Or. Admin. Code § 414-350-0120

Current through Register Vol. 63, No. 10, October 1, 2024

Section 414-350-0120 - Caregiver/Child Ratios and Supervision

(1) The number of caregivers and group size shall be determined by the number and ages of the children in attendance. The required caregiver/child ratios shall be met at all times. This includes:

(a) All child care children, as defined in OAR 414-350-0010(9);

(b) The provider's own child(ren), including foster child(ren), 9 years of age or younger;

(c) All other caregivers' own children age 12 years or younger;

(d) Any other children age 12 years or younger for whom the provider is responsible; and

(e) Any child(ren) age 17 years or younger, including the provider's own children, foster children, child care children, or other children for whom the provider is responsible, with special needs or disabilities who require a level of care that is above normal for the child's age.

(2) Other children, including but not limited to relatives, neighborhood children or friends of the provider's children, are included in the maximum number of children allowed in care if if present in the child care home during operating hours on a regular basis or if present on an occasional basis without being directly supervised by the child's parent or other adult who is not also caring for child care children.

(3) Children shall at all times have the full attention of and be supervised by the required number of caregivers:

(a) Children shall be within sight and/or sound of a caregiver at all times;

(b) A caregiver shall be near enough to children to respond when needed. Children out of direct visual contact shall be monitored regularly and frequently and must be in approved activity areas;

(c) Children may not be on a floor level of the home unless a caregiver is on the same floor level, except as specified in OAR 414-350-0120(2)(d);

(d) When bathroom facilities are not on the same floor level, a written plan for adequate supervision of both bathroom and child care areas shall be developed and implemented.

(4) The number of caregivers is determined by the age and number of the youngest child(ren) in the group. If the provider is certified to care for more than 12 children and plans to care for more than 8 infants and/or toddlers, the provider must develop a plan showing how infants and toddlers will be limited to a group size of not more than eight. The plan must be approved by CCLD:

(a) If all children are in the same age group, the following table determines the staff/child ratio;

(b) If children in care include any infants and/or toddlers, the following table determines the staff/child ratio;

(c) If children in care include a mix of only preschool and school aged children, the following table determines the staff/child ratio;

(d) Even though staff/child ratios are specified in (a) and (b) above, a certified family child care provider may care for 10 children ages 6 weeks to school-age if:

(A) No more than 6 children are preschool age or younger, including the provider's own children and any staff children;

(B) Of the 6, only 2 children are under 24 months of age; and

(C) Four of the children are school-age.

(5) The maximum number of children allowed in a certified family child care home at any one time is 16.

(6) If the home is certified to care for more than 12 children and the age blend is such that group separation is required:

(a) Groups may be joined for: meals, naps, outdoor play, and limited quiet activities such as a video or circle time;

(b) Provider must develop a plan that shows how the groups will be separated without requiring remodeling of the home. The plan must be approved by CCLD.

(7) If the facility provides care to more than two children under 24 months of age, the provider shall meet the requirements specified in OAR 414-350-0100(4).

(8) Prior to a facility providing care to more than four children under 24 months of age, at least one caregiver other than the provider shall meet the requirements specified in OAR 414-350-0100(4). In addition, the provider shall have an extra 20 clock hours of training specific to infant and toddler care above and beyond the original requirements. If the facility is certified to care for more than 12 children, there must be someone who meets the training requirements of OAR 414-350-100(4) on site at all times that five or more children under 24 months of age are in care.

Or. Admin. Code § 414-350-0120

CSD 12-1988, f. 6-29-88, cert. ef. 7-1-88; CSD 7-1989, f. & cert. ef. 3-17-89; CCD 1-1994, f. & cert. ef. 1-12-94; Renumbered from 412-010-0736; CCD 3-2002, f. 10-14-02, cert. ef. 10-15-02; CCD 6-2005(Temp), f. 12-29-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06 thru 6-29-06; CCD 3-2006, f. & cert. ef. 6-13-06; CCD 5-2006(Temp), f. & cert. ef. 8-25-06 thru 2-21-07; CCD 6-2006, f. & cert .ef. 12-1-06; CCD 2-2007, f. & cert. ef. 7-13-07; CCD 4-2009(Temp), f. 12-30-09, cert. ef. 1-1-10 thru 6-30-10; Administrative correction 7-27-10; Reverted to CCD 2-2007, f. & cert. ef. 7-13-07; ELD 10-2018, amend filed 10/16/2018, effective 10/16/2018; DELC 138-2023, amend filed 12/06/2023, effective 1/1/2024

Tables referenced are available from the agency.

Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 329A.260

Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 329A.260, ORS 329A.290 & ORS 329A.280