Code of Vermont Rules › Agency 13 - AGENCY OF HUMAN SERVICES › Sub-Agency 171 - DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES; CHILD DEVELOPMENT DIVISION › Chapter 005 - CHILD CARE LICENSING REGULATIONS: REGISTERED AND LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES › Section 13 171 005 - CHILD CARE LICENSING REGULATIONS: REGISTERED AND LICENSED FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES

Current through June, 2024
LICENSING REGULATIONS FOR REGISTERED AND LICENSED FAMILY
				  CHILD CARE HOMES
FOREWORD
Child Care Licensing Regulations govern child care facilities
				  and programs in the State of Vermont. These rules are minimum requirements
				  established to protect the health and safety of Vermont's children in
				  out-of-home care and ensure that children in child care programs in Vermont are
				  provided with wholesome growth and educational experiences.
This is a revision of two sets of regulations: Regulations
				  for Family Day Care Homes, (October 1996), and Family Child Care Licensing
				  Regulations, (February 2001), hereafter combined and known as Licensing
				  Regulations for Registered and Licensed Family Child Care Homes. Licensed
				  Family Child Care Homes can provide services for more children and are required
				  to meet some additional standards not required for Registered Family Child Care
				  Homes. The combined regulation creates consistency in basic standards across
				  levels in a family child care home setting and a clear path from one type to
				  another if a provider wants to make that transition.
Revisions were developed in an intensive two and half year
				  process engaging national experts, local stakeholders, child care and education
				  providers, and licensing and program quality staff in the Child Development
				  Division (CDD) to produce a comprehensive revision of Vermont's child care
				  regulations that is child-centered, family friendly and fair to providers.
				  Representatives from Vermont Department of Health, Vermont Agency of Education,
				  and Vermont Department of Mental Health also advised and participated. All
				  participants agreed on the goal to set clear, consistent, developmentally
				  appropriate standards based on observable program characteristics known to
				  protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of children in care and
				  education settings.
The development process began by collecting broad input in
				  community forums co-convened by the CDD, Building Bright Futures Regional
				  Councils and local Community Child Care Support Agencies in each of the twelve
				  (12) Agency of Human Services regions across the state. Subsequently over one
				  hundred child care providers, child care licensors, and other community
				  stakeholders came together in six (6), geographically dispersed, Saturday
				  morning work groups eleven (11) times over thirteen (13) months to review
				  research on best practice, discuss current practices and realities, and to
				  develop recommendations for revised licensing standards. The State of Vermont
				  is indebted to these highly committed, hardworking volunteers for their
				  well-informed contribution to this result.
Over many months, a team of CDD staff reviewed and compiled
				  work group recommendations into iterative drafts, and staff met with staff from
				  the Vermont Division of Fire Safety, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, and
				  Vermont Department of Health to discuss and review the draft revisions.
Revisions to the rules reflect an understanding of current
				  scientific evidence related to how children learn and develop. The rules also
				  reflect industry standards and realities in implementing child care and early
				  education program practices that impact the health, safety and well-being of
				  children. They incorporate changes in the organization of Vermont state
				  agencies responsible for licensing and monitoring; changes in applicable
				  legislation and regulations from other related governing entities; the use of
				  information technology in government and program administration; and the
				  evolving system of early childhood and afterschool services in Vermont.
It is the intent of the Department for Children and Families,
				  Child Development Division in the Vermont Agency of Human Services that
				  licensing requirements are clear, reasonable, fair and enforceable and keep
				  children and their families at the center of our concern. In the interests of
				  serving the public, comments on the rules are welcomed at any time and will be
				  considered for future revisions or the development of new requirements.
				  Comments can be made on our website:
http://dcf.vermont.gov/cdd/child_care_licensing
FCCH SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
Rule
				1.1. Legal Authority to Regulate Service.
A person providing care for children in more than two (2)
				  families other than their own must be registered or licensed in accord with
				  these regulations. No person agency, corporation, partnership or individual
				  shall operate or maintain a registered or licensed family child care home
				  without approval from the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF)
				  and a current license issued by the Child Development Division (CDD). The legal
				  authority for these regulations is in Vermont Statutes at 33 V.S.A.
				  §§ 105(b) & 3502.
Rule
				1.2. Purpose.
The purpose of these regulations is for the protection and
				  promotion of the health, safety, well-being, positive growth and development of
				  children who receive services in Family Child Care Homes. These regulations
				  reflect the baseline or minimum standards for child care programs regulated in
				  Vermont. All regulated programs shall have the option of exceeding the
				  regulations set by the Department for Children and Families.
Rule 1.3. Effective Dates.
1.3.1 These rules will go into effect for all
				initial applications for licensure as a Registered Family Child Care Home or
				Licensed Family Child Care Home received on or after September 1,
				2016.
1.3.2 These rules will go
				into effect for all Family Child Care Providers with a current license to
				operate a Registered Family Child Care Home or Licensed Family Child Care Home
				on September 1, 2016 with the exception of the specific following rules, which
				require compliance no later than September 1, 2017:
* 3.6.1 (Emergency Planning) of these regulations;
* 3.6.3 (Sheltering in Place) of these regulations;
* 4.7 (Written Policies and Procedures) of these regulations;
* 5.4.1.2 (CPSC Compliant Cribs and Porta cribs) of these
				  regulations;
* 5.6.2 (Medication Administration Training) of these
				  regulations;
* 7.1.2.2 (CPR & First Aid at all times) of these
				  regulations;
* 7.1.3 (Orientation Training) of these regulations;
* 7.3 (Qualifications and Experience) of these regulations;
				  and
* 7.4 (Annual Professional Development) of these
				  regulations.
1.3.3 FCCH
				Providers who hold a current license to operate a Registered Family Child Care
				Home or Licensed Family Child Care Home on September 1, 2016, shall read these
				adopted rules and ensure full understanding of these rules prior to September
				1, 2017 by attending a Child Development Division (CDD) approved training on
				these rules.
1.3.4 FCCH Providers
				who hold a current license to operate a Registered Family Child Care Home or
				Licensed Family Child Care Home on September 1, 2016, may be issued a
				Provisional License if they are unable to come into full compliance with these
				rules by September 1, 2017, at the discretion of the Division, and if the
				requirements in the rules in Section 2.3.6.2 of these regulations are
				met.