N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-6.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 3A:52-6.5 - Policy on the release of children

(a) The center shall maintain on file and follow a written policy on the release of children, which shall include:

1. The provision that each child may be released only to the child's parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the parent(s), as specified in 3A:52-6.8(a)3, to take the child from the center and to assume responsibility for the child in an emergency if the parent(s) cannot be reached;

2. The provision that, if a particular noncustodial parent has been denied access, or granted limited access, to the child by a court order, the center shall secure documentation to this effect, maintain a copy on file, and comply with the terms of the court order;

3. Written procedures to be followed by staff member(s) if the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the parent(s), as specified in (a)1 above, fails to pick up a child at the time of the center's daily closing. The procedures shall require that:

i. The child is supervised at all times;

ii. Staff members attempt to contact the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the parents; and

iii. An hour or more after closing time, and provided that other arrangements for releasing the child to his or her parent(s) or authorized person(s) have failed and the staff member(s) cannot continue to supervise the child at the center, the staff member shall call the Department's State Central Registry Hotline (1-877 NJ ABUSE/1-877-652-2873) to seek assistance in caring for the child until the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the child's parent(s) is able to pick up the child; and

4. Written procedures to be followed by a staff member(s) if the parent(s) or person(s) authorized by the parent(s), as specified in (a)1 above, appear to be physically or emotionally impaired to the extent that, in the judgment of the director or staff member, the child would be placed at risk of harm if released to such an individual. The procedures shall require that:

i. The child shall not be released to such an impaired individual;

ii. Staff members attempt to contact the child's other parent or an alternative person(s) authorized by the parent(s); and

iii. If the center is unable to make alternative arrangements, as noted in (a)3ii above, a staff member shall call the Department's State Central Registry Hotline (1-877 NJ ABUSE)/1-877-652-2873 to seek assistance in caring for the child.

(b) The center shall distribute a copy of the release policy to the parent of each enrolled child and each staff member and secure and maintain on file a record of each parent's and staff member's signature attesting to receipt of the policy.

(c) For school-age child care programs, the following shall apply:

1. No child shall be released from the program unsupervised except upon written instruction from the child's parent.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:52-6.5

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 413(a), effective 3/6/2017