5.6 Ongoing Health and Safety Training

Lead Agencies must have ongoing training requirements for all caregivers, teachers, and directors of eligible CCDF providers for health and safety standards but have discretion on frequency and training content (e.g., pediatric CPR refresher every year and recertification every 2 years). Lead Agencies have discretion on which health and safety standards are subject to ongoing training. Lead Agencies may exempt relative providers from these requirements. 5.6.1 Required ongoing training of health and safety standards Describe any required ongoing training of health and safety standards for caregivers, teachers, and directors of the following CCDF eligible provider types. a. Licensed child care centers: In addition to orientation, which includes preservice, caregivers, teachers and directors at licensed child day centers are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of annual training appropriate to the age of children in care. Staff employed at a short-term child day center that operates less than 12 weeks per year are required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of annual training. Annual training shall be relevant to staff's job responsibilities and the care of children, and include topics such as: 1. Child development including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development; 2. Behavior management and positive guidance techniques; 3. Prevention and control of infectious diseases; 4. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleep practices; 5. Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and other allergic reactions including: a. Recognizing the symptoms of an allergic reaction; b. Responding to allergic reactions; c. Preventing exposure to the specific food and other substances to which the child is allergic; and d. Preventing cross contamination; 6. The center's policies and procedures on the administration of medication; 7. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; 8. Prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma including procedures to cope with crying babies or distraught children; 9. Signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect and requirements for mandated reporters; 10. Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a human-caused event such as violence at a child care facility and the center's specific emergency preparedness plan; 11. Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of diapers and other items contaminated by body fluids; 12. CPR and first aid; 13. Precautions in transporting children if applicable; and 14. If applicable, the recommended care requirements related to the care and development of children with special needs. Additionally, training on the center's emergency preparedness plan shall be completed annually and each time the plan is updated. Staff who receive medication administration training required to administer prescription and non-prescription medication must be retrained every three years. Staff who receive daily health observation training to conduct daily health checks of children must be retrained every three years. (8VAC20-780-245) b. License-exempt child care centers: In addition to preservice and orientation, caregivers, teachers and directors at license-exempt child day centers are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of annual training to include the Department’s health and safety update course. Training shall be related to child safety and development, the function of the center, and any required Department sponsored training. Staff who receive medication administration training required to administer prescription medication must be retrained every three years. Staff who receive daily health observation training to conduct daily health checks of children must be retrained every three years. (8VAC20-790-600) All staff must receive training regarding emergency evacuation, relocation, shelter-in- place, and lockdown procedures on an annual basis and at the end of each plan update. (8VAC20-790-790) c. Licensed family child care homes: In addition to first aid and CPR training, caregivers at licensed family day homes are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of annual training in areas relevant to their job responsibilities. Annual training shall cover areas such as, but no limited to: 1. Physical, intellectual, social, and emotional child development; 2. Behavior management and discipline techniques; 3. Health and safety in the family day home environment; 4. Art and music activities for children; 5. Child nutrition; 6. Recognition and prevention of child abuse and neglect; 7. Emergency preparedness; or 8. Recognition and prevention of the spread of communicable diseases. (8VAC20-800-210) Caregivers who receive medication administration training required to administer prescription and non-prescription medication must be retrained every three years. (8VAC20-800-220) Each caregiver must receive training regarding the emergency evacuation, emergency relocation, and shelter-in-place procedures on an annual basis, and at the time of each plan update. (8VAC20-800-800) d. License-exempt family child care homes: In addition to preservice and orientation, caregivers at license-exempt family day homes are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of annual training to include the Department’s health and safety update course. Training shall be related to child safety, child development, health and safety in the family day home environment, and any required Department sponsored training. Any training related to the prevention and control of infectious diseases; prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and the use of safe sleeping practices; administration of medication; prevent and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; building and physical premises safety; prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment; emergency preparedness and response planning; handling and storage of hazardous materials; appropriate precautions in transporting children; pediatric first aid and CPR; recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect; nutrition, access to physical activity; caring for children with special needs; child development; or protecting children’s health and safety is accepted towards annual training. Caregivers who receive medication administration training required to administer prescription medication must be retrained every three years. (8VAC20-790-250) e. Regulated or registered in-home child care: In addition to preservice and orientation, caregivers at regulated or registered in-home child care are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of annual training to include the Department’s health and safety update course. Training shall be related to child safety, child development, health and safety in the family day home environment, and any required Department sponsored training. Any training related to the prevention and control of infectious diseases; prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and the use of safe sleeping practices; administration of medication; prevent and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; building and physical premises safety; prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment; emergency preparedness and response planning; handling and storage of hazardous materials; appropriate precautions in transporting children; pediatric first aid and CPR; recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect; nutrition, access to physical activity; caring for children with special needs; child development; or protecting children’s health and safety is accepted towards annual training. Caregivers who receive medication administration training required to administer prescription medication must be retrained every three years. (8VAC20-790-250) f. Non-regulated or registered in-home child care: In addition to preservice and orientation, caregivers at non-regulated or registered in-home child care are required to complete a minimum of 16 hours of annual training to include the Department’s health and safety update course. Training shall be related to child safety, child development, health and safety in the family day home environment, and any required Department sponsored training. Any training related to the prevention and control of infectious diseases; prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and the use of safe sleeping practices; administration of medication; prevent and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; building and physical premises safety; prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma and child maltreatment; emergency preparedness and response planning; handling and storage of hazardous materials; appropriate precautions in transporting children; pediatric first aid and CPR; recognition and reporting of child abuse and neglect; nutrition, access to physical activity; caring for children with special needs; child development; or protecting children’s health and safety is accepted towards annual training. Caregivers who receive medication administration training required to administer prescription medication must be retrained every three years. (8VAC20-790-250)