Ask the Child Care Advocates

• The webinar was held May 23, 2023, built from questions providers had asked the advocates.✓ checked
• The Child Care Advocate Program has promoted quality child care in California since 1984. The presenter said advocates do not have enforcement authority.▶ 00:07:39

• Statutes (the Health and Safety Code) are passed by the Legislature, signed by the Governor, and cannot be waived. Title 22 regulations are licensing rules that can be waived in some cases.✓ checked
• The presenter said regulations have the same effect as law, and failing to follow either can lead to a citation.▶ 00:09:49

• The presenter showed where to sign up for PINs and Quarterly Updates on the licensing website.▶ 00:13:07
• The presenter pointed to the Child Care Law Center's resources, and said they answer whether a child can be released to a minor (yes).▶ 00:18:31

• Report unusual incidents to your regional office by phone within 24 hours and in writing within seven days, on LIC 624 (centers) or LIC 624B (homes).✓ checked
• Reportable incidents include a child's death, an injury needing medical attention, outbreaks of 2 or more, poisonings, catastrophes, and fires or explosions.✓ checked
• The presenter said a fall is reportable only if the child needs medical attention, and a CPS report always needs an unusual incident report too.▶ 00:21:22
• The presenter said outbreaks of two or more cases must be reported, but single COVID-19 cases no longer need to be. Single cases of flu or diarrhea don't need a report.▶ 00:22:33
• The presenter said a planned closure isn't an unusual incident, but tell your analyst.▶ 00:23:12
• Homes report off-limits area changes, changes of adults (new LIC 279 and TB results) and structural changes. Centers report a new director within 10 days.✓ checked
• The presenter said new adults in the home also need fingerprint clearance.▶ 00:24:29

• Mandated reporter training and pediatric EMSA-certified CPR/first aid are updated every two years. Preventive Health & Safety is one time only, with lead training for a change of ownership or location.✓ checked
• The presenter said renewing mandated reporter training only requires the child care session.▶ 00:25:06
• The presenter said family child care assistants need CPR/first aid only if left alone with the children. Centers need at least one CPR/first aid trained person on site at all times.▶ 00:25:38Coming October 1, 2027: all staff providing care in a center or family child care home, and substitute adults in homes, must have current pediatric first aid and CPR and at least 16 hours of health and safety training (PIN 26-11-CCP, checked 2026-09-29). current ruleComing October 1, 2027: all staff providing care in a center must have current pediatric first aid and CPR and at least 16 hours of health and safety training (PIN 26-11-CCP, checked 2026-09-29). current rule
• The presenter said EMSA accepts in-person and hybrid CPR/first aid classes (online lecture plus in-person skills and testing).▶ 00:27:33
• The presenter said Preventive Health and Safety doesn't expire, except a course taken before July 1, 2020 must be retaken for a new application or change of location.▶ 00:28:06
• Integrated Pest Management training is for centers only; the presenter said anyone applying pesticide at a center takes the DPR-approved Healthy Schools Act course.▶ 00:29:06

• Use LIC 311A (centers) or LIC 311D (homes) as a guide to required records, including the children's roster (LIC 9040).✓ checked
• The presenter said to keep records at least three years after a child leaves or employment ends, and records must be available during an analyst's visit.▶ 00:30:32
• The presenter said outside professionals, like a child's speech therapist, don't need staff files, but emergency contact information is best practice.▶ 00:30:59

• Children need up-to-date immunizations and a completed blue card (PM 286); only medical exemptions are allowed. The requirements do not block a child with an IEP from special education services.✓ checked
• Staff need influenza, pertussis and measles immunizations. The presenter said staff may decline the flu vaccine by self-declaration, once, not yearly.▶ 00:32:29Current rule: at centers, a person may decline the flu vaccine (only) by written declaration (HSC §1596.7995). current rule
• The presenter said there is no grace period for children's immunizations under the regulations or SB 277.▶ 00:32:46
• The presenter said adults working in child care need TB clearance plus flu (or declination), pertussis and measles vaccines, and family child care licensees need proof on file too.▶ 00:33:07
• The presenter said records from another country are accepted if translated and showing name, date of birth and vaccines received.▶ 00:34:11

• The presenter said volunteers are not part of the ratio and cannot be left alone to supervise children.▶ 00:34:51
• Volunteer records cover immunizations and TB, a health screening (centers only), and criminal record clearance in specific cases. The presenter said to ask your analyst when unsure about the clearance exemption.▶ 00:35:46
• The presenter said centers keep a volunteer file with immunizations and a letter of good health. Volunteers don't need mandated reporter, first aid or CPR training.▶ 00:36:20

• The presenter said transitional kindergarteners count as school-age for the 7th/8th child (small) or 13th/14th (large), if your records show TK or kindergarten enrollment.▶ 00:37:59
• The presenter said you may enroll more children than your capacity, but attendance can never exceed it.▶ 00:39:24
• The presenter said a second aide doesn't allow more preschool children in a group, and the department reviews exception or waiver requests case by case for rules not in the Health and Safety Code.▶ 00:40:00
• The presenter said infant groups can have one fully qualified teacher with two aides and up to 12 infants, with aides directly supervised in the same room.▶ 00:41:50
• The presenter said school-age ratios are 1 teacher to 14 children, or 1 teacher plus an aide to 28.▶ 00:42:29
• The presenter said an assistant can supervise napping children if the remaining teachers needed for the ratio are on site.▶ 00:42:57

• AB 605 added Health and Safety Code section 1596.951, creating a single center license covering infant, toddler, preschool and school-age components.✓ checked
• Phase One (new applicants only) was then with the Office of Administrative Law; Phase Two moves existing centers to the single license.✓ checked

• An infant is a child under two, and all safe sleep regulations apply to all infants.✓ checked
• Infants up to 12 months sleep on their backs unless a licensed physician gives a written medical exemption, and need an Individual Infant Sleeping Plan (LIC 9227).✓ checkedCurrent rule: in family child care homes, if LIC 9227 Section C is completed and signed, an infant who changes position may stay in that position (Title 22 §102425(d)(4)). current rule
• The 15-minute checks and sleep logs apply to all infants up to 24 months.✓ checkedCurrent rule: Title 22 §101429(a)(2) requires 15-minute physical checks of sleeping infants in infant care centers; the 0–24 month range was not confirmed in that section. current rule

• 2023 provider webinars were June 27, September 26 and December 12 (all now past), with registration through PIN 22-30-CCP.✓ checked
• Questions: [email protected].✓ checked

The presenter said there is no requirement now that the state of emergency has ended, but providers can use the October 2022 COVID-19 guidance as a guide.▶ 00:49:47

The presenter said there's no licensing requirement to repeat them while you work at the same facility. If you move to a new facility and the result is more than a year old, you repeat it.▶ 00:50:41

The presenter said the toddler option was to be taken out of the Health and Safety Code (captioned as January 2024) as part of the single license transition, and that details would come in the written directives.▶ 00:51:38