The Child Care licensing section has modified its inspection protocol and the requirements for all child care centers submitting corrective action plans.

Background:

Currently, compliance materials are submitted for both regular non-compliances and Serious Risk Non-Compliances (SRNC). This process does not allow child care licensing staff to provide targeted technical assistance as it is cumbersome and time consuming to receive materials for both regular non-compliances and SRNC. Presently, if a program gets any SRNC, it will result in a second inspection to be conducted.

New Corrective Action Plan Policy:

Centers will only be required to submit corrective action plans for SRNC violations and substantiated complaint violations; the submission of a corrective action plan will not be required for regular non-compliances. Child care licensing staff will provide technical assistance at the time of the inspection to address regular non-compliances. The child care website will reflect that these non-compliances were addressed and technical assistance was provided. In the event of repetitive regular non-compliances, a corrective action plan may be required.

New Inspection Protocol:

Full time centers will receive at least one full inspection during the fiscal year. If more than two SRNC are cited during the first inspection, a second inspection will be conducted prior to the end of the fiscal year.

More detailed information regarding the compliance reporting changes can be viewed at https://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/childcare.stm.

Please contact the Office of Family Assistance, Child Care Policy Help Desk at 1-877-302-2347, option 4 or your licensing specialist if you have questions regarding these changes. The electronic versions of the child care manuals are located at: http://emanuals.jfs.ohio.gov. These manuals contain all child care rules, transmittal letters, procedure letters and forms.

Instructions: The following chart identifies the material that needs to be inserted in to the Child Care Center Manual (CCCM).