Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 290 - RULES OF DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
Chapter 290-2 - FAMILY AND CHILDREN SERVICES
Subject 290-2-3 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR FAMILY CHILD CARE LEARNING HOMES
Rule 290-2-3-.07 - Staffing and Supervision

(1) The Provider shall be at least 21 years of age.

(2) Providers must possess and submit valid evidence/documentation of one of the following credentials/degrees issued by either the organizations listed below, an accredited educational institution, or another organization approved/recognized by the Department:

(3) Providers and applicants who have submitted an application for License on or before June 30, 2009 shall be exempt from the requirement stated in (2)(a) through (g) above, except if the Family Child Care Learning Home closes for business and then submits a new application for License on or after July 1, 2009.

Any Provider who submits an application for License on or after July 1, 2009 must meet one of the education requirements listed above. Any Provider who has submitted an application for License on or before June 30, 2009 shall have a high school diploma, General Education Diploma (GED), or similar credentials and shall submit valid evidence/documentation of such credential.

(4) A Home must maintain a personnel file on the Provider, all Employees, Provisional Employees, Personnel, Staff, Students-in-Training, Volunteers, Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance and other Support Staff for the duration of the term of employment plus one (1) calendar year, and it shall contain the following: identifying information to include: name, date of birth, social security number, current address and current telephone number; employment history for the past ten years; as applicable to the position held: evidence of education and qualifying work experience, evidence of required program orientation including date and signature of person providing the orientation; evidence of all training required by these rules which shall include: title of training, date of training, trainer's signature, location of training and number of clock hours obtained; a statement completed by the staff member that the information provided is true and accurate; and any other records required by these rules.

(5) Program Orientation. Prior to assignment to children or task, the Provider and all Employees and Provisional Employees must receive initial program orientation.

(6) The initial program orientation must include the following subjects: the Home's policies and procedures; the portions of these rules dealing with the care, health and safety of children; the Staff person's assigned duties and responsibilities; reporting requirements for suspected cases of child abuse, neglect or deprivation; communicable diseases and serious injuries; emergency weather plans; the program's emergency preparedness plan; childhood injury control; the administration of medicine; reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS); hand washing; fire safety; water safety; and prevention of HIV/AIDS and blood borne pathogens.

(7) Health and Safety Orientation. The Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees with direct care responsibilities shall complete health and safety orientation training within the first 90 days of employment. The state-approved training hours obtained will count toward required first year training hours. The training must address the following health and safety topics: prevention and control of infectious diseases (including immunization); prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices; administration of medication, consistent with standards for parental consent; prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment; emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a human-caused event (such as violence at a child care facility); handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants; precautions in transporting children; recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect; and child development.

(8) First Aid and CPR. Every Provider, Provisional Employee and Employee with direct care responsibilities shall have current evidence of successful completion of a biennial training program in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a triennial training program in first aid which have been offered by certified or licensed health care professionals or trainers and which dealt with emergency care for infants and children. Such training must be completed by the Provider prior to initial licensure. Training must be completed within 90 days from date of hire for Provisional Employees and Employees. The Provider, a Provisional Employee or Employee with current CPR and first aid training must always be on the Home's premises and on any field trip whenever any Child is present.

(9) Annual Training. Every calendar year, after the first year of employment, the Provider, Provisional Employees and Employees shall attend ten (10) clock hours of diverse training which is task-focused in on-going health, safety and early childhood or child development related topics and which is offered by an accredited college, university or vocational program or other Department-approved source. The annual ten (10) clock hours of training shall be chosen from the following fields: child development, including discipline, guidance, nutrition, injury control and safety; health, including sanitation, disease control, cleanliness, detection and disposition of illness; child abuse and neglect, including identification and reporting, and meeting the needs of abused and/or neglected children; and business related topics, including parental communication, recordkeeping, etc.; provided however that such business related training shall be limited to no more than two (2) of the required ten (10) clock hours of training. Records of completion of such training shall be maintained in the Home by the Provider, as required by these rules.

(10) The Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees shall never have been shown by credible evidence, e.g., a court, a department investigation or other reliable evidence to have abused, neglected, sexually exploited, or deprived a child or adult or to have subjected any person to serious injury as a result of intentional or grossly negligent misconduct. The Department may request an oral or written statement to this effect at the time of application or hire or at any other time the Department has reason to believe that a Provider, Employee or Provisional Employee is not qualified under these rules to administer or work in the Home. Upon said request, the Provider, Employee, or Provisional Employee shall provide this statement to the Department.

(11) The Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees must be able to perform adequately the job duties of providing for the care and supervision of the children in the Home in accordance with these rules.

(12) The Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees shall not have made any material false statements concerning qualifications requirements either to the Department or to the Provider.

(13) The Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees must provide additional reasonable verification of the qualifications of the Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees upon request by the Department. Reasonable verification may include, but need not be limited to any or all of the following: statement(s) from an attending physician or other health care professional attesting to the mental and/or physical health of the Provider, Provisional Employee or Employee; letters of reference from designated persons in the community where the Provider, Provisional Employee and/or Employee intend to work or is working; certified copies of court orders; and additional records checks.

(14) The Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees must comply with the background check requirements as outlined in Rule 290-2-3-.21 Criminal Records and Comprehensive Background Checks.

(15) The total number of Children not Related to the Provider in the Family Child Care Learning Home, for pay or not for pay, cannot exceed six Children, except that a Provider may care for two additional children who are three years of age or older for two designated one hour periods daily upon approval by the Department.

(16) Whenever Related Children or Children who reside in the Home are present in the Home, the total number of children present under the age of thirteen years may not exceed twelve, and the space requirement of 35 square feet per each child present must be met.

(17) At least one Staff person with a satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination shall supervise Children at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means Staff members are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The person(s) supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm's length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger. Plans shall be made to obtain additional Staff help in cases of emergencies.

(18) An Employee or Provisional Employee, who must be at least sixteen (16) years of age, must be present to assist with supervision whenever more than three (3) children under the age of twelve (12) months are present, more than six (6) children under the age of three (3) years are present or more than eight (8) children under the age of five (5) years are present.

(19) If Children are allowed to participate in water activities where the water is over two feet in depth, the Provider or an Adult shall supervise such activities and must have successfully completed a training program in lifeguarding offered by a water-safety instructor certified by the American Red Cross or YMCA or other recognized standard setting agency for water safety instruction.

(20) Employees. A licensed Home may hire Employees. All Employees:

(21) Provisional Employees. A licensed Home may hire Provisional Employees. All Provisional Employees:

(22) Independent Contractors. A Home may have an independent contractor to offer supplemental educational or physical activities for Children in care.

(23) Parents. The Home may have Parents occasionally assist in a classroom, chaperone or accompany a group of Children from the Home on a field trip.

(24) Volunteers. The Home may have volunteers other than Parents help in a classroom, chaperone or accompany a group of Children from the Home on a field trip.

(25) Students-in-Training. The Home may have Students-in-Training.

(26) Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance and Other Support Staff. The Home may have qualified and sufficient direct-care, clerical, housekeeping, maintenance and other support staff to ensure full compliance with these rules without neglecting the supervision of the Children.

(27) Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations. The Provider, Employees and Provisional Employees shall not commit any criminal act, as defined under Georgia law, in the presence of any child enrolled in the Home and shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations.