5.8 Exemptions for Relative Providers

Lead Agencies may exempt relatives (defined in CCDF regulations as grandparents, great- grandparents, siblings if living in a separate residence, aunts, and uncles) from certain health and safety requirements. This exception applies only if the individual cares only for relative children. 5.8.1 Exemptions for relative providers Does the Lead Agency exempt any federally defined relative providers from licensing requirements, the CCDF health and safety standards, preservice/orientation training, ongoing training, inspections, or background checks? [ ] No. [x] Yes. If yes, which type of relatives do you exempt, and from what requirements (licensing requirements, CCDF health and safety standards, preservice/orientation training, ongoing training, inspections, and/or background checks) do you exempt them? Relative providers are exempt from a portion of licensing requirements, all CCDF health and safety standards, a portion of training requirements, all monitoring requirements, and a portion of background check requirements. Relative providers must meet a limited number of requirements if they are to receive financial assistance. Child care may be provided by a relative of the child in a private residence if the caregiver is at least 18 years old and the caregiver may not be the child's parent, stepparent, foster parent or guardian. Relative caregivers include siblings, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, all of whom must submit evidence of their age and relationship to the child receiving care and of their age. If the relative caregiver is caring for children in his or her own home, the total number of his or her own children under the age of 13 and any other children under the age of 13 present in the home may not exceed six. Relatives are required to attend an orientation training prior to receiving CCDF funding to ensure that they are aware of basic health and safety requirements as they relate to children in their care. Relatives are only required to complete an in-state SOR check. 6 Support for a Skilled, Qualified, and Compensated Child Care Workforce A skilled child care workforce with adequate wages and benefits underpins a stable high-quality child care system that is accessible and reliable for working parents and that meets their needs and promotes equal access. Positive interactions between children and caregivers provide the cornerstone of quality child care experiences. Responsive caregiving and rich interactions support healthy socio-emotional, cognitive, and physical development in children. Strategies that successfully support the child care workforce address key challenges, including low wages, poor benefits, and difficult job conditions. Lead Agencies can help mitigate some of these challenges through various CCDF policies, including through ongoing professional development and supports for all provider types and embedded in the payment policies and practices covered in Section 4. Lead Agencies must have a framework for training, professional development, and post-secondary education. They must also incorporate health and safety training into their professional development. Lead Agencies should also implement policies that focus on improving wages and access to benefits for the child care workforce. When implemented as a cohesive approach, the initiatives support the recruitment and retention of a qualified and effective child care workforce, and improve opportunities for caregivers, teachers, and directors to advance on their progression of training, professional development, and postsecondary education. This section addresses Lead Agency efforts to support the child care workforce, the components and implementation of the professional development framework, and early learning and developmental guidelines.