If you are currently looking for childcare in Hamilton County, please go to www.Childcare4u.org to complete an application!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Daycare Terms and Information
Unlicensed Providers:
Indiana Law allows home daycares to be UNLICENSED provided they watch 5 or less children (not including their own children, foster children, or children they have legal guardianship over).
When a provider is unlicensed it means that they are not regularly inspected by the state inspector. It does not necessarily indicate a difference in QUALITY. Providers can run a quality program, but choose to operate on their own without state inspections. Unlicensed providers can be reported to the state for breaking laws pertaining to unlicensed daycares (for example: going over their ratio). Anyone operating an unlicensed daycare and breaking the state ratio laws can be found guilty of a misdemeanor crime.
Licensed Providers:
Indiana Law has set many guidelines that State Licensed providers must follow. When a provider chooses to become State Licensed they must first take a Licensing Class that explains all of the rules and regulations for Family Child Care Homes. Then the provider must complete all requirements and pass an inspection by their licensing inspector.
The Inspection Process happens yearly unless a provider is reported to be breaking the rules. During an inspection the provider can expect for their entire home to be checked by their licensing agent. Everything will be checked: looking upstairs, testing water temperature, looking for properly placed fire extinguishers, checking all children's files/documentation, looking at workers documentation, and much more. This process can be very scary and intimidating for providers. Doing a great job caring for children is a hard job, but when you add the concern about passing inspections it can be quite intimidating! It isn't an easy process, however it can be a very rewarding and proud moment for a provider when they receive a good inspection report. At times there may be items that a provider must fix/correct that will be documented on their inspection report. This doesn't mean that the provider isn't a good provider, it simply means they have a few things to fix or improve upon. Providers are given an opportunity to fix any deficiencies that were reported. The inspector will return to the daycare to check that the problems were corrected.
What's the Difference Between "Class I" and "Class II"?
There are 2 different types of Licensed Home Daycares. The Types are "Class I" and "Class II". These in no way refer to the quality of the Daycare. They simply refer to the SIZE of the daycare.
"Class I" daycares are allowed to have from 10-12 children. 10 is the maximum number of children that a provider can have by themselves (provided there are LESS THAN 4 children under the age of 16 months within the 10 children). If a provider exceeds 10 children then they must have another adult working with them.
"Class II" daycares are allowed to have up to 16 children. The state requires that a provider have a minimum of 35 square feet per child available to be allowed to get to a "Class II" level. Because of the larger ratio at "Class II" daycares you can expect for them to always have 2 or more adults on staff.
What is Paths to Quality?
Paths to Quality providers have chosen to voluntarily be rated on the quality of the program they provide for children. This program has 4 Levels. To see more information about this Program, please click here.
What is the Food Program and why is it important?
Any Licensed Daycare can participate in the Food Program. This Program pays the provider for 2 meals and 1 snack (per child) when their daycare provides those meals. This program can be an important way for providers to supplement their income and be able to provide good-quality meals to the children.
Food expense is one of the biggest cost's associated with running a daycare. Providers can spend up to $1,500-$2,000/month (for Class II daycares) to provide the required food items at each meal. This is one of the reasons why childcare can be costly. Providers need to be sure they provide good quality foods to the children they watch.
Surprise Inspections occur 3 times a year from the Food Program Sponsor (these are NOT the same as the State Inspection). During these inspections the provider will need to provide meal data, show the refrigerator/freezer to the inspector, & allow the inspector to view a meal or snack being served. Providers must display their menu for all the parents to see what is being served.
The Food Program is important because it holds the provider to a quality standard. The Providers are also required to have yearly training about Food Safety and Health Issues. The Information provided can be very helpful in making sure the children in the daycare are receiving well-balance meals.
Written by:
Rachael McCracken
Owner, Rachael's Daycare LLC
www.rachaelsdaycare.com
Indiana Law allows home daycares to be UNLICENSED provided they watch 5 or less children (not including their own children, foster children, or children they have legal guardianship over).
When a provider is unlicensed it means that they are not regularly inspected by the state inspector. It does not necessarily indicate a difference in QUALITY. Providers can run a quality program, but choose to operate on their own without state inspections. Unlicensed providers can be reported to the state for breaking laws pertaining to unlicensed daycares (for example: going over their ratio). Anyone operating an unlicensed daycare and breaking the state ratio laws can be found guilty of a misdemeanor crime.
Licensed Providers:
Indiana Law has set many guidelines that State Licensed providers must follow. When a provider chooses to become State Licensed they must first take a Licensing Class that explains all of the rules and regulations for Family Child Care Homes. Then the provider must complete all requirements and pass an inspection by their licensing inspector.
The Inspection Process happens yearly unless a provider is reported to be breaking the rules. During an inspection the provider can expect for their entire home to be checked by their licensing agent. Everything will be checked: looking upstairs, testing water temperature, looking for properly placed fire extinguishers, checking all children's files/documentation, looking at workers documentation, and much more. This process can be very scary and intimidating for providers. Doing a great job caring for children is a hard job, but when you add the concern about passing inspections it can be quite intimidating! It isn't an easy process, however it can be a very rewarding and proud moment for a provider when they receive a good inspection report. At times there may be items that a provider must fix/correct that will be documented on their inspection report. This doesn't mean that the provider isn't a good provider, it simply means they have a few things to fix or improve upon. Providers are given an opportunity to fix any deficiencies that were reported. The inspector will return to the daycare to check that the problems were corrected.
What's the Difference Between "Class I" and "Class II"?
There are 2 different types of Licensed Home Daycares. The Types are "Class I" and "Class II". These in no way refer to the quality of the Daycare. They simply refer to the SIZE of the daycare.
"Class I" daycares are allowed to have from 10-12 children. 10 is the maximum number of children that a provider can have by themselves (provided there are LESS THAN 4 children under the age of 16 months within the 10 children). If a provider exceeds 10 children then they must have another adult working with them.
"Class II" daycares are allowed to have up to 16 children. The state requires that a provider have a minimum of 35 square feet per child available to be allowed to get to a "Class II" level. Because of the larger ratio at "Class II" daycares you can expect for them to always have 2 or more adults on staff.
What is Paths to Quality?
Paths to Quality providers have chosen to voluntarily be rated on the quality of the program they provide for children. This program has 4 Levels. To see more information about this Program, please click here.
What is the Food Program and why is it important?
Any Licensed Daycare can participate in the Food Program. This Program pays the provider for 2 meals and 1 snack (per child) when their daycare provides those meals. This program can be an important way for providers to supplement their income and be able to provide good-quality meals to the children.
Food expense is one of the biggest cost's associated with running a daycare. Providers can spend up to $1,500-$2,000/month (for Class II daycares) to provide the required food items at each meal. This is one of the reasons why childcare can be costly. Providers need to be sure they provide good quality foods to the children they watch.
Surprise Inspections occur 3 times a year from the Food Program Sponsor (these are NOT the same as the State Inspection). During these inspections the provider will need to provide meal data, show the refrigerator/freezer to the inspector, & allow the inspector to view a meal or snack being served. Providers must display their menu for all the parents to see what is being served.
The Food Program is important because it holds the provider to a quality standard. The Providers are also required to have yearly training about Food Safety and Health Issues. The Information provided can be very helpful in making sure the children in the daycare are receiving well-balance meals.
Written by:
Rachael McCracken
Owner, Rachael's Daycare LLC
www.rachaelsdaycare.com
Monday, May 24, 2010
Coming together for the good of our Community!
I am so excited to launch this blog! It is going to be a wonderful place for parents and providers to find one another! I am a firm believer that parents need to have options and that home providers need to network! I have had so many parents contact me for childcare and when I'm able to give them other names of other providers they are so thankful! In this day and age of technology we should have an efficient and easy way to communicate with one another.
Thanks for taking the time to look at this new blog and if you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me:
Rachael McCracken (www.rachaelsdaycare.blogspot.com)
Email: rachaelsdaycare@sbcglobal.net
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