Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-109.4

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 441-109.4 - Administration

(1)Purpose and objectives. Incorporated and unincorporated centers shall submit a written statement of purpose and objectives. The plan and practices of operation shall be consistent with this statement.

(2)Required written policies. The child care center owner, board or director shall:

a. Develop fee policies and financial agreements for the children served.

b. Develop and implement policies for enrollment and discharge of children, field trips and non-center activities, discipline, nutrition, health and safety policies and, if transporting children, transportation policy.

c. Develop a curriculum or program structure that uses developmentally appropriate practices and an activity program appropriate to the developmental level and needs of the children.

d. Develop and implement a written plan for staff orientation to the center's policies and to the provisions of 441-Chapter 109 where applicable to staff.

e. Develop and implement a written plan for ongoing training and staff development in compliance with professional growth and development requirements established by the department in rule 441-109.7(237A).

f. Make available for review a copy of the center policies and program to all staff at the time of employment and each parent at the time a child is admitted to the center. A copy of the fee policies and financial agreements shall be provided to each parent at the time a child is admitted to the center.

g. When serving children under the age of three, develop and implement a policy for responding to incidents of biting that includes the following elements.

(1) An explanation of the center's perspective on biting.

(2) A description of how the center will respond to individual biting incidents and episodes of ongoing biting.

(3) A description of how the center will assess the adequacy of caregiver supervision and the context and the environment in which the biting occurred.

(4) A description of how the center will respond to the individual child or caregiver who was bitten.

(5) A description of the process for notification of parents of children involved in the incident.

(6) A description of how the incident will be documented.

(7) A description of how confidentiality will be protected.

(8) A description of first-aid procedures that the center will use in response to biting incidents.

h. Develop a policy to ensure that people do not have unauthorized access to children at the center. The policy shall be subject to review for minimum safety standards by the licensing consultant. The policy shall include but is not limited to the following:

(1) The center's criteria for allowing people to be on the property of the facility when children are present.

(2) A description of how center staff will supervise and monitor people who are permitted on the property of the center when children are present, but who have not been cleared for involvement with child care through the formal record check process as outlined in subrule 109.6(6). The description shall include definitions of "supervision" and "monitoring."

(3) A description of how responsibility for supervision and monitoring of people in the center will be delegated to center staff, which includes provisions that address conflicts of interest.

(4) A description of how the policy will be shared with parents, guardians, and custodians of all children who are enrolled at the center.

i. Develop and implement a policy for protection of each child's confidentiality.

(3)Required postings.

a. Postings are required for the certificate of license, notice of exposure of children to a communicable disease, and notice of decision to deny, suspend, or revoke the center's license or reduce the center's license to a provisional status. The center's license, reflecting current regulatory status, and all other required postings shall be conspicuously placed at the main entrance to the center. If the center is located in a building used for additional purposes and shares the main entrance to the building, the required postings shall be conspicuously placed in the center in an area that is frequented daily by parents or the public.

b. Postings are required for mandatory reporter requirements, the notice of availability of the handbook required in subrule 109.4(5), and the program activities and shall be placed in an area that is frequented daily by parents or the public.

(4)Mandatory reporters. Requirements and procedures for mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse as defined in Iowa Code section 232.69 shall be posted where they can be read by staff and parents. Methods of identifying and reporting suspected child abuse and neglect shall be discussed with all staff within 30 days of employment.

(5)Handbook. A copy of "Child Care Centers and Preschools Licensing Standards and Procedures" shall be available in the child care center, and a notice stating that a copy is available for review upon request from the center director shall be conspicuously posted. The name, office mailing address and telephone number of the child care consultant shall be included in the notice.

(6)Certificate of license. The child care license shall be posted in a conspicuous place and shall state the particular premises in which child care may be offered and the number of children who may be cared for at any one time. Notwithstanding the requirements in rule 441-109.8 (237A), no greater number of children than is authorized by the license shall be cared for at any one time.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 441-109.4

ARC 8650B, IAB 4/7/10, effective 6/1/10; ARC 1209C, IAB 12/11/2013, effective 2/1/2014

Amended by IAB August 3, 2016/Volume XXXIX, Number 03, effective 10/1/2016

Amended by IAB November 2, 2022/Volume XLV, Number 9, effective 3/1/2023