Background
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) specifies
requirements for child care staff members (CCSM) in rules 5101:2-12-08 and 5101:2-13-08
of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC). Currently, individuals may be employed
as a CCSM if they are at least eighteen years of age and meet educational
criteria outlined in rule. In recent years, educational options for high school
students have expanded to allow individuals to pursue diverse, innovative
career paths to enter the child care field at an earlier age. ODJFS is working
with the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association on the Career
Compass for ODJFS Health and Human Services. This workforce support project will
assist individuals interested in pursuing a career in the health and human
services field, which includes early childhood.
New Policy
To address the immediate need in the child care workforce and
provide opportunities for young early childhood professionals to begin their
careers, ODJFS will be implementing two new policies to expand age requirements
for child care workers. High school students will now be permitted to work as a
CCSM in a limited capacity in licensed child care centers and family child care
homes. As a CCSM, high school students and high school graduates under the age
of eighteen are to meet all CCSM requirements outlined in rules 5101:2-12-08
through 5101:2-12-10 and rules 5101:2-13-08 through 5101:2-13-10, of the OAC.
These requirements are effective as of the date of this letter.
This change in policy will be incorporated into future revisions of rules in
Chapters 12 and 13 of the OAC.
New Policy 1- Enrolled high school
students eligible to be a CCSM (child
care centers only)
A high school student who is at least a junior and one of the
following scenarios can work as a CCSM, if verified to be:
|
Enrolled in an early childhood education or child development
career technical program
|
Enrolled in a Child Development Associate (CDA)
training program or achieved a CDA credential for the age group in which the
high school student is working
|
Enrolled in a college credit program with early childhood
education or child development focus
|
Supervision of the high school students participating in any of
these three options is the responsibility of the child care center
administrator. The center administrator is responsible
for ensuring that another CCSM is assigned to work with the high school student
and does not leave them alone at any time during their shift.
New Policy 2- High
school graduates who are at least sixteen
years of age eligible to be a CCSM (child care centers and family child
care type A and type B homes)
Increasingly, Ohio high school students are graduating before
the age of eighteen. ODJFS will now allow a high school graduate or individual
who has obtained their General Educational Development (GED) diploma and is sixteen years of age or older to be a CCSM.
Limitations
on Child Supervision and Safety Requirements in addition to CCSM requirements
outlined in rule
|
Child Supervision and Safety Requirements for high
school students/graduates working as a CCSM
| New Policy 1 (Centers only) | New Policy 2 (Centers and FCC) |
|
High school juniors (On or
after start of high school junior year)
|
High school seniors (After
completion of high school junior year)
|
High school graduates under
eighteen years of age
|
|
Permitted to be left alone with children?
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Permitted to be counted in ratio when the CCSM is at
least two years older than the child(ren) they supervise?
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Permitted to transport children?
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
|
Permitted to be alone on routine trips or field trips?
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
|
Permitted to administer medication or medical
procedures?
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
|
Permitted to be an administrator, provider, or
designee?
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Two new roles will be available in the Ohio Professional
Registry (OPR) for these child care staff members to use when they create their
employment record for the program in the OPR. These roles include "High
School Junior" and "HS Senior or Graduate <18."
Note: Child care programs
employing minors as a CCSM are to comply with Ohio Minor Labor Law
requirements for those less than 18 years of age; including, but not limited to
working permits, wage agreements, work hours, and student documentation, as
outlined in Chapter 4109. of
the Ohio Revised Code (ORC).
Questions
Please contact the Child Care Policy Help Desk at
1-877-302-2347, option 4, or at childcarepolicy@jfs.ohio.gov
if you have any questions about the new policy. Contact OCCRRA for OPR
questions at support@occrra.org or 1-877-547-6978.