Fairfax County Introduction to Family Child Care March 2021 Fairfax County Neighborhood & Community Services Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in Office for Children / Provider Services all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 800 be provided upon request. For information, call the Fairfax County Office for Fairfax, Virginia 22035 Children at 703-324-8000, TTY 711. fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc A Fairfax County, VA Publication Printed March 2021 Introduction to Family Child Care Table of Contents Chapter Introduction 0 Safety and Health in the Home 1 Nutrition and Feeding of Children 2 Your Child Care Program 3 The Business of Family Child Care 4 Being a Child Care Professional 5 Useful Forms 6 State Subsidy 7 Fairfax County Office for Children Community Education and Provider Services 12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 800 Fairfax, Virginia 22035-1104 703-324-8100 http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/office-for-children Fairfax County is committed to a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability in all County programs, services, and activities, and will provide reasonable accommodations upon request. If you need special accommodations, please call 703- 449-9555. Please allow 10 advance working days to make the necessary arrangements. Introduction Page Number Your Role as an Early Childhood Professional 1 The Fairfax County Home Child Care Permit 2 Barrier Crimes 4 A Guide to Community Education and Provider Services Visits 6 The Office for Children 7 USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program 8 Other Services and Programs of the Office for Children 9 How Do I Reach the People and Programs I Need? 10 Do Business with Us by E-mail 11 Office for Children Communications 12 Your Role as an Early Childhood Professional Congratulations! You are on your way to becoming a professional family child care provider. The Fairfax County Ordinance recognizes you and only you as the permitted provider. A career in family child care can be a very rewarding experience. Family child care is the most common form of child care in the country, especially for children under the age of three. Parents choose family child care for many reasons, including: • The ability to have the same child care provider over a number of years. • The flexibility of schedule and hours a family child care provider has. • The ability to keep siblings together in the same child care setting. • An intimate, home-like setting with small groups of children. Many new providers wonder whether they will be successful in their new business career. Providers who are successful share the following qualities: • Providers like and value working with children and their families. • Providers are flexible while working with others. • Providers communicate openly and honestly. • Providers are creative, energetic and healthy. • Providers are well-organized. • Providers respect and appreciate the individual differences in children and families. • Providers understand the needs of children at different stages of development. The Office for Children Community Education and Provider Services is here to support you as you work with children and families. We encourage you to: • Develop your skills, knowledge, and talents as you serve children and families. • Participate in on-going professional development training opportunities. • Participate in programs available through the Office for Children. • Seek out other child care professionals by joining and participating in a professional early childhood association. • Use this handbook as a convenient resource. It contains a great deal of information that will be useful to you as you develop your program. • Get to know and develop a good working relationship with your assigned Child Care Specialist from the Office for Children Community Education and Provider Services. 1 Back to Beginning of Chapter The Fairfax County Home Child Care Permit Obtaining a home child care permit is the first step towards becoming a family child care provider in Fairfax County. To obtain your permit, you will need: • A complete application and yearly fee. • A Home Health and Safety visit by your Child Care Specialist from OFC. • A Home Fire Safety visit by an inspector from the Fire and Rescue Department. • Up-to-date CPR/First Aid certification. • Documentation from a physician, physician’s designee or Health Department official, not older than 24 months, indicating that you and all adult household residents are free from communicable tuberculosis. • Attend 16 hours of professional development. • Up-to-date immunization records for children less than 5 years old. • Up-to-date rabies records for pets. • A Child Protective Services record check on residents in the home who are 14 years of age or older. This search is repeated every five years. This form needs to be notarized and signed by the parent for children 14-17 years old. • If any adult has resided in another state in the preceding five years, a search of the state central registry or any other child abuse and neglect registry, a criminal history record information check and sex offender registry search must be submitted to the state(s) to obtain a copy of the results. However, if the state where the individual previously resided participates in the National Fingerprint File (NFF) program through the FBI, the additional criminal history record information check is not required and only the search of the sex offender registry and the state central registry or any other child abuse and neglect registry is required. • A Sworn Statement or Affirmation form is required for all adults age 18 and older living in the home. This form is resubmitted every year. • A Waiver Agreement and Statement submitted once at the time of the initial Fingerprint National Background search • A Fingerprint National Background search on all adults age 18 and older living in the home. Individuals who visit often and have regular contact with children in care require a Fingerprint National Background search. Searches are repeated every five years. When child care providers have relatives and friends stay for more than 30 calendar days, a Child Protective Services, Sworn Statement, Waiver Agreement and Statement form and Fingerprint National background search must be completed. • A written emergency plan and emergency supplies. • A written sick policy. You will receive your permit when all paperwork, background checks, Tuberculosis tests, First Aid and CPR certification, permitting and fire visits are completed. Please note that your permit is awarded for one child care provider and one residence/location only. It is not transferable to any other location or person. If you move, a new permit must be applied for and application fees will apply ($14.00). Who Is Your Child Care Permit Team? When you apply for a child care permit, you will work with a three-member child care 2 Back to Beginning of Chapter Beginning of Section team. 1) The Administrative Coordinator (AC) for your area • Coordinates your paperwork to complete your permit application. • Knows the status of your permit. • Processes your Food Program records for reimbursement. 2) The Child Care Specialist (CCS) for your area • Contacts you to conduct the required Home Health and Safety visit and home Food Program visit. • Will inform you of what is needed to meet the permit requirements. • Reviews records (immunization, rabies and Tuberculosis). • Verifies your hours of professional development training. • Verifies your up-to-date certification in CPR and First Aid. • Provides technical assistance in the areas of child development and business practices. The CCS can also offer technical assistance on your programming: setting up your environment, establishing a daily routine, and planning the types of experiences that are important for children. 3) A Fire Code Official from the Fire and Rescue Department • Will review any home fire hazards with you. • Will inspect that you have o A working smoke detector must be mounted on the wall on each level of the home. o A carbon monoxide alarm if home appliances produce carbon monoxide. o A working fire extinguisher (2A10BC or 1A10BC) must be mounted on the wall in or near the kitchen. o A fire drill plan and escape route. o A clear passage to the circuit breaker box and around the furnace area. o Fireplace, chimney and wood stove inspection and cleaning if needed. As part of the initial permit process, it is your responsibility to schedule a Fire Safety Inspection visit. Contact the Fire Prevention Division, Inspections Branch to schedule a specific date and time. You can reach them at 703-246-4660, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. If you have general questions or need technical assistance, please call 703-324-8100 or visit the office between 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please see address information below. Also, you may schedule a later visit by appointment. Office for Children The Pennino Building, 8th floor 12011 Government Center Parkway Fairfax, Virginia 22035 3 Back to Beginning of Chapter Barrier Crimes This is only a partial list of barrier crimes. For a complete list, call us at 703-324-8100 and request a copy to be mailed or emailed to you. Type of Barrier Crime Felony and Misdemeanor Convictions Crimes against the Person • Felony violation of a protective order • Murder or manslaughter • Capital murder, etc. • Abduction • Threat of extortion Crimes by Mob • Shooting • Stabbing, etc. with intent to maim or kill by a mob Assault and Bodily Wounding • Shooting, stabbing, malicious wounding • Assaults and bodily woundings against a household member • Domestic assault • Allowing children access to firearms • Strangulation of Another Robbery • Carjacking Threats of Death or Bodily • Threats of death or bodily injury to a person or Injury member of the family • Certain oral threats communicated to school personnel • Felony stalking Criminal Sexual Assault • Rape, sodomy, carnal knowledge of child • Aggravated sexual battery • Sexual battery • Marital sexual assault • Attempted rape sodomy, etc.