Section 17-896-16 - Staff training, experience, and personal qualification(a) Each caregiver shall be qualified through training, experience, and personal qualities for the age group with which the person works.(b) Applicants and employees shall be of reputable and responsible character and shall not have a criminal history record, employment history, or child abuse/neglect history which poses a risk to children in care as specified in section 1.7-896-3.(c) Directors, program leaders, assistant program leaders, and aides employed in a licensed facility on the date that chapter 17-896 becomes effective shall be deemed to have adequate minimum qualifications, for the type of staff position occupied and to maintain this status when shifting employment to another facility licensed under this chapter.(d) The age requirements for staff shall be as follows: (1) All staff positions other than child care aide, volunteer, clerical, or maintenance personnel shall be at least eighteen years old; and(2) A child care aide shall be at least sixteen years old to be counted in the staff-child ratio and at least thirteen years old to be hired as an aide.(e) The director shall have the following qualifications: (1) A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and twelve months of experience in working with children; or(2) Child development associate (CDA) certification and twelve months of experience in working with children; or(3) Two years of college education and twenty-four months of experience in working with children; and(4) In all cases, at least six months of experience shall be with children of the appropriate age for the before/after school program being directed.(f) The director may teach and may be counted in the staff-child ratio as follows: (1) In a facility with an enrollment of less than fifty children, the director may teach and may be counted in the staff-child ratio; and(2) In a facility with an enrollment of fifty or more children the director may teach but shall not be included in the staff-child ratio. (A) Exception may be made and the director may be included in the staff-child ratio in cases of emergency or in special situations. In any case this inclusion in the staff-child ratio may not exceed ten hours per week.(B) Exception may be made and the director maybe included in the staff-child, ratio during the first hour and the last hour of the regular operational day.(C) Exception may be made and the director of a facility with an enrollment of fifty or more children may teach and be counted in the staff-child ratio when the attendance at the facility is less than fifty children.(g) A program leader shall meet one of the qualifications: (1) Two years of college education and six months experience in working with school-age children; or(2) Child development associate (CDA) and six months experience, in working with school-age children; or(3) Completion of high school and nine months of experience in working with school-age children; and(4) In all cases undergo an orientation training provided by the facility.(h) An assistant program leader shall be at least 18 years old, shall, always be under the direction of a program leader, and shall undergo orientation training provided by the facility.(i) An aide shall be at least thirteen years old, shall- always be under the direction of a program leader or an assistant program leader, and shall undergo orientation training provided by the facility. Aides shall be at least sixteen years old to be counted in the staff-child ratio.(j) Volunteers shall: (1) Participate in an orientation training provided by the facility; and(2) Meet the requirements of regular staff members to be counted in the staff-child ratio:(k) Temporary hires shall meet qualifications of positions for which hired.(l) Substitutes for director, assistant program leader, and aide shall meet the qualifications of the position for which hired.(m) Substitutes for program leaders shall be at least eighteen years of age and shall have participated in an orientation training program of the facility, and the daily activities assigned to the substitute shall be closely supervised by the facility's director.(n) 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.(o) Directors of facilities shall make available to all staff and volunteers information regarding workshops, seminars, training sessions or other courses that are available from any source, public or private, in order to encourage staff growth and development.[Eff 2/9/89; am and comp DEC 19 2002] (Auth: HRS § 346-162) (Imp: HRS §§ 346-154, 346-162; 42 U.S.C. §§2002, 2005, 5751, 9833; 50 Fed. Reg 2089)