Haw. Code R. § 17-895.1-35

Current through September, 2024

Section 17-895.1-35 - Staff training, experience, and personal qualifications

(a) Each care giving staff shall be qualified through training, experience, and personal qualities for the age group with which the person works.

(b) Staff growth and development shall be encouraged. The director shall make information about workshops, seminars, training sessions or other courses available to all staff and volunteers.

(c) Each caregiver, substitute, and volunteer within forty-five days of hire, shall complete initial training that is approved by the department in health and safety standards which addresses the following areas:

(1) Prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunizations);

(2) Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices;

(3) Administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental consent;

(4) Prevention and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions;

(5) Building and physical premises safety;

(6) Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment;

(7) Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a man-caused event;

(8) Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants;

(9) Appropriate precautions in transporting children;

(10) Pediatric first aid and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation; and

(11) Recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect.

(d) When a caregiver, substitute or volunteer has not provided child care for one hundred eighty consecutive days or more, the initial training in subsection (c) shall be repeated.

(e) After the initial training in health and safety standards is completed with one hundred percent accuracy and the results are received and recorded by the department, each caregiver shall complete department approved on-going training appropriate to the age of children the caregiver serves within twelve months from the date the initial training was received and recorded by the department, and then annually thereafter.

(1) Each caregiver staff member shall complete at least sixteen hours of training annually in at least two of the topic areas in subsection (f).

(2) Substitutes shall complete at least ten hours of training annually in at least two of the topic areas in subsection (f).

(3) Volunteers who serve ten hours or more a week shall complete at least eight hours of training annually in at least two of the topic areas in subsection (f).

(4) When an individual does not meet the requirements in subsection (e) and does not provide evidence of working to complete ongoing training, the individual shall no longer be eligible to meet the staff-child ratio in accordance with sections 17-895.1-36(f) and 17-895.1-37.

(f) Each caregiver shall provide written evidence to the department to show completion of ongoing training. The on-going training course, workshop, or class shall be different from the training topic areas completed in the prior twelve month period, except for safe sleep training required in accordance with section 17-895.1-96(b), and shall be in the following topic areas:

(1) Physical care of the young child;

(2) Care of the sick child;

(3) Child nutrition;

(4) Child growth and development;

(5) Children with special needs;

(6) Learning activities and play;

(7) Family engagement;

(8) Managing challenging behaviors;

(9) Community resources;

(10) Prevention of child maltreatment and abuse;

(11) Pediatric first aid and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

(12) Health and safety;

(13) Child care business or program management; or

(14) Physical environment; and

(15) Safe sleep if permitted to care for children less than one year of age.

(g) Applicants and staff members shall be of reputable and responsible character and shall not have the following:

(1) A criminal history record, employment history, sex offender registry history, child abuse or neglect history, or adult abuse history that may pose a risk to the infants and toddlers in care as specified in section 17-801-5; or

(2) Any other situations that poses a risk to the health, safety or well-being of children in care.

(h) The director of an infant and toddler center shall have:

(1) A bachelor's degree or higher in early childhood education (ECE), child development (CD), or related field from a regionally accredited college or university or transferable to a regionally accredited college or university; thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program; and twelve months of full time experience working with children under thirty-six months of age in a licensed group care setting; or

(2) Two years of college education from a regionally accredited college or university in early childhood education, child development, or related field; thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program; and twenty-four months of full time experience working with children under thirty-six months of age in a licensed group care setting.

(i) A lead caregiver shall have:

(1) A bachelor's degree or higher in ECE or CD or related fields, e.g., maternal-child health, nursing, or human development; twelve months of full time experience working with children under thirty-six months of age in a licensed group care setting; twelve semester credits approved ECE or CD courses, which may be part of the bachelor's degree and shall be from a regionally accredited college or university or transferable to a regionally accredited college or university; and thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program; or

(2) A high school diploma, or its equivalent, and a child development associate credential; twenty-four months of full time experience working with children under five years of age in a licensed group care setting of which at least twelve months of experience shall have been with children under thirty-six months of age; twelve semester credits approved ECE or CD courses from a regionally accredited college or university or transferable to a regionally accredited college or university; and thirty hours of course work in infant toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program; or

(3) Two years of college education from a regionally accredited college or university, preferably in ECE or CD or related fields; twenty-four months of full time experience working with children under five years of age in a licensed group care setting of which at least twelve months of experience shall have been with children under thirty-six months of age; twelve semester credits approved ECE or CD courses from a regionally accredited college or university or transferable to a regionally accredited college or university; and thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute.

(j) A caregiver shall have:

(1) A high school diploma or its equivalent, twelve months of full time experience working with children under thirty-six months of age in a licensed group care setting, twelve semester credits approved ECE or CD training courses from a regionally accredited college or university or transferable to a regionally accredited college or university, and thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program; or

(2) A high school diploma or its equivalent, and, twenty-four months of full time experience working with children under thirty-six months of age in a licensed group care setting, and thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program; or

(3) No high school diploma, thirty-six months of full time experience working with children under thirty-six months of age in a licensed group setting, and thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program.

(k) A child care aide shall have:

(1) A high school vocational child care training course; or

(2) An orientation training in the center.

(l) A twelve-month non-renewable waiver may be granted to new hires, rehires, and current staff in director, lead caregiver, or caregiver positions, who meet all other requirements except the thirty hours course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program, to complete this required course work while concurrently serving in the capacity of the facility's director, lead caregiver, or caregiver.

(m) All staff members required to complete the thirty hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program, as stipulated in subsections (f) through (h), shall, within two years of completion of this course work, obtain fifteen additional hours of course work in infant and toddler development from an accredited teacher training institute or program.

(n) When the fifteen additional hours of professional development in infant and toddler development is completed, the fifteen hours of professional development may count as meeting a portion of the required on-going health and safety training in section 17-895.1-35(e).

(o) The age requirements for staff shall be as follows:

(1) Child care aide, volunteer, clerical, or maintenance personnel shall be at least fourteen years old, except that a child care aide, who is to be counted in the staff child ratio, shall be at least eighteen years old; and

(2) All other staff shall be at least eighteen years old.

(p) Volunteers shall:

(1) Participate in an orientation to the program; or

(2) Be a participant in a high school program which includes training in infant and toddler care; and

(3) Meet the requirements of regular staff members to be counted in the staff-child ratio.

(q) Temporary hires shall meet qualifications of positions for which hired.

(r) Substitutes for lead caregivers and caregivers shall be at least eighteen years of age and shall have participated in an orientation program of the facility, and the curriculuim, lesson plans, and daily activities assigned to the substitute shall be closely supervised by the center's director.

(s) Substitutes for director shall meet the qualifications of a caregiver and shall have worked in the facility for at least six months.

(t) Substitutes for aides shall meet the qualifications of an aide.

(u) Substitutes may be granted an extension to serve in the same position for more than ten consecutive days upon consultation with and approval of the department.

Haw. Code R. § 17-895.1-35

[Eff 11/3/2023] (Auth: HRS §346-162) (Imp: HRS §346-162; 42 U.S.C. §§ 2002, 2005)