Author: Administration for Children and Families (DHHS), Washington, DC.

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 24

ISBN-13:

The Child Care Bureau is reissuing the minimum standards as a "Health and Safety Guide" for Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Tribal Lead Agencies in conjunction with the 2005 Tribal Cluster Trainings, "Supporting the Physical, Social, and Emotional Wellness of Our Tribal Children." These voluntary guidelines represent the baseline from which all programs should operate to ensure that children are cared for in healthy and safe environments and that their basic needs are being met. Many Tribes may currently be exceeding the standards set forth in this document; others may want to use these standards as the starting point for developing their own tribal child care standards. These guidelines express minimum standards for health and safety in child care and are not intended to supersede any existing federal, state, tribal, or local laws or regulations. Tribal CCDF programs are responsible for knowing the laws and regulations that govern them and the child care programs that they fund through CCDF and for incorporating these laws and regulations into their tribal child care policies, procedures, and standards, as appropriate. Guidelines for policies/practices/caregiver training discuss: (1) Staffing Ratios and Group Sizes; (2) Caregiver Qualifications; (3) Caregiver Training; and (4) Program Policies. Building and Premises guidelines include standards for: (1) Safe Environment; (2) Nurturing and Enriching Environment; and (3) Transportation. The final section, Infection Control, discusses: (1) Immunization; (2) Sanitation; (3) Handwashing; (4) Food Safety; (5) Care of Ill Children; and (6) Caregiver Health. Appended is: (1) Standard Precautions. A Resource list is provided. [Guide developed by the Tribal Child Care Technical Assistance Center for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Child Care Bureau.].