The operator shall implement and annually review specific written policies, plans and procedures that include, but not necessarily be limited to discipline, when a child is not picked up as planned, multi-hazard and medical emergencies, supervision of children, general operating policies, administrative oversight and personnel policies. The operator shall notify the parent(s), staff and the Office of Early Childhood within five (5) days of changes in these policies, plans and procedures.

[19a-79-3a(d)(2)-(7)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

The operator shall post the following items in a conspicuous place, accessible to the public: the license, the OEC complaint procedure, menus, No Smoking signs, the plan for administrative oversight, the radon test, the OEC Inspection report (posted or available), the safe sleep policy and the OEC Developmental Milestones document.

[19a-79-3a(d)6)(C), (e)(1-6), 7a(e)(17), 10(g)(8)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

The child care center or group child care home shall maintain documentation on site that there is a designated director who is twenty years of age or older. Any director hired or newly designated shall have not later than one year of being hired/ designated, at least three credits in the administration of early childhood education programs or educational administration from a regionally accredited higher education institution.

[19a-79-4a(e)(1)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

The operator shall comply with all local codes and ordinances, including the State of Connecticut Fire Safey Code. These codes include but are not limited to: inspections by the fire marshal, ensuring fire marshal inspection certificates are on file, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and documentation of fire drills.

[19a-79-7a(a)(2)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

For programs serving children younger than school age, the building, equipment and furnishings shall be maintained in a good state of repair. A maintenance program shall be established that ensures that the interior, exterior and grounds of the building are maintained, kept clean and orderly, free from accumulations of refuse, dampness, stagnant water, dilapidated structures and other health and safety hazards.

[19a-79-7a(c)(2)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

Prior to the administration of any medication, the director(s), head teacher(s), program staff or group child care home provider(s) who are responsible for administering the medications shall first be trained by a pharmacist, physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse in the methods of administration of medications and shall receive written approval from the trainer which indicates that the trainee has successfully completed a training program as required herein. In addition to being trained in the methods of medication administration, such trained staff may administer injectable medications by a premeasured, commercially prepared auto-injector used to treat allergic reactions or other type of injectable medication and rectal medications, only after he or she has successfully completed a training program on the administration of such type of medication. After completing such training, the director, head teacher, program staff or group child care home provider shall annually have his or her skills and competency in the administration of such medication reviewed and/or validated in accordance with the regulations. The facility shall have program staff trained in the use such medications on site during all hours when a child who has orders to receive such medication is on-site. Upon completion of the required training program or the review and validation of the required training, the written training approval for staff shall be on file at the facility. Approval for the administration of oral, topical, inhalant medications, rectal medications and injectable medications other than by a premeasured commercially prepared auto-injector shall remain valid for three years. Approval for the administration of injectable medications by a premeasured commercially prepared auto-injector shall be valid for one year. A copy of the approval shall be on file at the facility for a period of three years and shall be available to Office staff upon request. The operator shall ensure that the trainer provides the trainee with an outline of the curriculum content which verifies that all mandated requirements have been included in the training program. A copy of said outline shall be on file at the facility for a period of three years for Office review. The Office may require at any time that the operator obtain the full curriculum from the trainer for review by the Office.

[19a-79-9a(b)(1)(A-F)-(2)(A-C)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

An education consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice and support regarding the educational content and practice of the program. A person needs to apply for approval to be an education consultant. Program staff shall not serve as education consultants for programs in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role; or in a program with the same operator as a program in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role. Specific duties of the education consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, annual site visits to the facility, reviewing daily plans, curriculum documents, and educational policies for the developmental and age appropriate practices, observing program staff interactions, use of materials and equipment, implementation of plans and approaches to classroom management; and providing feedback on documentation review and classroom observations to the director and head teacher. A health consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the health of the children and the health program. Specific duties of the health consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, quarterly site visits to facilities that serve children three years of age and older; or for group child care homes, facilities that operate no more than three hours per day, or facilities that enroll only school age children, semi-annual site visits. Facilities that are closed during the summer months may omit the summer quarterly visit. Site visits shall be made by the health consultant during customary business hours when the children are present at the facility. Specific duties include, but are not limited to reviewing health and immunization records of children and program staff, reviewing the contents, storage and plan for maintenance of first aid kits, observing the indoor and outdoor environments for health and safety, observing children’s general health and development, observing diaper changing and toileting areas and diaper changing, toileting and hand washing procedures, reviewing the policies, procedures and required documentation for the administration of medications, including petitions for special medication authorizations needed for programs that administer medication, assisting in the review of individual care plans for children with special health care needs or children with disabilities, as needed; and quarterly review of all injury, illness, incident and accident reports. A social service consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the emotional needs, program staff support and the social service program. A registered dietitian consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding nutrition and food service for those programs that prepare or plan meals. A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. Consultative service shall include, but not be limited to an annual review of written policies, plans and procedures that relate to the services provided by the consultant, availability by telecommunication for advice regarding problems, availability, in person, of the consultant to the program, consulting with administration and program staff about specific problems, acting as a resource person to program staff and the parent(s) to include coordinating services and assisting families and program staff in identifying necessary resources, and seeking and supporting the collaboration of multiple consultants serving the program. The activities and observations required by each consultant shall be documented in a consultation log that is kept on file at the facility for two years.

The operator of a child care center or group child care home is responsible for maintaining on the licensed premises a current record for each child enrolled. A copy of the record shall be available and provided upon request to the Office of Early Childhood, the child's parent(s) and the local health director. It shall include a health record that shall include date of birth, a signed physical examination form including the child's date of birth, a statement about the child's general health and the presence of any known medical or emotional illness or disorder that would currently pose a risk to other children or which would currently affect this child’s functional ability to participate safely in a child care setting.

[19a-79-5a(a)(2)(A)-(E)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

The written plan shall include the use of a variety of indoor and outdoor environments based on the children’s interest, individual needs and the learning to be addressed; a flexible schedule that allows time for children to make choices, continue projects over time, and transition from one activity to another; learning experiences that are relevant to the children’s lives and cultural context; a balance of child-initiated and teacher-initiated experiences; exploration and discovery; the use of a variety of materials that support active engagement and promote skills across areas of learning and development; rest, sleep or quiet activities; nutritious meals and snacks; toileting and clean up; individual and small group activities; and moderate and vigorous physical activity for children three years of age and older unless a child has a disability or is experiencing a developmental delay, which prevents such child from engaging in such physical activity. Such activity shall take place outdoors. No child care center or group child care home shall provide access to mobile cellular telephones, laptops and desktop computers or equipment that is capable of playing a video game or digital video disk to children under two years of age. Each child care center and group child care home shall restrict access to mobile cellular telephones, laptop and desktop computers or equipment that is capable of playing a video game or digital video disk by children two years of age and older except for educational or physical activity purposes. This subsection shall not apply to a child in the care of such child care center or group child care home that has a disability or is experiencing a developmental delay, and requires the use of such devices as a result of such disability or delay.

[19a-79-8a-(a)(1-11)-(b)] · Corrected Mar 21, 2025

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[-] · Corrected Apr 17, 2024

A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. These services shall include an early childhood educational consultant, a health consultant, a dentist or dental hygienist consultant, a social service consultant, and a registered dietitian consultant for those programs that serve meals. Consultative services shall include annual review of written policies, plans and procedures, annual review of education programs, availability by telecommunication for advice regarding problems, availability, in person of the consultant to the program, consulting with administration and staff about specific problems, and acting as a resource person to staff and the parents.

[19a-79-4a(h)(1) and/or 19a-79-4a(h)(2)] · Corrected Feb 21, 2024

Medication shall be stored in the original child-resistant safety container and appropriately labeled. Medication shall be stored in a locked area or a locked container in a refrigerator in keeping with the label directions away from food and inaccessible to children. Controlled drugs shall be stored in accordance with state law. Equipment and medications prescribed to treat asthma, administer glucagons, or as an emergent first line of defense medication against an allergic response shall be stored in a safe manner, inaccessible to other children, to allow for quick access in an emergency.

[19a-79-9a(b)(5)] · Corrected Feb 21, 2024

A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. Consultative services shall include documenting the activities and observations in a consultation log that is kept on file at the facility for two years.

[19a-79-4a(h)(2)(G)] · Corrected Feb 21, 2024

Prior to the administration of any medication, the director(s), head teacher(s), program staff or group child care home provider(s) who are responsible for administering the medications shall first be trained by a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse in the methods of administration of medications and shall receive written approval from the trainer which indicates that the trainee has successfully completed a training program. A director(s), head teacher(s), program staff or group child care home provider(s) trained and approved to administer medication shall be present whenever a child who has orders to receive medication is present at the facility. The training in the administration of medications shall be documented. A copy of the approval shall be on file at the facility where the director, head teacher, program staff or group child care home provider is employed and shall be available to Office of Early Childhood staff upon request.

[19a-79-9a(b)(1) &/or 19a-79-9a(b)(2)] · Corrected Feb 21, 2024

At least every two (2) years, the local health director shall make unannounced visits, inspections or investigations of the licensed child care center or group child care home.

[19a-79-2a(c)(7)] · Corrected Dec 20, 2022

The operator shall post the current fire marshal certificate in a conspicuous place, accessible to the public.

[19a-79-3a(e)(2)] · Corrected Dec 20, 2022

The operator shall document that the techniques used to manage child behaviors in the facility have been discussed with the child's parent(s) prior to enrollment and reviewed as needed during the period of the child's enrollment.

[19a-79-3a(b)(8)(B)] · Corrected Dec 20, 2021

Water supply, food service and sewage disposal facilities shall be in compliance with all applicable sections of the Public Health Code. All water supplies shall be tested every two (2) years for lead content and the results submitted to the local and state health departments. Whenever water is obtained from other than a Department of Public Health-approved public water supply, it shall be of a safe and sanitary quality and tested every two (2) years for bacterial and chemical quality and the results submitted to the local and state health departments.

[19a-79-7a(a) and/or 19a-79-7a(c)(3)] · Corrected Dec 20, 2021

Child care centers and group child care homes that utilize combustible fuel shall be equipped with at least one (1) operable carbon monoxide (CO) detector on each occupied level of the facility.

[19a-79-7a(e)(18)] · Corrected Dec 20, 2021