8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1402-1-2.316

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 9, May 10, 2024

Section 8 CCR 1402-1-2.316 - STATEMENT OF POLICIES

A. At the time of enrollment and upon any amendments to policies and procedures, the provider must give the parent(s) or guardian(s) a written statement of the family child care home's policies and procedures, and provide the opportunity to ask questions. Written copies must be available either electronically or in hard copy. The provider must obtain a signed document stating that the parent(s)/guardian(s) have received the policies and procedures. By signing the policies and procedures document, the parent(s)/guardian(s) agree to follow, accept the conditions of, and give authorization and approval for the activities described in the policies and procedures.

B. The written policies and procedures must be developed, implemented, and followed, by the primary provider, applicant 2, equally qualified providers, qualified substitutes, and all staff members including all amendments, and must include at a minimum the following information:

1. Admission and registration procedures;

2. Authorization of parents or other designees to pick up children, including the policy for how the provider will respond to individuals not authorized by parent(s)/guardian(s) to pick up a child and if a parent arrives under the influence of a controlled substance;

3. An itemized fee schedule or individual fee agreement. This must include expectations regarding when fees may be reimbursed if a child does not attend the family child care home; when a child is requested to leave the family child care home; and for field trips;

4. Procedure, including fees, when a child arrives or departs at times other than during the agreed upon hours of care;

5. Parent and provider responsibilities for special activities or programs outside of the family child care home, such as inclusion and/or exclusion of children and the payment of additional fees;

6. Hours of operation or individual hours agreement to include regularly closed days and applicable special operating hours; policy on closure due to provider illness or family emergency and unscheduled closures;

7. Procedure for managing a situation where children remain after the scheduled closure of the facility and the parent, guardian or other emergency contacts cannot be reached. This may include notification of the local county department of social services or police, if necessary;

8. Services offered for children with special needs in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act;

9. Acceptance and notification of enrolled non-immunized or under-immunized children, including any children living in the licensed family child care home;

10. Substitute care, and the clarification of responsibility for obtaining back-up care;

11. How and by whom children are supplied with appropriate clothing and equipment necessary to participate in indoor and outdoor activities, including activities that require protective equipment;

12. Storage, loss, damage, or theft of provider's or child's personal belongings;

13. Field Trips and Excursions

a. Scheduled field trips and excursions away from the family child care home require advanced notice by written or electronic methods, which must include: locations, estimated times of attendance, and a phone number to contact the family child care home provider during the trip; and written permission from the parent(s) or guardian(s) for each scheduled trip or excursion.

b. Unscheduled field trips or excursions away from the family child care home require notification upon departure to the parent(s) or guardian(s) via written or electronic methods, which must include: locations, estimated times of attendance, and a phone number to contact the family child care home provider during the trip.

c. Routine field trips and excursions, such as daily transportation provided by the family child care home to and/or from care, require annual authorization by written or electronic methods, which must include departure and arrival times to and from the family child care home; and pick up and drop off times and locations.

14. Transportation availability, vehicle restraint requirements, and seating capacities;

15. Developmentally appropriate media use including, but not limited to, television shows, video, music, tablets, smartphones, and software used at the family child care home, and time limits for all media use;

16. Meals, snacks, and parental notification of menus, and how children with food allergies or special diets are accommodated;

17. Policy on transitioning a child from breast feeding to a bottle and/or cup, or from a bottle to a cup;

18. Behavior guidance and discipline appropriate to the age and development of the child, including positive instruction and supporting positive behavior. Policies shall include how the provider will:

a. Promote warm and responsive positive child, provider, staff (if applicable) and family relationships;

b. Create and maintain a socially and emotionally respectful early learning and care environment;

c. Implement strategies supporting positive behavior, pro-social peer interaction, and overall social and emotional competence in young children; and

d. Provide individualized social emotional intervention supports for children who need them, including methods for understanding child behavior, and developing, adopting and implementing a team-based positive behavior support plan with the intent to reduce challenging behavior and prevent suspensions and expulsions;

19. How disciplinary decisions are made and what steps are taken prior to the suspension, expulsion or request to parents or guardians to withdraw a child from care due to concerns about the child's behavioral issues. These procedures must be consistent with the policy as stated in rule section 2.316(A)(18), and include documentation of the steps taken to understand and respond to the child's challenging behavior;

a. Identify and consult with an early childhood mental health consultant or other specialists as needed.

20. Rest time and equipment;

21. Safe sleep environments for infants in compliance with rule section 2.329(H);

22. Diapering and toileting, including, but not limited to, process, communication, time frames, supplies, and primary provider's philosophy and approaches;

23. Daily outside play time including during periods of inclement or hot weather;

24. Use of and how often sunscreen is applied, including authorization for use of sunscreen, and how infants or children are protected from sun exposure without the use of sunscreen;

25. Protection of children from exposure to second hand smoke;

26. Notification of parent(s) or guardian(s) for handling children's illnesses, accidents, injuries, or other emergencies;

27. Specific circumstances and symptoms for not admitting ill children, and conditions for re-admittance;

28. Storing, administering, recording and disposing children's medicines in compliance with the Department-approved medication administration course;

29. Adverse weather precautions to include temperature extremes, inclement weather expectations and procedures, and fee expectations if the home is closed during inclement weather and how parent(s) or guardian(s) are notified of weather closures;

30. The procedures for emergencies and disaster preparedness such as but not limited to, tornadoes, fires, shelter in place, lockdown, active shooter on premises, reunification with families after emergency or disaster, and evacuating children with disabilities in compliance with the rule sections 2.126, 2.127, 2.128, 2.129, 2.130, and 2.131 of the "General Rules for Child Care Facilities";

31. The procedures, including how parents are notified, for any child who has been separated from the group outside of the supervision of their assigned staff member or for whom the local authorities have been contacted;

32. The procedure for reporting child abuse, including the name of the county department of social/human services and phone number of where a child abuse report should be made (see rule section 2.122 of the General Rules for Child Care Facilities);

33. The procedure for filing a complaint about family childcare home, including the name, address, and telephone number of the Department (see rule section 2.121 of the General Rules for Child Care Facilities);

34. Where a parent may obtain the official copy of these "Rules Regulating Family Child Care Homes," including the location on the Colorado Secretary of State's website;

35. Regularly identifying on a routine basis recalled toys, equipment, furnishings, and food; developing a plan to remove the recalled items from the family child care home; and

36. The policy on interacting with chickens, reptiles, or amphibians, including notification to parents or guardians on the risks associated with children under the age of five (5) having access to these animals. The policy must include notification of the national recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, the American Academy of Pediatrics found in Caring for Our Children, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment that chickens, reptiles, or amphibians be inaccessible to children under the age of five (5) and are not suitable for school or child care settings with children under the age of five (5). The policy must notify parents or guardians that chickens, reptiles, and amphibians are recommended to be inaccessible to children under the age of five (5) due to a higher risk of infection and increased disease severity.

8 CCR 1402-1-2.316

47 CR 04, February 25, 2024, effective 3/16/2024