Source: https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/214-40-00-7
Timestamp: 2019-10-17 17:48:29
Document Index: 643045129

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 42', '§ 42', '§ 42', '§ 7', 'art 3', '§ 7', '§ 7', '§ 7', '§ 7', 'art)\n6', 'art 7']

Group Family Child Care Home Regulations for Licensure (214-RICR-40-00-7) - Rhode Island Department of State
Group Family Child Care Home Regulations for Licensure (214-RICR-40-00-7)
214-RICR-40-00-7 ACTIVE RULE
"Group family child care home" means a residence occupied by an individual of at least twenty-one (21) years of age, who provides care for not less than nine (9) and not more than twelve (12) children with the assistance of one or more approved adults, for any part of a twenty- four (24) hour day. The maximum of twelve (12) children shall include children under six (6) years of age who are living in the home, unrelated children under six (6) years of age received for care, school age children under the age of twelve (12) years, whether they are living in the home or are received for care, and children related to the provider who are received for care. These programs shall be subject to yearly licensing as addressed in Chapter 42-72.1 of the General Laws of Rhode Island and shall comply with all applicable state and local fire, health and zoning regulations. Any person who operates a Group Family Child Care Home as defined in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42- 72.1-2 without a license shall be referred by the DCYF Child Care Licensing Unit to the Attorney General’s Office for prosecution in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-72.1-7.
7.2 LICENSING PROVISIONS
b.	Notarized Criminal History Affidavits (Form #109) completed by the applicant and any proposed assistants, including emergency assistants, and evidence that they have been fingerprinted in accordance with Department Operating Procedure 100.0215: Criminal Records Checks.
3.	Every application for DCYF licensure to operate a group family child care home shall be accompanied by a fee, established in R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-72.1-5, payable to the Rhode Island General Treasurer.
G.	Licensing Inspection - Prior to the issuance of a license, an inspection visit will be made by DCYF Child Care Licensing Unit staff to the applicant’s home where the child care will be provided in order to determine compliance with these regulations.
Upon successful completion of the above-stated licensing requirements, the applicant shall be issued within 120 days a Provisional License, which shall be valid for six months. Prior to the expiration of this license, the operation of the program will be evaluated by the Child Care Licensing Unit.
C.	If the program is determined to be operating in full compliance with licensing regulations, a full license, which will be valid for a period of one year, will be issued.
E.	The license entitles the Director of the Department of Children, Youth and Families or designee and the Child Advocate or designee to be given the right of entrance, the privilege to inspect and access to all records in order to ascertain compliance with regulations and to investigate complaints.
1.	When a group family child care home is found to be in violation of these Regulations, the DCYF Licensing Administrator or designee sends written notice of the violation(s) to the provider. The Notice establishes a deadline for correcting the violation.
2.	If the Group Family Child Care Home remains in violation at the end of the designated time frame, the Licensing Administrator or designee initiates action to suspend, revoke or continue the license on Probationary Status.
1.	Provider, assistant, emergency assistant or adult member of the provider’s household has been convicted of, or is serving an active probationary sentence for a criminal offense, in accordance with § 7.2.1(C) of this Part above.
B.	All administrative appeals/hearings relating to licensing actions or decisions shall be held in accordance with Department Operating Procedure 100.0040, Complaints and Hearings.
2.	Applicant must be able to demonstrate ability to comply with Group Family Child Care Home and Foster Care Licensing Regulations (Part 3 of this Subchapter).
B.	The decision to issue a Group Family Child Care Home License will be made by the Licensing Administrator.
A.	DCYF Child Care Licensing Unit provides renewal application packet to Group Family Child Care Home Provider six (6) months prior to the expiration of the current license.
5.	Provide documentation that required training has been completed (refer to § 7.3.2(A) of this Part below).
11.	Undergo a License Renewal Inspection - Prior to the renewal of license, DCYF Child Care Licensing staff will make an inspection visit to the applicant's home where the child care will be provided in order to determine compliance with these regulations.
c.	Documentation that required training has been completed (refer to § 7.3.2(B) of this Part below).
7.3 LICENSING STANDARDS
1.	Children ages 0 - 18 months - 1 staff for 4 children
2.	Children ages 18 months and older - 1 staff for 6 children
E.	Maximum number of children for child care when there are children living in the home
1.	Provider may be out of the home 20% of the total work week, (20% of 40 hours equals 8 hours per week), not to exceed fifteen (15) hours, leaving the children under the direct supervision of approved assistants.
2.	Provider may be out of the home due to health related appointments or classes/training related to child care which cannot be scheduled when child care is not being provided. The provider shall have the appropriate number of assistants to meet the required adult/child ratios as stated in §§ 7.3.1(A) through (D) of this Part above.
H.	Provider shall have a plan for handling emergencies and shall have at least two (2) individuals, who have been approved as emergency assistants, readily available to be called upon for child care assistance in the event of an emergency. At least one emergency assistant should be no more than ten (10) minutes away from the child care home.
c.	Hold a certificate (one year) in Child Development from an approved/accredited post-secondary institution and have, at least, two (2) years of satisfactory experience operating a licensed home child care program.
e.	National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) or equivalent accreditation approved by DCYF.
a.	Current certification in CPR and First Aid
b.	Approved Family Child Care Training Program
c.	DCYF orientation to Family Child Care
a.	Group Family Child Care Home Regulations
2.	Female providers of child bearing age shall have a rubella (German measles) susceptibility blood test or show proof of immunity by previous testing or produce a record of having received rubella vaccine.
1.	No person shall smoke, or otherwise use tobacco products within the household or outdoor play area of a group family child care home or within twenty-five (25) feet of the home or outdoor play area, while children are in care. Smoking shall not occur in any area on the grounds or premises within the children’s view during the time that child care is being provided.
4.	There shall be adequate open space available to allow for program activities and freedom of movement by the children
1.	The group family child care home shall have a heating system capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of sixty-five (65) degrees in all areas accessible to the children.
1.	The provider shall have an emergency plan for evacuating the children from the home in case of fire or other disaster.
4.	When children under the age of eighteen (18) months are in care, there shall be at least one (1) crib which is equipped with wheels for ease of evacuation in case of an emergency. This crib shall be able to fit through any doorway leading to the outside.
2.	The refrigerator temperature shall be maintained at forty-one (41) degrees F or less and the freezer temperature at zero (0) degrees F or less.
5.	The provider shall maintain a written record of every medication administered, both prescription and non-prescription. This record shall include:
d.	Initials of the provider or assistant administering the medication.
a.	For an infant under four (4) months of age, an axillary temperature (armpit) above 100 degrees is considered a fever. An infant under four (4) months of age who has a fever, even without any other signs of illness, should be excluded from the child care and parent/guardian should be encouraged to seek medical attention.
d.	Blood in the stools not explainable by dietary change, medication, or hard stools
i.	Purulent conjunctivitis (pinkeye: accompanied by white or yellow eye discharge) until after treatment has been initiated
r.	Hepatitis A virus, until one (1) week after onset of illness, jaundice or as directed by the health department
3.	The provider shall not re-admit a child who has been placed on an antibiotic or other prescription medication until the child has been on the medication for at least twenty-four (24) hours. The decision to care for a child who is ill or to re- admit an ill child shall be made by the provider after evaluating the child’s history, symptoms and general condition.
1.	Group Family Child Care Home Provider shall report communicable diseases in accordance with the Department of Health Reporting and Testing of Infectious, Environmental, and Occupational Diseases (216-RICR-30-05-1).
J.	Beverages - The provider shall offer age-appropriate beverages as defined below:
b.	Juice shall not be offered to infants until they are six months of age and ready to drink from a cup. The provider should offer not more than 4 ounces of 100% fruit juice per day. Juice should be offered at either a meal or a snack instead of continuously throughout the day. Fruit drinks or punch, soda, and other sugar-sweetened beverages are not allowed.
a.	Only whole pasteurized milk should be served to children between the ages of twelve (12) and twenty-four (24) months. The provider shall not serve skim or nonfat, low-fat (one percent or two percent) to any child between twelve (12) and twenty-four (24) months.
b.	Juice - The provider should offer not more than four (4) ounces of 100% fruit juice per day. Juice should be served from a cup and should be offered at either a meal or a snack instead of continuously throughout the day. Fruit drinks or punch, soda, and other sugar-sweetened beverages are not allowed.
a.	Children two (2) years and older should be served skim or nonfat milk or low-fat milk (one (1) percent or two (2) percent fat milk) in accordance with guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
b.	Juice - The provider should offer not more than six (6) ounces of 100% fruit juice per day. Juice should be served from a cup and should be offered at either a meal or a snack instead of continuously throughout the day. Fruit drinks or punch, soda, and other sugar-sweetened beverages are not allowed.
c.	Age appropriate health routines such as toileting, hand washing, tooth brushing, resting or sleeping and eating
4.	Children under the age of one (1) year napping in cribs shall be monitored by in- person checks at least every ten (10) minutes. The provider shall maintain a written record of crib checks for each child under the age of one (1) year.
2.	There shall be no routine attempt to toilet train children under the age of twenty- four (24) months without consent of parent/guardian.
5.	Children shall not be subjected to excessive time out. Time out may not exceed one (1) minute for each year of the child’s age and shall take place within the view of provider or assistant.
4.	Names, addresses and phone numbers of two relatives or friends who can be contacted in any emergency if parent/guardian cannot be reached.
5.	Permission for the provider to act in an emergency (refer to § 7.3.4(B) of this Part)
6.	Names and addresses of all persons who are authorized to take the child from the group child care home
D.	There shall be opportunities for the child and parent/guardian to visit the group family child care home one or more times before enrollment.
1.	Transportation of the children by the provider and/or the assistants, including requirements for child restraint systems, shall follow the state laws and regulations of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Registry of Motor Vehicles and shall be covered by liability insurance.
I.	Provider shall have liability insurance covering the group child care program.
M.	Group Family Child Care License and Regulations
N.	Provider shall allow representatives from the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families and the Rhode Island Office of the Child Advocate entrance into the group family child care home at any time that child care is being provided. Department representatives and the Child Advocate or his/her designee shall be allowed to inspect the home to determine compliance with the Regulations and shall be allowed access to all records kept by the provider related to the compliance with the Regulations for Licensure.
Part 7 Group Family Child Care Home Regulations for Licensure (214-RICR-40-00-7)