Checking home daycare certification
Have you ever wondered if the daycare you’ve chosen meets all the requirements and certifications?
Several Jefferson City daycare owners told ABC 17 there are actually quite a few things you need to do to operate your own home daycare.
“I figured a reference from a person that had their children here is going to be just as good as anybody else, plus I give them neighbors’ names if they want to check,” said Betty Chesnut, owner of Chesnut’s Day Care.
The Department of Health and Senior Services officials said references, CPR certifications, background checks, training classes and degree’s are all things you need to ask about.
Owner and Director of Tender Moments Learning Academy, Pat Epema said, “You have to be CPR certified and it has to be up to date, usually it’s a two year renewal process.”
Epema’sdaycareis a group home daycare which means up to 20 children can be watched at a time, the more children at the center, the more specific requirements needed.
Chesnut’s Day Care is licensed to care for up to 10 children at a time. Betty Chesnut said she’s watched about 800 children over the last 44 years. She said every two years she gets four check up visits.
“They come unannounced sometimes, sometimes they are announced and also with my food program, they come unannounced and announced and when they are announced they usually come with the children for a meal and sit down and eat,” said Chesnut.
“All licensed child care facilities are inspected twice a year, they go through health inspections, they go through fire inspections to make sure they are safe and all of the people that work at the centers, whether it’s in home or a child care center have to go through background checks and do training as well,” said Ryan Hobart, Chief of the Office of Public Information for the Department of Health and Senior Services.
Some child care providers even suggest you stop in to check on the facility and your children.
“The first time you come in announced, but make sure you drop in unannounced at all different times of the day, you don’t just come at the same time to make sure it’s a safe place,” said Epema.
For a link to the Department of Health & Social Services page, to find out information on your chosen daycare,click here.
