5.4 Pre-Service or Orientation Training on Health and Safety Standards

Lead Agencies must have requirements for all caregivers, teachers, and directors at CCDF providers to complete pre-service or orientation training (within 3 months of starting) on all CCDF health and safety standards and child development. The training must be appropriate to the setting and the age of children served. This training must address the required health and safety standards and the content area of child development. Lead Agencies have flexibility in determining the minimum number of training hours to require, and are encouraged to consult with Caring for our Children Basics for best practices. Exemptions for relative providers’ training requirements are addressed in question 5.8.1. 5.4.1 Health and safety pre-service/orientation training requirements Lead Agencies must certify staff have pre-service or orientation training on each standard that is appropriate to different settings and age groups. Lead Agencies may require pre-service or orientation to be completed before staff can care for children unsupervised. In the table below, check the boxes for which you have training requirements. -- Is this standard addressed in the pre-service or orientation training? Is the pre-service or orientation training on this standard appropriate to different settings and age groups? Does the Lead Agency require staff to complete the training before caring for children unsupervised? a. Prevention and control of infectious diseases (including [x] [x] [ ] immunizations) b. SIDS prevention and use of safe sleep practices [x] [x] [x] c. Administration of medication [x] [x] [ ] d. Prevention and response to food and allergic reactions [x] [x] [ ] e. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic [x] [x] [ ] f. Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment [x] [x] [ ] g. Emergency preparedness and response planning and procedures [x] [x] [ ] h. Handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of biocontaminants [x] [x] [ ] i. Appropriate Precautions in transporting children, if applicable [x] [x] [ ] j. Pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR (age- appropriate) [x] [x] [ ] k. Child abuse and neglect recognition and reporting [x] [x] [ ] l. Child development including major domains of cognitive, social, emotional, physical development and approaches to learning. [ ] [ ] [ ] m. If the Lead Agency does not certify implementation of all the health and safety pre- service/orientation training requirements for staff in programs serving children receiving CCDF assistance, please describe: There are some required pre-service coursework and available trainings statewide, however, the child care requirements do not specify all staff within child care facilities are required to receive pre-service/orientation training on child development, including the major domains of cognitive, social, emotional, physical development and approaches to learning. To comply with CCDF requirements, the lead agency will recommend to the NC Child Care Commission to amend the child care requirements to require child care facility directors, staff, family child care home operators and caregivers, and staff working in license exempt religious sponsored facilities that are CCDF-eligible be required to complete training in child development during pre- service or orientation. In addition, online training modules will be developed and shared with child care facilities to use during pre-service/orientation training. Once rules are amended and adopted, the lead agency will monitor for compliance with this requirement. The preliminary notice was received January 18, 2024. DCDEE will need additional time to become compliant due to the length of time it will take to promulgate rules. n. Are there any provider categories to whom the above pre-service or orientation training requirements do not apply? [x] No [ ] Yes. If yes, describe: