Using NACCRRA Reports To Influence State Legislation

1
Using NACCRRA Reports To Influence State
Legislation
2
Purpose of Interim Study

• Examine DHS procedures for notifying parents when
  DHS has concerns about a child care facility.
• Procedures which led to death of a two year old
  in a Tulsa Child Care Facility.
• State laws which may need to be changed to ensure
  childrens safety.

3
What Representative Peters Learned prior to the
study.

• Summarization of DHS inspections.
• How could parents learn about reports?
• Working with DHS to make changes prior to
  legislative session.

4
Interim Study Session 1

• Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth report
  on incident.
• Oklahoma Department of Human Services review and
  changes adopted immediately.
• Statement from Joshua Mintons family.
• Reports from Proprietary Child Care Providers.
• Reports from Tulsas Child Care Resource Center
  using NACCRRA data.

5
Recommendations from CCRC Parent

• Parents are notified when there is a confirmed
  case of child neglect or abuse.
• Parents has on-line access to past licensing
  visit records.
• Parents are advised when procedures are begun to
  close a facility or when the facility has been
  asked to voluntarily close.

6
Recommendations from CCRC Director

• On-line posting of monitoring visits.
• Notification of parents and CCRRs when critical
  licensing violations or child abuse allegations
  are made.
• Voluntary closure is not an option.
• Parents and CCRRs be notified of closures.
• Programs revoked stay on the Specialists
  Caseload and no more than 50 programs on caseload.

7
Recommendations from CCRC Director

• Licensing reports easily accessible to parents.
• Facilities receive four unannounced visits by
  licensing.
• National finger printing background check for all
  providers.

8
Session 2

• Best Practices in Child Care Licensing and
  Oversight from a National Perspective
• Judy Collins National Child Care Information
  Center
• Linda Smith, NACCRRA

9
Session 3

• Best Practices in Child Care Licensing and
  Oversight from a National Perspective
• Lee Kreader, National Center for Children in
  Poverty.
• Tulsa Family Child Care Provider.

10
New Legislation HB 2643

• Online database with inspection records.
• Complaints posted at facility clearly visible to
  the public.
• Child Care Worker Abuse registry.
• Background checks by OSBI and OSCN and previous
  state of residence checks.
• New facilities cannot open until all background
  checks are completed and all basic training
  including first aid and CPR are completed.

11
New Legislation HB 2643

• Parents and CCRRs are notified of closures
  within one business day.
• Fines of up to 500/day for each day a facility
  operates after their license has been revoked.
• All caregivers left alone with a child must be at
  least 18 years of age.

12
Questions?