Information for Child Care Providers
THE CLOCK IS TICKING EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION AND |
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| TIMETABLE TO QUALIFY STAFF | |
| DEADLINE: 12/31/2008 | DEADLINE: 12/31/2010 |
| EARLY CHILDHOOD CAREGIVER | E C TEACHER |
| E C ASSISTANT TEACHER | |
| S A SITE ASSISTANT | E C ADMINISTRATOR - NO DEGREE |
| E C ADMINISTRATOR - 12 CREDIT | |
| E C ADMINISTRATOR | |
| E C CURRICULUM COORDINATOR | |
| S A ADMINISTRATOR | |
| S A SITE COORDINATOR | |
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DIRECTOR/ADMINISTRATOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND STAFF QUALIFICATIONS TRAINING** |
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To help Centers succeed in meeting Delacare Rules for Staff Development Plans and Staff Qualifications, OCCL is offering additional trainings for Directors and Administrators. Here is the schedule: |
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DAY |
DATE |
LOCATION |
TIME |
Thursday |
July 10, 2008 |
Wilmington Parks & Recreation, 500 Wilmington Avenue, Wilmington 19801 |
10:30AM – 12:30PM |
Tuesday |
July 15, 2008 |
Wilmington Head Start, Leslie Johnson Center, 2401 Northeast Blvd, Wilmington 19802 |
1:00PM – 3:00PM |
Thursday |
August 7, 2008 |
Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover 19901 |
1:00PM – 3:00PM |
Thursday |
August 14, 2008 |
Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover 19901 |
1:00PM – 3:00PM |
Thursday |
September 4, 2008 |
Wilmington Parks & Recreation, 500 Wilmington Avenue, Wilmington 19801 |
10:30AM – 12:30PM |
Wednesday |
September 24, 2008 |
Wilmington Head Start, Leslie Johnson Center, 2401 Northeast Blvd., Wilmington, 19802 |
1:00PM - 3:00PM |
Wednesday |
October 1, 2008 |
Hudson State Service Center , 501 Ogletown Road, 2nd Floor, Newark 19711 |
10:30AM – 12:30PM |
Thursday |
October 16, 2008 |
Milford State Service Center Annex ,13 S.W. Front Street, Milford 19963 |
1:00PM - 3:00PM |
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REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED |
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ESTABLISHING, SELLING
OR PURCHASING AN EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IMPORTANT INFORMATION
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PURCHASING SAVINGS PROGRAM The Nonprofit Purchasing Group of Delaware was established to save nonprofits both time and money. Where possible they have tried to consolidate and simplify buying activities by providing a systems approach to procuring goods and services. All the pricing on these Programs has been pre-negotiated in order to ensure that the member are receiving quality goods and services at the best possible pricing. Best of all, the Nonprofit Purchasing Group of Delaware is sponsored in part by Nemours Health and Prevention Services and managed by United Way of Delaware. To view the various programs and supplier requirements please go to the “Program Information” tab at http://www.npgd.org/. |
Introduction
The Office of Child Care Licensing is responsible for licensing Family Child Care, Large Family Child Care, Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers, Child Placing Agencies, Residential Child Care Facilities and Day Treatment Programs for children and youth.
Today Providers of child care are being challenged to meet the ever increasing demands to serve children. The field of out-of-home care for children has changed over the years as society has changed. As we have gained more knowledge of the importance of the early years to the future of a child “day care” has developed and evolved into what is now referred to as Early Care and Education. Foster Care and Residential care have also changed their focus faced with a population of youth with more complex needs. Today these types of care are part of a continuum of alternative care arrangements.
The Office of Child Care Licensing, staying true to its Mission, is committed to working with Providers to offer information, resources and technical assistance that will ensure safeguards and enhance quality for children in out of home care in Delaware.
New Center Rules Powerpoint Presentation
New Center Rules Powerpoint Training Presentation
Regulations and Requirements....
- Delacare: Rules for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers - Effective Date January 1, 2007
- [105p] PDF format(438kb) | MSWord format(802kb)
- Delacare Requirements for Day Care Centers - Effective Date: September 1, 1988
- [51p] PDF format(172kb) | MSWord format(235kb)
- Delacare Requirements for Family Child Care Homes – Effective Date: June 1, 1994
- [32p]
PDF format(263kb) |
MSWord format(249kb)
- Delacare Requirements for Large Family Child Care Homes – Effective Date: June 1, 1994
- [33p]
PDF format(201kb) |
MSWord format(168kb)
- Delacare Requirements for Residential Child Care Facilities and Day Treatment Programs – Effective Date: May 1, 1999
- [91p]
PDF format(271kb) |
MSWord format(307kb)
- Regulations for Criminal History Record Checks – Effective Date: July 1, 1992
- [12p]
PDF format(115kb) |
MSWord format(76kb)
- Requirements for Child Placing Agencies – Effective Date: May 1, 1986
- [32p]
PDF format(106kb)
Position Qualification Approval (Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers)
Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers should move promptly to begin the qualification approval process for each staff member. Programs should carefully review the Delacare Rules for Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers specific Rules on Staff Qualifications with their staff.
The Staff person should complete the application. All supporting documentation should be included with the application at the time it is submitted for review. The application should be filed as soon as the individual determines that they meet the qualifications and has all the supporting documentation to verify their qualifications. Incomplete applications or applications that lack documentation to verify that an individual meets the qualifications will be returned to the sender. The determination on the application will be sent to the individual. Center Administrators should request a copy of the approval from the staff member and retain the approval as proof of compliance with Delacare Rules.
The Office of Child Care Licensing works with Delaware First to review and approve Qualifications for individuals working in Early Care and Education and School-Age Centers. Individuals seeking to be qualified for a position in a Delaware licensed Early Care and Education or School-Age Center must complete required forms and submit supporting documentation for review. Approval for the following titles must be obtained through Delaware First:
- Early Childhood Administrator
- Early Childhood Curriculum Coordinator
- Early Childhood Teacher
- Early Childhood Assistant Teacher
- Early Childhood Intern
- School-Age Administrator
- School-Age Site Coordinator
- School-Age Site Assistant
- School-Age Intern
When submitting an application to Delaware First the individual should apply for the highest position for which they qualify, regardless of the position in which they are currently working. Qualifying for the higher position makes the individual qualified for any position below that title. Centers can assign person as they see fit to any position for which the individual qualifies.
Information concerning the qualifying process and forms for these positions is available at http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/delfirst/qualification.shtml
Approval of qualifications for the following positions must be submitted to theOffice of Child Care Licensing:
- Early Childhood Caregiver (Rule # 163) - NO APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THIS POSITION AFTER 12-31-08
- Early Childhood Administrator without a degree (Rule # 156) must be submitted to theOffice of Child Care Licensing
- Early Childhood Administrator (Rule # 154), who was approved as Program Director at a licensed Center and had qualified for that position with a Bachelor or Associate degree and twelve (12) college/university credits in child development or early childhood education.
The Staff Development Plan should be used as the application for the titles covered under Rule ! 154, 156 and 163. Click this link to download the form:
This should be forwarded to:
Lynn Jezyk, Rule Development Manager
Office of Child Care Licensing
1825 Faulkland Road
Wilmington, DE 19805
GENERAL INFORMATION
Early Care and Education and School-Age Providers
With increasing emphasis on the educational outcomes of our children through such initiatives as “No Child Left Behind” and, in Delaware “Vision 2015”, a closer look is being given to Early Care and Education. Research on brain development continues to shed more light on how the foundations of learning become structured in the brain, particularly the connections developed in the first three years of life. The infant brain has almost endless possibilities for learning!
Since so many children, particularly of pre-school age, are in some type of out-of-home care the importance of the role of the Early Care and Education provider has been recognized for the potential that provider has to change the lives of the children for whom they provide care. Again, research has identified characteristics that are associated with a “quality” out-of-home care experience for children. The foremost characteristic associated with quality care is the qualifications of the person providing care. Information about the core competencies associated with Early Care and Education may be found at the Delaware First website http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/delfirst. The Early Care and Education and School-Age Center Rules that became effective January 1, 2007 reflect a belief in the importance of the development and enhancement of core competencies by the Field by delineating the topic areas of training which should be pursued.
Provider Resources
In 1989 a project called Delaware First was launched by the Office of Child Care Licensing to create a statewide career development system for providers of Early Care and Education programs. This project was designed by a collaboration of leaders from state government, higher education and the child care community with facilitation from a team of consultants. It was managed for the first sixteen (16) years by the Office of Child Care Licensing with funds from the Child Care Development Fund Quality money. In July 2006 Delaware First moved to the Department of Education and continues to be supported through a collaborative effort of the Early Care and Education community. The objective is to strengthen early childhood programs through enhancing the quality of professional development experiences for providers.
Delaware First developed and has maintained a database of a “Personnel Registry”. The Personnel Registry has been the repository of training records submitted by individuals in the Early Care & Education field. They will continue to provide that service for Family and Large Family Child Care Providers but as of January 1, 2007 will no longer be accepting training records for staff employed in Early Care & Education and School-Age Centers. However, anyone who has registered their training with Delaware First will be able to obtain a printed transcript. This link will show you an example of what a transcript looks like. Sample Personnel Registry transcript (PDF Format, 1p, 12kb)
For information on listing your training in the Delaware First Personnel Registry database or obtaining a report, please call the Delaware First program.
Professional Development Manager
DE Department of Education
The Townsend Building, Suite 2
401 Federal Street
Dover, DE 19901
phone: (302) 739-4236
http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/delfirst
Training Approval
The Office of Child Care Licensing must approve training hours submitted to validate qualifications to provide child care. The Office of Child Care Licensing and Delaware First work jointly to approve training which meets licensing requirements. Potential trainers can submit a curriculum approval outline which is then reviewed by a committee of Office of Child Care Licensing and Delaware First staff. If approved, the workshop is assigned a course number for tracking purposes and the hours of approved training. The course number assigned to a training that has received approval will be verification that this training is accepted by the Office of Child Care Licensing to meet Provider training requirements.
Trainers should review the process and access the forms required for training approval at the Delaware First website. Forms are available at that site for downloading. http://www.doe.k12.de.us/programs/delfirst/trainingapp.shtml
Training Opportunities
A training calendar/newsletter “Provider Pursuits” is published four times a year outlining training opportunities and resources for professional development. Provider Pursuits is mailed to all licensed providers statewide. Please call the Family & Workplace Connection at (302)479-1574 to receive the latest issue of Provider Pursuits.
Resource Centers
A system of Resource Centers is available statewide to offer providers additional resources for professional development and for program development. Mobile resource vans are available to offer outreach to the programs not close to a resource center. Family & Workplace Connection can provide information about this service and the hours of operation.
Career Advisement
Career advisement counseling and information regarding scholarships, apprenticeships and other resources is also available by contacting Family & Workplace Connection. Each Resource Center also provides these services.
Professional Organizations and Support Groups
Get involved! The Family and Workplace Connection maintains a list of Professional Organizations and Support Groups on their website.Information about....
- Criminal History and Abuse Registry Checks
- Emergency Planning Information
- Filing a Complaint about a Child Care Facility
Forms for Child Care Providers
- Accident/Illness Report [PDF Format, 1p, 5kb]
- Adult Health Appraisal for Child Care [added 07/09/2003, PDF Format, 1p, 65kb]
- Child Care Center Verification Form For Fingerprinting [added 10/31/2006, PDF Format, 1p, 16kb]
- Child Health Appraisal [PDF Format, 1p, 13kb]
- Child Information Card [PDF Format, 1p, 6kb]
- Consent to Release Criminal History and Child Protection Registry Information [added 10/31/2006, PDF Format, 1p, 22kb]
- Employee File Check List [Revised January, 2007] This is an OPTIONAL form for centers directors to use. It is a suggested to help organized the information a licensing specialist will be asking you for at their annual visit. [PDF Format, 1p, 26kb]
- Employee Declaration [Revised January, 2007]
- Employee Responsibility for Reporting Abuse & Neglect [Revised January, 2007]
- Employee Orientation Record [Revised January, 2007]
- Employment History Release [PDF Format, 1p, 5kb]
- Food Preparation Review [PDF Format added March 2,2007]
- Food Service Letter [Word Format added March 2,2007]
- Medication Log [Revised 03/30/2005, PDF Format, 2p, 171kb]
- Medication Log with sample information filled in [Revised 03/30/2005, PDF Format, 2p, 746kb]
- Parents Right to Know Act,and Parents Right to Know Act Memorandum [New form 2007]
- El derecho de los padres de ser informados. [Spanish Version 2007]
- Program Director Credential Review [PDF Format, 1p, 214kb]
- Required Contents of Parent and Employee Handbooks For Centers [Revised 2007]
- Service Letter [Revised 04/12/2004, PDF Format, 2p, 41kb]
- Staff Professional Development Form [New form 2007]
- Verification of Child Care Experience (PDF Format, 2p, 36kb)
Related Links
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF) (US DHHS web site)
- Child Care Bureau (CCB)
- Afterschool.gov (US DHHS web site)
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- Car Safety Seats and Transportation Safety
- Certified Child Care Health Consultants in Delaware (added 04/26/2005, Delaware DHSS web site)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- ChildFun.com
- Delaware Birth to 3 Early Intervention System (Delaware DHSS web site)
- Delaware Healthy Child Care America Program (Delaware DHSS web site)
- Early Childhood Educators' and Family Web Corner Teacher Pages
- Family & Workplace Connection
- National Child Care Information Center - NCCIC
- National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Nemours - One of the nation's largest children's health systems.
- Nursery Kindergarten Association of Delaware
- The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation's (TLLCCF)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- Zero to Three (National Center For Infants, Toddlers and Families web site)
Other Information
- Accredited College/University Definition [PDF Format, 1p, 21kb]
- Administration
of Medication Self-Study Guide [Revised
03/30/2005, PDF Format, 18p, 836kb]
- Electrical
Inspection Companies [revised 06/2007,
PDF Format, 1p, 12kb]
- Emergency Planning Information
- Fingerprinting Info
- Food Programs
- Health Information
- INFECTIOUS DISEASES IN CHILDCARE SETTINGS - Informational Guidelines for Directors, Caregivers, and Parents
- Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule
- Licensing Information for Parents, OCCL Brochure. Will print "brochure-style" on legal-size paper. [PDF Format, 2p, 30kb]
- Licensing Information for Parents, OCCL Brochure. Will print on letter-size paper. [PDF Format, 3p, 31kb]
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
- Physical Activity and Nutrition in Child Care Settings: A Web Directory for Providers
- Sample Policies [Revised 10/10/2003, PDF format, 2p, 57kb]
- Service Letter Information [PDF Format, 2p, 11kb]
-
Subsidized child care
- Training Information and Resources (Delaware First program)
