Toddler death at Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministry

I want to respond to the reports that a Toddler drowned in a baptismal pool at a local Unlicensed Child Care Registered Ministry. This is a horrible tragedy that could have been prevented!

The staff at Child Care Answers works daily with child care providers training them and providing on site technical assistance to ensure that children are kept safe while their parents work or attend school. We have an Infant Toddler Specialists that is a free resource to child care providers who can provide specific training on issues related to infants and toddlers.

In Indiana Child Care Ministries are not required by law to be licensed, however we do have some who have volunteered to meet additional health and safety standards. Praise and Fellowship Assembly of God Church, the child care provider in this case, was an Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministry.  Indiana’s Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministries are not required to meet staff to child ratios nor are they regulated to meet specific group size requirements.   In addition, Unlicensed Registered Child Care Ministries do not have supervision requirements that they must meet. For an easy to read chart about the regulation requirements for the different types of child care in Indiana please visit this link: http://www.childcareanswers.com/PDF_Docs/FacilityRegulations.pdf

 Several bills were introduced this legislative session and the last session that would have addressed some of the differences in regulations between the different types of child care in Indianabut they did not make it out of committee.  To read more about the legislative efforts for change please visit Child Care Answers’ LegislativeEducationCenterhttp://advocacycca.wordpress.com/ and the Indiana’s general assembly’s Interim Committee on Child Care’s page http://www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/care.html

 I know that this incident has left families scared and confused about leaving their children in child care.  Child Care Answers is here to help families with our free services during this troubled time. We have a team of specialists that can help families with their specific questions about child care and how to tell if a program is providing safe, quality care. We are only a phone call away; you can reach us at 317-631-4643. Parents can also find valuable tools on our website at www.childcareanswers.com.

Rally at the Statehouse

Celebrate the Children Rally

Rotunda at the State House

March 2nd 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 Join us to remind lawmakers that ensuring that Hoosier children get what they need is absolutely necessary to maintain the vitality of our State! During the rally we will also celebrate the pending formation of The Early Learning Advisory Committee (SB268) and the establishment of The Office of Child Development and Early Learning in the Department of Education (SB288)! 

General Assembly Update

It’s been awhile since I have updated here. Only a few bills we had been watching made it through committee and to the other chamber. With the main one being, HB1136 Child Care Ministry Advisory Committee. The bill is now in the Senate with a hearing scheduled for 2/15/2012 at 9am with the Committee on Health and Provider services.  As always you can watch the hearing live from the internet at http://www.in.gov/legislative/2441.htm

Important Child Care Legislation

HB1322 Paths to quality tax credits. (Behning) Establishes the paths to quality tax credit. Provides that an individual is entitled to a refundable income tax credit for each child attending a child care facility that voluntarily participates in the paths to quality rating system (qualified child care facility) that has a quality rating of level 2 or higher. Provides that a taxpayer is entitled to a refundable income tax credit for certain eligible business and employer child care expenses. Provides that a qualified child care facility is entitled to a refundable income tax credit for providing child care services to a child participating in the child care and development voucher program, or if the child is in foster care. Provides that the amount of the credit is calculated based on the quality rating of the qualified child care facility and the monthly average number of children who participate in the child care and development voucher program and attend the qualified child care facility. Requires the division of family resources to adopt rules to administer the paths to quality rating system.

01/10/2012 H: 1st Reading Assigned Ways and Means

 01/12/2012 H: Reassign Assigned Education

HB1323 Child care and development fund. (Behning) Specifies requirements that must be met by a child care provider as a condition of eligibility to receive a federal Child Care and Development Fund voucher payment. Sets forth a disciplinary process for suspension or revocation of eligibility.

01/10/2012 H: 1st Reading Assigned Family, Children and Human Affairs

 01/12/2012 H: Reassign Assigned Education

 

 

Senate Education and Career Development Hearing Tomorrow

The Senate Committee on Education and Career Development will hold a hearing tomorrow and on the agenda is SB0268 , Advisory Committee on Early Education. Committee hearings are open to the public. The hearing will begin at 1:30pm on January 18th in room 233 of the Statehouse. If you would prefer to watch the hearing online you can do so at http://www.in.gov/legislative/2441.htm.