(3) CERTIFICATION ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The certification agency that is
responsible for certifying an operator shall be determined by the geographic
area in which the child care is provided.
(b) A certification agency shall do all of
the following:
1. Ensure that each new child
care certification worker completes the department-approved new certification
worker training during the first 6 months of employment.
2. Maintain certification records
demonstrating agency, applicant, and operator compliance with requirements
under this chapter. Certification applicant and operator records shall be
retained for 6 years after the closure of a certified child care program, an
application denial, an application withdrawal, or a final appeal decision
denying an application.
3. Provide
to prospective applicants prior to initial certification a copy of the
applicable requirements of this chapter and information on child care
certification, including information on all of the following:
a. Preservice training
requirements.
b. Reducing the
incidence of sudden infant death syndrome.
c. Preventing shaken baby syndrome and
abusive head trauma.
d. Child
development, positive child guidance, and health and safety, including
first-aid and nutrition.
e. The
child care subsidy program.
f. The
child care quality rating and improvement system.
4.
a.
Require an applicant for certification to submit a completed background check
request form and to receive a final determination of eligibility prior to
initial certification.
b. If an
applicant is applying to be a certified family child care operator, require
household members 10 years of age and older to submit a completed background
check request form and to receive final determinations of eligibility prior to
initial certification.
5. Require any potential household member of
a certified family child care operator 10 years of age or older, and any
potential provider, substitute, or employee to submit a completed background
check request form and receive from the department a preliminary eligibility
determination under s.
48.686(4p),
Stats., prior to residency, supervised employment, or volunteer work
commencing.
6. When a current
household member of a certified family child care operator turns 10 years of
age, require the operator to submit a completed background check request form
to the certification agency by the agency's next business day.
7. Follow the requirements for conducting
child care background checks under s.
48.686,
Stats., and ch. DCF 13.
8. Request
a statement from the appropriate regulating agency indicating the regulating
agency approves a child care business in the applicant's home if the applicant
has a separate license or certification to care for children or adults,
including foster care or adult care.
9. Conduct an on-site inspection of the
premises where child care will be provided or is provided, including areas not
used for child care, at all of the following times:
a. Prior to initial certification.
b. Not less than annually.
c. Upon receiving an application for
recertification.
d. Upon receiving
an application for a new location.
10. Conduct the annual inspection of all
certified child care operators under subd. 9. b. as specified by the department
to monitor for health and safety standards. The inspection of certified family
child care operators shall be unannounced and during hours of operation. The
inspection of certified in-home child care operators may be announced and does
not have to be during hours of operation.
11. After initial certification is granted,
document monitoring results in the manner prescribed by the department and
issue a compliance statement or a noncompliance statement.
12. Do all of the following, if the operator
provides transportation services:
a. Inspect
a child vehicle safety alarm, at least annually, to determine whether the child
safety alarm is in good working order as required under s.
DCF 202.08(9) (p) to (s).
b. Review the driving record of each driver
of a vehicle used to transport children in care to ensure the driver has no
accidents or traffic violations that would indicate that having children ride
with the driver could pose a threat to the children. In determining whether a
driver may pose a threat to children, the certification agency shall consider
the totality of the driver's record and any other relevant facts under s.
DCF 202.08(9) (f).
Note: Information on how to obtain driving
records may be obtained by contacting the Department of Transportation at (608)
261-2566 or
http://dot.wisconsin.gov/drivers/drivers/point/abstract.htm.
13. Refuse to approve more than
one certified family child care operator for each residence.
14. No later than the next business day,
document in a manner prescribed by the department any reports of the death of a
child in care, or any accident or incident that results in an injury to a child
in care that requires professional medical evaluation.
(c) A certification agency may do any of the
following:
1. Conduct additional on-site
inspections to monitor compliance with certification standards, in addition to
the required inspections under par. (b) 9.
2. Require an applicant for certification to
submit references at initial certification.
3. Require an evaluation and written
statement by a physician or licensed mental health professional of any person
associated with the care of children or any household member if the
certification agency has any reason to believe that the person's physical or
mental health may endanger children in care. The certification agency shall
document the reason it believes the person's physical or mental health may
endanger children in care.
4.
Impose conditions for approval of certification.
5. Enter into a temporary closure agreement
with an operator that sets forth specific terms and conditions for the closure,
not to exceed 365 days. An on-site monitoring visit must be conducted prior to
reopening.