Child Care Provider Webinar, September 2023 (Q3)

• The third quarterly provider webinar of 2023 was held September 26, 2023, in English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Spanish.✓ checked▶ 00:00:00
• The presenter said there was no certificate for attending.▶ 00:00:46
• Guest speakers came from the Child Care and Development Division (with Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies) and the California Department of Public Health.✓ checked▶ 00:02:26
• The Child Care Licensing Program's mission is to protect the health and safety of children in care.✓ checked▶ 00:03:34

• PIN 23-10-CCP has resources providers and families can use to create safe spaces, physical and emotional, for children and families.✓ checked▶ 00:05:09

• CCLD set up a Disaster Response Webpage with disaster-related services and resources for licensed facilities (PIN 23-11-CCLD, PIN 23-12-CCLD). The presenter said it includes disaster-related PINs and the Everbridge mass notification system, and will keep being updated.▶ 00:05:36

• AB 185: effective September 27, 2022, children enrolled in Transitional Kindergarten are considered school-age.✓ checked▶ 00:07:02
• AB 2131: on January 1, 2024, the "toddler component" was eliminated from the Health and Safety Code, in line with the single license. The presenter said this allows limited mixing of age groups, and the department can use written directives, including health and safety requirements for toddlers, until regulations are adopted.▶ 00:07:21
• AB 2806: expulsion and suspension procedures. The presenter said state-funded child care programs cannot suspend or expel a child with challenging behaviors without pursuing and documenting reasonable steps to keep the child safely in the program, and that it applies to state-funded centers.▶ 00:08:04
• AB 2827: Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program. The presenter said written directives will let children with exceptional needs safely use outdoor play spaces at the same time as non-disabled children, so a waiver will no longer be needed.▶ 00:09:14
• SB 1044: in an emergency condition, an employer may not take adverse action against an employee who leaves a workplace they reasonably believe is unsafe. The presenter said it was not yet possible to say how this applies to child care staff, and that licensees and staff must still supervise children during evacuations or relocations.▶ 00:09:42

• Exit doors in large family child care homes must be single action and open from the inside without a key or any special knowledge or effort. The slide cites State Fire Marshal Code Interpretation 22002, California Residential Code R336.8 and California Building Code 1006.2.2.7.✓ checked▶ 00:10:41
• The presenter reminded licensees that children may be able to open these doors easily, so supervision matters.▶ 00:11:49
• Best practices: bells, alarms, mirrors, sensors or other noise-making devices on exit doors; and reminding parents not to leave doors open at drop-off and pick-up.▶ 00:12:06

• September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Childhood obesity puts a child at risk for a variety of medical issues; resources cover healthy eating, physical activity and reducing screen time.✓ checked▶ 00:12:59
• Lack of access to healthy food can seriously affect children's physical and mental health and school achievement.✓ checked▶ 00:14:07

• Title 22 for centers: follow CACFP meal patterns, post menus, and have individual infant feeding plans. Family-style dining is recommended.✓ checked▶ 00:15:27
• The presenter said milk for children 2 and older must be low-fat (1%) or nonfat. This rule has since changed; see the note below.▶ 00:15:45Changed since: from June 8, 2026, children 2 and older may have unflavored whole, 2%, 1% or nonfat milk (PIN 26-08-CCP, checked 2026-09-22). current rule
• The presenter said juice is limited to one serving a day of 100% juice, drinks with added natural or artificial sweeteners may not be served, and clean drinking water must be available all day.▶ 00:16:00
• The presenter said infants in a licensed infant center must have an individual feeding plan as part of their needs and services plan, and a private space must be arranged for a mother who has agreed with the center to breastfeed there.▶ 00:16:35

• The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a state and federally funded nutrition program; CACFP providers are reimbursed for meals and snacks served.✓ checked▶ 00:17:57
• CalFresh and CalWORKs, run through the CDSS Family Engagement and Empowerment Division, can help families.✓ checked▶ 00:18:38

• Prenatal to Five Fiscal Strategies, led by Jeanna Capito and Simon Workman, was hired to support CDSS on rate setting based on the cost of care.▶ 00:20:15
• To get federal CCDF funds, the state must assess the cost of high-quality care. For the first time, California would use a cost model, not a market rate survey, to inform rate setting.✓ checked▶ 00:22:09
• A cost model does not give a single answer; results vary by program type, size, ages served, regulations, and equity and quality enhancements. The presenter said it covers centers, family child care, and family, friend and neighbor providers.▶ 00:24:08
• Timeline: cost study July-November 2023; cost modeling October 2023-February 2024; rate setting and implementation from February 2024 (end date to be determined), with CDSS submitting its next CCDF State Plan by July 1, 2024. Rates also need agreement between the state and CCPU.✓ checked▶ 00:28:23
• Engagement included an online survey, input sessions, interviews and topical ad hoc groups, with a Rate and Quality Advisory Panel advising. The presenter said the survey was for directors and owners, and materials were translated into Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Russian and Somali.▶ 00:30:53
• Updates are on the CDSS Rate Reform website.✓ checked▶ 00:33:51

• The presenter said these CDPH slides were not yet in the posted deck.▶ 00:34:55
• The 2023-24 communicable disease guidance for schools, which had applied only to K-12, now also applies to child care, and is no longer focused mainly on COVID-19.▶ 00:36:57
• The presenter said COVID-19 and flu vaccines were available that fall for everyone 6 months and older, and there had been no recent changes to immunization rules.▶ 00:37:42Changed since: for 2026–27, CDPH recommends COVID-19 vaccine for narrower groups, such as children 6–23 months and adults 65+ (checked 2026-09-22). current rule
• Masks can be used by children 2 and older with respiratory symptoms, but not by children under 2 or anyone eating or sleeping. Hand sanitizer is not recommended for children under 2. Some cleaning products can make asthma worse.▶ 00:38:18
• The presenter said CDPH recommended, but did not require, that children with COVID-19 stay home at least five days; individual cases did not need to be reported and parents did not have to be notified of exposures. Report any disease outbreak to the regional office or local health department. Cal/OSHA rules still applied to staff.▶ 00:38:57
• The presenter said testing is not generally needed for other respiratory infections, and CDPH generally recommends not asking for a doctor's note for a child to return.▶ 00:39:56
• The presenter said CDPH would release recommendations (not new requirements) on whether a child with symptoms should stay or go home; in many cases children with mild symptoms can stay.▶ 00:41:30

• The presenter said licensed early childhood education providers could make a one-time request for at-home tests for uninsured children, families and staff, before October 31, 2023 (now past).▶ 00:43:17
• Staff may not test a child in care; that requires a laboratory license. At-home tests for minors are given by a parent or guardian.▶ 00:45:24
• The presenter said the FDA extended expiration dates on most at-home test brands, and an expired test can still be used if the control line is valid.▶ 00:48:51

• Licensed child care facilities with children ages 2-5 must report enrollees' immunization status every year. The presenter said the 2023 deadline was December 1 (now past).▶ 00:52:40Applies to: preschools with a child care center license. Family child care homes review immunization status but do not report (CDPH, checked 2026-09-22). current ruleChanged since: the current immunization report deadline is December 4, 2026 (CDPH, checked 2026-09-22). current rule
• In 2023 reporting moved to CAIR Hub: register and create a user profile, then use the Immunization Reporting portal. The presenter said people who already use the School and Child Care Roster Lookup (SCRL) tool are already registered.▶ 00:53:31
• Help: training modules, a live webinar in early October 2023 (past), user guides and FAQs on CAIR Hub, Shots for School, your local health department immunization program, and [email protected]. New child care training modules were to be posted on the Shots for School training page.✓ checked▶ 00:54:56

• The Dairy Council of California's Let's Eat Healthy initiative values equitable access to healthy, culturally diverse, affordable and enjoyable foods for all children and families.✓ checked▶ 00:59:22
• Keep your contact information current, and tell your licensing program analyst about changes to phone, email, location, operation or physical plant. Sign up to receive PINs and quarterly updates by email.▶ 01:00:20
• The final 2023 webinar was Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. (now past); registration was through PINs.✓ checked▶ 01:01:47
• Questions: your regional office, the Child Care Advocates ([email protected]), Child Care Assistance at (800) 543-7793, or the policy mailbox [email protected].✓ checked

Both: it is for all child care providers, in family child care and in centers.▶ 01:03:33

No. CDSS does not provide certificates or anything confirming attendance.▶ 01:03:43

No. Download them from Resources for Providers on the CDSS website or from the chat. Translated versions take longer to post.▶ 01:03:16