Tracking #2007-00074
FA/P 3/9/07, eff. 5/1/07

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[I:/06112701.doc]

(12 CCR 2509-1)

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Revision to Sections 7.702.43, 7.702.54, 7.707.2, 7.707.42, and 7.712.33 were final adoption following publication at the 3/9/2007 State Board meeting, with an effective date of 5/1/2007 (Rule-making# 06-11-27-1).  Statement of Basis and Purpose and specific statutory authority for these revisions were incorporated by reference into the rule. These materials are available for review by the public during normal working hours at the Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Performance Improvement, Boards and Commissions Division, State Board Administration.

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(12 CCR 2509-8)

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7.702.43  Personnel Policies, Orientation, and Staff Development [Rev. eff. 5/1/07]
A.  The duties and responsibilities of each staff position and the lines of authority and responsibility within the center must be in writing.
B.  At the time of employment, staff members must be informed of their duties and assigned a supervisor.
C.  Prior to working with children, the staff member must read and be instructed about the policies and procedures of the center, including those related to hygiene, sanitation, food preparation practices, proper supervision of children, and reporting of child abuse. Staff members must sign a statement indicating that they have read and understand the center's policies and procedures.
D.  The child care center must ensure that all staff are familiar with the licensing rules governing child care centers within 90 days of employment at the center.
E.  The center must have a staff development plan that includes a minimum of nine fifteen (15) clock hours of training each year for all staff. The training must relate to one or more of the following areas-child growth and development, healthy and safe environment, developmentally appropriate practices, guidance, family relationships, cultural and individual diversity, and professionalism.

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7.702.54  Qualifications for Other Staff Members [Rev. eff. 5/1/07]
A.  Group Leader
1.  A group leader assigned responsibility for a single group of children and working under the supervision of a director must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and must meet at least one of the following qualifications:
a.  A Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university.  Effective May 1, 2010, Bachelor's degrees must be in one of the following areas: 
1)  Early childhood education; 
2)  Elementary education; 
3)  Special education; 
4)  Family and child development; 
5)  Child psychology.
b.  A 2-year college degree in child development or early childhood education from a regionally accredited college or university.
c.  Current certification as a Child Development Associate (CDA) or Certified Child Care Professional (CCP) or other Department-approved credential.
d.  Completion of two (2) years of college education, sixty (60) semester hours, from a regionally accredited college or university with at least 1 college course in child development, plus six (6) months (910 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
e.  Twelve semester hours in college-level credits from a regionally accredited college or university in the area of child growth and development and/or early childhood education, plus nine (9) months (1,395 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
f.  Completion of a course of training approved by the department that includes training and work experience with children.
g.  Completion of a vocational or occupational education sequence in child growth and development plus twelve (12) months (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
h.  Thirty-six months (5,460 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual. This option to be group leader qualified will not be available after May 1, 2010. 
i.  Twenty-four (24) months (3640 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual plus either: 
1)  A current Colorado Level I credential; or, 
2)  Two (2) three-credit college courses from a regionally accredited college or university with one course being introduction to early childhood education. 
2.  An assistant group leader must be at least twenty-one (21) years old and have at least one (1) year (1,820 hours) of verified experience in the care and supervision of four (4) or more children under six (6) years of age who are not related to the individual.
3.  Satisfactory experience includes being a licensee of a family child care home; a teacher's aide or teacher in a child care center, preschool, or elementary school; or work with disabled children.
4.  All college course grades toward group leader qualifications must be "C" or better. 

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7.707.2  DEFINITIONS [Rev. eff. 5/1/07]
The capacity for a family child care home (generally referred to within these rules as “the home”) is determined by the amount of indoor and outdoor space designated to child care, as well as the following factors.
A.  A “family child care home” is a type of family care home that provides less than 24-hour care for two (2) or more children on a regular basis in a place of residence. Children in care are from different family households and are not related to the caregiver.

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3.  Applying for the Experienced Provider License
a.  At least 60 calendar days prior to the proposed date of operation as an experienced provider, the applicant must submit the following items to the state Department of Human Services a completed and signed experienced provider application form, which:
●  affirms compliance with all the rules for family child care home providers and experienced providers
●  a check or money order in the amount of $35
●  a detailed emergency evacuation plan to accommodate the highest capacity of children in care
b.  A licensing evaluation will occur after the Department has reviewed the application.
c.  If applying at the time of continuation of a regular child care license, providers must submit the experienced provider application with their continuation documents and a check or money order for $35 for the application fee. The $22 continuation fee for the regular license need not be paid.
4.  Continuing the Experienced Provider License
a.  Annually, prior to their continuation date, experienced providers must submit the following to the department:
●  a completed and signed continuation form
●  a completed compliance form affirming ongoing compliance with the rules for family child can home providers and experienced providers, including a list of training completed during the year to comply with annual training requirements found in this section
●  a $35 continuation licensing fee
b.  At the time the continuation documents are submitted to the department, the experienced provider must complete a written self-evaluation on the forms prescribed by the department. The self-evaluation form must be maintained by the facility and be available for review upon request by the licensing specialist.
c.  Annually, the experienced provider must complete 18 clock hours of ongoing training, with a minimum of 6 of the hours in the area of child growth and development.
d.  The experienced provider must be able to satisfactorily demonstrate the emergency evacuation plan during any licensing visit.

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7.707.42  Training [Rev. eff. 5/1/07]
(See also Section 7.707.41, C, 2, Large Home)
A.  Any person applying for a license to operate a family child care home must possess basic knowledge of child growth and development, early childhood care and education, child nutrition, appropriate discipline, child abuse recognition and reporting, operation of a family child care business, and safety and health care practices, including universal precautions. Prior to the issuance of the license, the licensee and primary caregiver must complete a Department approved fifteen (15) clock hour course that includes six core Knowledge standards. Those individuals who are director qualified or have a 2 or 4-year degree in early childhood education are exempt from pre-licensing training, except for the 1-1/2 hours of universal precautions training.
Prior to issuance of the license licensees and caregivers must complete a minimum of 1-1/2 hours of training in universal precautions. This 1-1/2 hours of universal precautions training can be included as par: of the pre-licensing training, in which case the total number of hours required is 13-1/2. Universal precautions are safe work practices to prevent exposure to blood and body fluids Documentation of this training must include hours of training and completion date. This training must be renewed every three (3) years. Renewal of universal precautions training can be part of the first-aid training.
Licensees requesting continuation of a permanent license to operate a home and all caregivers must complete an additional fifteen (15) clock hours or one semester hour of training each year The additional training must be documented on the form designated by the department and submitted to the department every year. This training must relate to one or more of the following general areas-child growth and development, healthy and safe environment, developmentally appropriate practices, guidance, family relationships, cultural and individual diversity, and professionalism. The fifteen (15) clock hours of training do not include recertification in First Aid and CPR.
B.  Prior to licensing, all caregivers, excluding staff aides, who are in regular and frequent contact with the children in care must have a current department- approved first aid and safety certificate that includes CPR for all ages of children and have successfully completed the Department-required medication administration course.

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7.712.33  Personnel Policies, Orientation, and Staff Development [Rev. eff. 5/1/07]
A.  The duties and responsibilities of each staff position and the lines of authority and responsibility within the center must be in writing.
B.  At the time of employment, staff members must be informed of their duties and assigned a supervisor.
C.  Prior to working with children, the staff member must read and be instructed about the policies and procedures of the center, including those relating to hygiene, sanitation, food preparation practices, proper supervision of children, and reporting of child abuse. Staff members must sign a statement indicating that they have read and understand the center's policies and procedures.
D.  The center must have a staff development plan that includes a minimum of fifteen (15) clock hours of training each year for all staff. This training must relate to one or more of the following general areas: child growth and development, healthy and safe environment, developmentally appropriate practices, guidance, family relationships, cultural and individual diversity, and professionalism. The fifteen (15) clock hours of training does not include recertification in First Aid and CPR.
E.  All staff must complete training in universal precautions within the first three (3) months of employment.