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: Staff are currently required to complete anywhere from 4 - 15 hours of training annually, depending on their position type, and the type of licensure that is being supported. For example, staff and volunteers in Center Based Child Care and Preschool Programs are required to complete 15 hours of ongoing professional development annually, whereas staff and volunteers in Afterschool Child Care Programs have to complete 4 - 12 hours of training annually, depending on their position title. 7.1.2.1 The licensee shall ensure that at least one (1) staff who has successfully completed and is currently certified in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR is on the premises at all times children are present. 7.1.2.2 Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified. An Administrative Memo effective October 1, 2024, requires substitutes to complete four (4) hours of annual professional development activities in addition to any requirements for infant/child CPR certification (or recertification) and first aid training. It is anticipated that all requirements covered by the administrative memo will be incorporated in Vermont’s licensing rules as a part of the upcoming rule promulgation process, which is expected to be completed by late summer of 2025. b. License-exempt child care centers: N/A c. Licensed family child care homes: Fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development are required for staff in Licensed family child care homes. 7.1.2.1 The FCCP shall have successfully completed pediatric first aid and CPR prior to being licensed and must remain currently certified. 7.1.2.2 The FCCP shall ensure that at least one (1) responsible adult who has successfully completed and is currently certified in pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR is on the premises at all times children are present An Administrative Memo effective October 1, 2024, requires substitutes to complete four (4) hours of annual professional development activities in addition to any requirements for infant/child CPR certification (or recertification) and first aid training. It is anticipated that all requirements covered by the administrative memo will be incorporated in Vermont’s licensing rules as a part of the upcoming rule promulgation process, which is expected to be completed by late summer of 2025. d. License-exempt family child care homes: N/A e. Regulated or registered in-home child care: N/A f. Non-regulated or registered in-home child care: Vermont has no requirements for relative providers to have any ongoing training.