health-and-safety-ratios-and-group-size-for-ccdf-providers

Reason(s) for non-compliance: • The Lead Agency has not established a group size for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, or mixed age groups in licensed centers, licensed family child care homes, or license-exempt family child care homes, as required by 98.41(d)(1). (Plan Questions 5.2.2a, 5.2.2c, and 5.2.2d) • The Lead Agency does not require an annual unannounced inspection for licensed centers or licensed family child care providers, or an annual inspection for license- exempt family child care providers for compliance with a group size standard, as required by 98.42(b)(2)(i)(B). (Plan Questions 5.5.1aii, 5.5.1bii, and 5.5.2bi) Overall Target Completion Date: 09/30/2027 Action Step Number Action Step Description Target Completion Date 1 Technical Assistance- Idaho child care staff will participate in requested technical assistance related to the development child care group size limits with a focus on mixed age care, and minimizing the regulatory burden of such a requirement. 12/31/2025 2 Rule Promulgation/Statute Update- Adding a requirement to limit group sizes based on children's ages and development will be a significant undertaking for Idaho, as no similar regulation is currently in place. IDHW child care program staff in partnership with the IDHW Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Office will coordinate an update to the Idaho Administrative Code (IDAPA) and/or Idaho Statute to limit group sizes based on children's ages and development. Due to the complexity of the policy development and coordination, rules and/or statute will be promulgated for presentation to the legislature's germane committees during the 2027 Idaho Legislative Session. 07/01/2027 3 Beneficiary Voice- Idaho child care staff will meet with child care providers throughout the state, ensuring a diverse group of child care providers is coordinated, to seek input and feedback about group size limits that keep children healthy and safe while minimizing the regulatory burden of such a requirement. 06/30/2026 4 Inspections- If the legislature approves the requested updates to IDAPA and/or Idaho Statute, Health District staff will coordinate revisions and updates to the Child Care Provider Management Manual. Health District leadership will train all health and safety inspectors on the approved requirements. 09/30/2027 5 Communication/Outreach- If the legislature approves the requested updates to IDAPA and/or Idaho Statute, Idaho Child Care staff in 09/30/2027 coordination with IdahoSTARS and the Health District will develop tools and resources to communicate the approved requirements to child care providers preparing them to successfully pass their health and safety inspections.