Quality Child Care: What You Need to Know

South Carolina wants the best for its children – and that means ensuring safe, nurturing environments in which they can thrive.

SC Quality Child Care Public Awareness Campaign

Why is it so important?

Video testimony from two Focus Group participants: James and Tara

What comes to your mind?

Here are some important questions you should ask:

Think Safety

Think License

Think Supervision

Think Cleanliness

Overview of Child Care Licensing

Purpose of LicensingTo ensure a safe and healthy environment for children.

To improve the quality of child care through regulations.

To ensure licensing requirements are met.

To prevent the continued operation of substandard facilities.

Laws and RegulationsChild Care Laws and Regulations are available

at http://childcare.sc.gov.

Click on “Laws, Regulations and Policies.”

The LawChild care providers must be licensed, approved or registered if they:

Care for children from more than 1 unrelated family.

Operate more than 4 hours per day.

Operate more than 2 days per week.

Types of Child Care Providers

Child Care Centers 13 or more children.

Publicly funded centers have Approvals instead of Licenses. Regulations are the same for Approvals and Licenses.

Faith-Based centers must be Registered with an option to be Licensed. Regulations are slightly different for Registration and License.

License/Approval/Registration expires 2 years from issue date.

Types of Child Care Providers

Group Child Care Homes

7 to 12 children.

When attendance reaches 9 or there are more than 3 infants, an additional caregiver is required.

Must be in the home of the person providing care.

A License expires 2 years from the issue date.

Types of Child Care Providers

Licensed Family Child Care Homes

Up to 5 children at any given time within the home of the child care provider.

Applicants must have written approval from their local Zoning Board.

License expires 2 years from issue date.

Requires inspections.

Types of Child Care Providers

Registered Family Child Care Homes

Up to 6 children at any given time within the home of the child care provider.

Applicants must have written approval from their local Zoning Board.

Registration expires 1 year from issue date.

Paper registration process.

Types of Child Care Providers

License Exempt Child Care Providers

Care for children from only unrelated family.

Operate less than 4 hours per day.

OR

Operate less than two days per week.

Examples: Family, Friend and Neighbor Providers, Self-Arranged Care Providers, Mothers Morning Out Programs.

Inspections Centers, Group Homes, and Licensed Family Homes are inspected at least

twice each year. Also required to have fire and health inspections.

Registered Family Homes are only inspected if a complaint is filed against them.

Exempt providers are not inspected by Child Care Licensing.

Some Key Regulations

Licensed/Approved/Registered providers must meet specified adult-to-child ratios.

Children must be under the supervision of a qualified caregiver at all times.

Staff must have clear SLED, FBI, and Central Registry background checks.

Staff must meet specified education, age and experience requirements.

Staff must meet annual training requirements.

How Do I Know a Provider is Licensed?

The License, Approval, or Registration should be displayed in the facility.

They are listed on our website at http://childcare.sc.gov. Click “Search Child Care Providers.”

Illegally Operating Providers

Providers who meet the requirement to be licensed, approved or registered but are not.

Call your Regional Licensing Office to report them: Region I (Greenville): (864) 250-5576 or toll-free (800) 637-8550 Region II (Columbia): (803) 898-9001 or toll-free (888) 202-1469 Region III (Charleston): (843) 953-9780 or toll-free (800) 260-0211 Region IV (Florence): (843) 661-6623 or toll-free (800) 464-9138

A complaint against a provider who is violating Child Care Laws or Regulations can also be made by calling your Regional Office.

Incident ReportingWhat should be reported to Child Care Licensing IMMEDIATELY?

Child missing from the premises or left in a vehicle

A death at the facility

Major structural damage

Natural or Man Made Disasters

Charges or convictions of crimes against owner, director or any staff

Reports of alleged child abuse involving the owner, director or any staff

Incidents requiring fire or police services that affect the health and safety of the children.

Incident ReportingWhat should be reported within 48 hours?

Injuries and accidents requiring professional medical treatment.

Communicable diseases that DHEC requires to be reported in its Exclusion List such as measles, pinkeye, mumps, etc.

Parents should be notified immediately

Contact Information

Child Care Licensing

2638 Two Notch Road, Suite 217

Columbia, SC 29204

800-556-7445

803-898-9020

Website: www.scchildcare.org or http://childcare.sc.gov

? Licensed / Registered ? The Building / Physical Site

? The Staff ? Supervision ? Health & Safety

? Emergency Preparation

? Meals / Snacks ? Daily Life ? Cleanliness

Look. Listen. Ask.

How does your work as a Home Visitor

relate to our discussions today

Provide 1 or 2 recommendations for

how this information can be used?

Look. Listen. Ask.

ReflectionsI learned…

I re-learned…

I will apply…

I would like to know more about …

I am surprised by …