Staff also monitor child residential homes. Inspections include but are not limited to a program review consisting of the care-giver's records check, children's records checks, immunization records checks, facility policies, facility program content, and building and grounds safety. Staff investigate complaints related to licensed child care facilities and providers. They make inquiries into reports regarding unlicensed facilities. The branch holds administrative hearings related to child care licensure.
Staff provide in-service training to child care providers throughout the state.
Sessions include preschool fire safety instruction, child abuse and neglect identification, appropriate discipline and administrative issues such as emergency procedures, child care facility policies and procedures, classroom management, and development of a parent handbook. The agency offers all staff development training to providers at no cost. The certificate of need program, a regulatory mechanism, is designed to balance the growth of health facilities and services with the need for those services. Accordingly, staff provide technical assistance to health care facilities and conduct CON reviews of proposed capital expenditures for defined health care facilities and providers. The Office of Rural Health responds to requests for information related to rural health.