DCF CHILD CARE FACILITIES FINAL PAPER
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Child Care - ✔✔care, protection and supervision of a child for a period of less than
24 hours on a regular basis, which supplements parental care, enrichment, and health
supervision for the child in accordance with his or her individual needs, and for which a
payment, fee or grant is made for care. (Defined in 402.302)
✔✔DCF's Office of Child Care Regulations mission: - ✔✔To ensure the health, safety,
and well being of the children of the state while in care through licensing and regulatory
activities
✔✔The licensing standards established by the Department address - ✔✔Physical
Environment (health, sanitation, safety, and physical surroundings)
Children in Care (health, nutrition, and development)
✔✔Regulation - ✔✔a law, rule, ordinance, or other order prescribed by authority to
regulate conduct
✔✔What is the intent of the Legislature? - ✔✔To protect the health and welfare of
children
To develop
,a regulatory framework that promotes the growth and stability of the child care industry
and facilitates the safe physical, intellectual, motor, and social development of the child.
✔✔Child Care Regulation Program - ✔✔is responsible for regulating programs that
provide services that meet the statutory definition of "child care." This is accomplished
through the inspection of licensed child care programs to ensure the consistent
statewide application of child care standards established in statute and rule, and the
registration of child care providers not subject to inspection.
✔✔Minimum Age Requirements - ✔✔A staff person at least 21 years of age must be in
charge of the program and must be on
the premises at all times during operating hours.
✔✔Mixed Age Groups - ✔✔A. In groups of mixed age ranges, where children under one
year of age are
included, one staff member must be responsible for no more than four children
of any age group, at all times.
B. In groups of mixed age ranges, where children one year of age but under two
years of age are included, one staff member must be responsible for no more
than six children of any age group, at all times
✔✔In addition to the number of staff required to meet the staff-to-child ratio, - ✔✔one
additional adult must attend field trips away from the child care facility to help
provide direct supervision. The individual could be a parent volunteer as long as that
person is under direct and constant supervision of a screened and trained staff member.
✔✔Nap time supervision - ✔✔During nap time, staff must be within sight and hearing of
all the children. All other
staff required to meet the staff-to-child ratio must be within the building on the same
floor and available to be summoned if needed to ensure the safety of the children.
Nap time supervision does not apply to children up to 24 months of age, who must
have direct supervision at all times.
✔✔Evening Supervision - ✔✔During evening child care hours, staff must remain awake
at all times. While
children are awake, direct supervision must be provided.
✔✔Meal time Supervision - ✔✔A. During feeding times, children must be individually
fed and provided their own
tableware. Children must be supervised appropriately for their ages and
developmental abilities, to monitor the size of food and that children are eating
accordingly.
B. Infants must be held for bottle feedings until they are developmentally ready to
sit in an age appropriate chair with good head control. Children must not be left
in high chairs or other types of feeding chairs other than feeding times. The
, use of safety straps is required to prevent children from falling out of the high
chair.
C. There must not be any propped bottles. If a child cannot hold the bottle, a staff
person or volunteer must hold the bottle during feeding. There must be no
automatic feeding devices unless prescribed by a doctor and documentation is
available in the child's file.
✔✔Water Activity Supervision - ✔✔If a facility uses a swimming pool on site or during a
field trip that is more than
three feet deep... A certified lifeguard must be on duty and present when any children
are in the swimming area.
Wading pools are prohibited. Constant and active supervision must be maintained when
any child is in or around water.
✔✔Transportation - ✔✔A. A valid Florida driver's license including the proper
endorsement;
B. An annual physical examination which grants medical approval to drive, and
valid certificate(s) of course completion for first aid training and pediatric
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures
✔✔Transportation Log - ✔✔-Kept for 12 months.
-Each Child's name.
-Date and Time of Departure and Arrival.
-Signatures of Driver and Second Staff Member.
✔✔Upon arrival at the destination by vehicle, the driver of the vehicle must: - ✔✔1.
Mark each child off the log as the child departs the vehicle;
2. Conduct a physical inspection and visual sweep of the vehicle interior to
ensure that no child is left in the vehicle; and
3. Record, sign, and date the transportation log immediately, verifying that all
children were accounted for, and that the visual sweep was conducted.
4. Ensure that a second staff member signs and dates the transportation Log
verifying that all children were accounted for, and that the log is complete.
✔✔Emergency Care Plans - ✔✔A. Child care personnel must have possession of
contact information for the parent or legal guardian of each child being transported by
vehicle or on foot while away from the child care facility.
B. When transporting children with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma,
diabetes or seizures), their emergency care plans and supplies or medication
must be available in the vehicle or with child care personnel on the field trip.
The responsible adult in the vehicle or on the field trip must be trained to
recognize and respond appropriately to a medical emergency.
✔✔Vehicle Requirements - ✔✔A. All vehicles regularly used to transport children must
be inspected annually by
a mechanic to ensure that they are in proper working order. Documentation by
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SURE A+
✔✔Child Care - ✔✔care, protection and supervision of a child for a period of less than
24 hours on a regular basis, which supplements parental care, enrichment, and health
supervision for the child in accordance with his or her individual needs, and for which a
payment, fee or grant is made for care. (Defined in 402.302)
✔✔DCF's Office of Child Care Regulations mission: - ✔✔To ensure the health, safety,
and well being of the children of the state while in care through licensing and regulatory
activities
✔✔The licensing standards established by the Department address - ✔✔Physical
Environment (health, sanitation, safety, and physical surroundings)
Children in Care (health, nutrition, and development)
✔✔Regulation - ✔✔a law, rule, ordinance, or other order prescribed by authority to
regulate conduct
✔✔What is the intent of the Legislature? - ✔✔To protect the health and welfare of
children
To develop
,a regulatory framework that promotes the growth and stability of the child care industry
and facilitates the safe physical, intellectual, motor, and social development of the child.
✔✔Child Care Regulation Program - ✔✔is responsible for regulating programs that
provide services that meet the statutory definition of "child care." This is accomplished
through the inspection of licensed child care programs to ensure the consistent
statewide application of child care standards established in statute and rule, and the
registration of child care providers not subject to inspection.
✔✔Minimum Age Requirements - ✔✔A staff person at least 21 years of age must be in
charge of the program and must be on
the premises at all times during operating hours.
✔✔Mixed Age Groups - ✔✔A. In groups of mixed age ranges, where children under one
year of age are
included, one staff member must be responsible for no more than four children
of any age group, at all times.
B. In groups of mixed age ranges, where children one year of age but under two
years of age are included, one staff member must be responsible for no more
than six children of any age group, at all times
✔✔In addition to the number of staff required to meet the staff-to-child ratio, - ✔✔one
additional adult must attend field trips away from the child care facility to help
provide direct supervision. The individual could be a parent volunteer as long as that
person is under direct and constant supervision of a screened and trained staff member.
✔✔Nap time supervision - ✔✔During nap time, staff must be within sight and hearing of
all the children. All other
staff required to meet the staff-to-child ratio must be within the building on the same
floor and available to be summoned if needed to ensure the safety of the children.
Nap time supervision does not apply to children up to 24 months of age, who must
have direct supervision at all times.
✔✔Evening Supervision - ✔✔During evening child care hours, staff must remain awake
at all times. While
children are awake, direct supervision must be provided.
✔✔Meal time Supervision - ✔✔A. During feeding times, children must be individually
fed and provided their own
tableware. Children must be supervised appropriately for their ages and
developmental abilities, to monitor the size of food and that children are eating
accordingly.
B. Infants must be held for bottle feedings until they are developmentally ready to
sit in an age appropriate chair with good head control. Children must not be left
in high chairs or other types of feeding chairs other than feeding times. The
, use of safety straps is required to prevent children from falling out of the high
chair.
C. There must not be any propped bottles. If a child cannot hold the bottle, a staff
person or volunteer must hold the bottle during feeding. There must be no
automatic feeding devices unless prescribed by a doctor and documentation is
available in the child's file.
✔✔Water Activity Supervision - ✔✔If a facility uses a swimming pool on site or during a
field trip that is more than
three feet deep... A certified lifeguard must be on duty and present when any children
are in the swimming area.
Wading pools are prohibited. Constant and active supervision must be maintained when
any child is in or around water.
✔✔Transportation - ✔✔A. A valid Florida driver's license including the proper
endorsement;
B. An annual physical examination which grants medical approval to drive, and
valid certificate(s) of course completion for first aid training and pediatric
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedures
✔✔Transportation Log - ✔✔-Kept for 12 months.
-Each Child's name.
-Date and Time of Departure and Arrival.
-Signatures of Driver and Second Staff Member.
✔✔Upon arrival at the destination by vehicle, the driver of the vehicle must: - ✔✔1.
Mark each child off the log as the child departs the vehicle;
2. Conduct a physical inspection and visual sweep of the vehicle interior to
ensure that no child is left in the vehicle; and
3. Record, sign, and date the transportation log immediately, verifying that all
children were accounted for, and that the visual sweep was conducted.
4. Ensure that a second staff member signs and dates the transportation Log
verifying that all children were accounted for, and that the log is complete.
✔✔Emergency Care Plans - ✔✔A. Child care personnel must have possession of
contact information for the parent or legal guardian of each child being transported by
vehicle or on foot while away from the child care facility.
B. When transporting children with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma,
diabetes or seizures), their emergency care plans and supplies or medication
must be available in the vehicle or with child care personnel on the field trip.
The responsible adult in the vehicle or on the field trip must be trained to
recognize and respond appropriately to a medical emergency.
✔✔Vehicle Requirements - ✔✔A. All vehicles regularly used to transport children must
be inspected annually by
a mechanic to ensure that they are in proper working order. Documentation by
