements. ***Applications can take awhile (possibly 3-6 months), so you should plan to have the application completed in advance of when you want to start your daycare.

6. [This is optional.]  See if a surveyor from your area will come by to check out your home before making an official visit. It would be easier to know if you need to lock something up/move something before a formal visit. Plus, they won't bring the carbon-paper forms with them...yet (They're really busy, but they might be able to swing by.)

Good luck!!!

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 Before starting a KS daycare, you can make sure you're ready and know what to expect. These are some ways to prepare/questions to ask yourself/things to know.

1. Contact your local contact for information on the local resource and referral agency. My agency (Childstart) sends out a checklist to use when deciding if a home daycare is for you. I would assume that the other referral agencies would do the same.

2.  Be good with keeping track of expenses. Most important: Be sure you can afford to do daycare. Taxes are not taken out during the year, so you might have to pay taxes to the Federal and KS governments. Money should be set aside during the year so that it's not a huge blow to you at tax time. (This may not happen the first year--initial daycare setup costs, but I would be prepared to pay in to the government.)

3. Figure out if you can afford the startup costs. If you don't have the items already, it can be expensive to accumulate children's toys and other needs. *I recommend Craigslist, Freecycle, and consignment sales for items.

4. Know that swingsets have to have appropriate ground cover. The grass/dirt is not approved.

5. Ask yourself if your spouse/partner will be ok will having small children around the house. The house gets beat up a little--they're kids. I've got food/chocolate milk on my ceilings, crayon on my table, spills everywhere, fingerprints on the walls. (Having the marks of your chosen career as daily reminders can take a toll on your spouse/partner. I would consider his/her feelings about this.)
 
I've run out of thoughts for now, but I'll update if I think of anything else. Please leave comments/questions in the comment section.

• ·      Should go live within the next week --This is live now.
• ·      Anyone/anywhere can search for your daycare. Currently, the default listing is only name and license number.  If a provider chooses to,  she/he could request that an address and phone number is listed. *I will not be listing my phone number or address because anyone could look up this information.
• ·      All licensed providers/centers will be listed in the system. You cannot opt out of having your name and license number listed.
• ·      The information in the system will be from the last 3 years.
• ·      Complaints—even if no violations were found—will be listed.
• ·      New complaints will not be listed until the complaint is closed.
• ·      The training requirements will not have to be met until 2-3-13, but your NOSF will show that your surveyor consulted you about needing to complete the required trainings. This consultation will be listed in the online system.

• ·      If a currently licensed provider moves to another county or changes his/her program type, he/she needs to have a new orientation that is KDHE approved.
• ·      All providers are required to provide orientation pertaining to his/her own home. Areas to go over should be: supervision plan, safe sleep policy, health & safety practices, confidentiality, and anything else that the provider deems necessary. (Documentation showing that an orientation was given should be kept in the substitute/employee’s file. Must be in compliance with this by May 2012.
• ·      Some counties provided orientations for registered providers separate from licensed providers. If your county did this and you were formally registered, you will need to attend a licensed orientation. *SG county combined registered and licensed, so anyone in SG county should be fine.
• ·      Providers should be able to provide the month/day/year of their orientation. *They said that providers who have been doing care for many, many years shouldn’t have to attend another orientation unless they switch types or move counties.

• ·      Providers who are currently licensed have until 2-3-13 to meet the new training requirements. The required trainings include: First Aid/CPR, signs of abuse and neglect, Safe Sleep, Basic Child Development.
• ·      If your county formerly offered a signs and systems of abuse class, the class will need to be retaken if the class did not cover head trauma. *SG county classes that were previously offered do not count and will need to be taken again.
• ·      SIDS/Safe Sleep classes must be KDHE approved. If you took SIDS/Safe Sleep at one of the trainings days that KDHE provided in 2010, the class will count for the SIDS/Safe Sleep requirement. *I attended a Safe Sleep class at the SG County health department. That class would count for me.
• ·      Pediatric/First Aid and Infant/Child CPR class certifications must be kept current. *The card for pediatric first aid may night say that it covered pediatric first aid, but that is ok as long as you can tell your surveyor that it was covered. The CPR card must say Infant/Child on it.
• ·      Resources for KDHE approved classes: KSCL online, Child Care Aware, Child Start, your local referral/resource agency
• ·      Each year, the annual 5 hours must be KDHE approved. The classes provided by the food program do count for annual hours.

• ·      If switching license types or adding a new substitute/employee, the new person will not have until 2-3-12 to meet the training requirements. All new substitutes will have only 30 days to meet the training requirements.

• ·      All cribs used in a daycare must have a sticker dated after 6-28-11.

• ·      Unused formula/breastmilk in a bottle that an infant did not finish cannot be stored in a refrigerator. It must be discarded.
• ·      Formula/Breast milk cannot be heated in a microwave
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012.

• ·      They get phone calls from upset parents asking if it is okay that a provider won’t take non-potty trained children or won’t take children under 2, etc. If you have personal policies, KDHE says to put them in your handbook/policies. *KDHE cannot mandate what we charge or if we choose not to take non-potty trained children. They just have parents who call to complain.
•  Bagging up soiled clothing (potty-training accident, etc) is something KDHE supports because the provider is following the regulations. [Parents apparently call about this a lot.] *This section doesn't really concern the new regulations, but KDHE spoke about this.
• 
  
• WATER
• ·      It seems like common sense, but all children should be given water if they request it. They should not be told that it isn’t time for water/drink time yet.
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012.

• ·      In a temporary absence (must be less than 3 hours per day), a substitute must meet these three requirements:

• ·      In an extended absence (more than 3 hours per day), a substitute must have the same new trainings as the provider:

• ·      Play areas now have to meet “use zone” requirements. If you pull your swing it either direction, you should have 1 in of clear space for every foot that the swing is extended in front or behind the swing. The space in front of the slide must be clear as well. (I think this is the way to explain it. My surveyor just went out to the playset and held the swing back to make sure enough space was met.)  *KDHE cannot regulate the depth of the approved surface under the play area. They can cite a violation if any bare spots are showing.
• ·      Manicured grass is not allowed under anchored play equipment. Approved surfaces are listed in the regulations. Sand is included as an approved surface. Landscaping mulch is not.
• ·      If you have moveable play equipment, ie Little Tykes toys, they do not have to be on top of approved ground cover. They should be on the grass or a mat should be under them to protect the children.
• ·      Trampolines must remain inaccessible to children in care but do not have to be in a separate fenced area. They should be as far removed from the play area as possible. Steps must be removed, enclosure zipped, and all children (even the provider’s are not allowed on the trampoline during daycare hours).
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012.
• ·      As of March 1, 2012, all new licensees must have an outdoor play area. 

• ·      They expanded the guns/weapons information. Even items such as bb guns, air guns, fishing knives should be locked away.
• ·      Guns and ammunition must be locked in separate containers. Even if they are in the same gun safe, the ammunition must be in a separate locked box.
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012.

• ·      No blanks should be on the forms. Write no or N/A if needed.

• ·      Accordion gates are absolutely not allowed in daycare at all anymore. EVER.
• ·      At the top of the stairs, the baby gate needs to be one which is mounted on one side of the wall.
• ·      At the bottom of stairs, a pressure gate may be used, but not an accordion.
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012 

• ·      Written, posted, and documented that the provider shared the supervision plan with parents. Plans would likely go something like “Our main play area is… This is how I supervise them in this area…” or “Our kitchen is here…This is how I supervise…”
• ·      I would recommend running your supervision plan by your surveyor before reviewing it and posting it.
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012 

• ·      If the weather does not permit outside play, 1 hour of physical activity must still be met. This can include dancing, jumping, etc.
• ·      If a child isn’t a napper, he/she must be given a quiet activity during nap time.
• ·      If showing a movie/tv show(G rated), children cannot be forced to watch it. If they do not watch, they need to be given an alternate activity.
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012. 

• ·      A blanket (even a lightweight one) is not advised for infants under 12months. Swaddling is not allowed unless a doctor’s note is given and the provider gets an exception. *The regs state that a lightweight blanket could be used, but KDHE is saying no blankets. The regulation does say that sleepers or sleep sacks are okay.
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012.

• ·      Children/Staff should wash their hands after handling pets. The regulations go into further detail about handwashing.
• ·      Must be in compliance with this by May 2012

• ·      All new regulations except for the training requirements must be met by May 2012.
• ·      The training requirements must be met by 2-3-13.
• ·      All complaints, NOSF forms, and any consultations (including those made about not yet meeting the training requirements) will be listed in the online system for anyone to see. *Example: I renew in October. If I haven’t met all the training requirements (even though I have until 2-3-13) before my annual survey, a consultation is written on my NOSF. Potential parents will be able to see that. Hopefully they will understand that a consultation is not a bad thing in this situation.
• ·      Blankets are not to be used with infants.
• ·      Play areas must have approved ground cover.
• ·      Accordion gates are never to be used in daycare.

These are some classes being offered that can help meet the training requirements we need to be in compliance with the new regulations. We need signs & symptoms of abuse, Safe Sleep/SIDS, a basic child development class (I cannot say if any of these classes meet the basic child development requirement), and to keep our CPR/first aid certifications current. I like that I know when these classes are in March and April because I want to wait until our Sedgwick County surveyors are trained in March before taking any classes; this way I can take them with my substitute if my sub will need to meet the requirements. To sign up, call 641-1485 or email angela.bitker@yahoo.com. All of these classes are KDHE approved.

February
21st, 7pm-10pm, $34, Adult, Child and Infant CPR/AED
23rd, 7pm-9pm, $10, Basic Training Health and Safety
28th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Child Abuse and Neglect Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Illness

March
6th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Fearful, Flexible and Feisty Temperaments
7th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Basic Training Chiold Development and Discipline Techniques
12th, 7pm-10pm, $34, Adult, Child and Infant CPR/AED
26th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Child Abuse and Neglect Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Illness
27th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Play: The Good Four Letter Word

April
3rd, 7pm-9pm, $10, Fearful, Flexible and Feisty Temperaments
9th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Pediatric First Aid Introduction and Refresher
11th, 7pm-10pm, $34, Adult, Child and Infant CPR/AED
16th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Reducing the Risk of SIDS
17th, 7pm-9pm, $10, Child Abuse and Neglect Signs and Symptoms of Childhood Illness


 Call 641-1485 or email angela.bitker@yahoo.com to sign up for these classes.


(Disclosure: I am in no way associated with the teacher of these classes. I just wanted to pass information along about these classes.)

First of all, KDHE updated the regulations. You can find them here on KDHE's site if you haven't already seen them.

Were you aware that KDHE hosted a Twitter discussion about the new regs last Friday? I wasn't. I don't do Twitter, but it is easy to access the information with just a Google search. I found the questions and answers from the other day, and I have provided the information for you below. Since they do a lot of referring to the regs, I'll include an explanation and wording from the regulations if I feel that it is needed. My explanation will be in [].