Helping Hands Learning Center

Rule .33(5)(a) - Staff training-annual/10 hours (Recite-Not Met): (a) Every calendar year after the first year of employment, all supervisory and caregiver Personnel, except independent contractors, Students-in-Training and volunteers, shall attend ten (10) clock hours of diverse training which is offered by an accredited college, university or vocational program or other Department-approved source.

Rule .33(4) - Staff training-food preparation and nutrition training (Recite-Not Met): (4) Food Preparation and Nutrition Training. Within the first year of employment, the Director and the person primarily responsible for food preparation shall receive four (4) clock hours of training in food nutrition planning, preparation, serving, proper dish washing and food storage.

Rule .32(1) - Ratios: (1) A center must establish groupings of children for care and maintain staff:child ratios as follows: Ages of Children Staff:Child Ratio* Maximum Group Size** Infants less than one (1) year old or children under eighteen (18) months who are not walking 1:6 12 One (1) year olds who are walking 1:8 16 Two (2) year olds 1:10 20 Three (3) year olds 1:15 30 Four (4) year olds 1:18 36 Five (5) year olds 1:20 40 Six (6) years and older 1:25 50 * Staff, such as the director or service workers (food, maintenance and clerical staff, etc.), shall be counted in the staff:child ratio only during the time that they are giving full attention to the direct supervision of the children. Service staff routinely acting as child care workers shall meet the qualifications of the respective caregivers. ** Maximum group size does not apply to outdoor play on the playground routinely used by the center or for special activities in the center lasting no more than two (2) hours. However, required staff:child ratios must be maintained.

Rule .26(8) - Fall Zones and Surfacing (Recite-Not Met): (8) Fall Zones and Surfacing. Climbing and swinging equipment shall have a resilient surface beneath the equipment and the fall zone from such equipment must be adequately maintained by the Center to assure continuing resiliency.

Rule .19(1) - License capacity-35 square feet: (1) Usable Space Per Child. A Center's License capacity is based upon its size. A Center must have thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child. Kitchens, bathrooms, closets, halls, storage areas or rooms, offices, rooms designated for Staff use, other single use areas and space occupied by adult size furniture shall be excluded in determining usable space.

Rule .14(2)(b) - First Aid/CPR trained Staff in each classroom: (b) There must always be one staff person present in each classroom where children are present that has current and valid pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and pediatric first aid training.

Rule .33(4) - Staff training-food preparation and nutrition training (Recite-Not Met): (4) Food Preparation and Nutrition Training. Within the first year of employment, the Director and the person primarily responsible for food preparation shall receive four (4) clock hours of training in food nutrition planning, preparation, serving, proper dish washing and food storage.

Rule .30(4) - Cots and Mats Storage: (4) Storage. If cots and mats are stored in the children's activity room or area, they shall be stored to prevent children's access to them and to allow maximum use of play space. When storage is available and used for the storage of cots and mats that allows the cots, mats and any bedding to be stored without touching any other cots, mats or bedding, the bedding may be left on the cot or mat. When such storage is not available for the cots and mats, each child’s bedding shall be kept separate from other children’s bedding and stored in containers marked for individual use, such as, but not limited to, bins, cubbies, or bags.

Rule .30(2)(c) - Sleep in safety-approved cribs (Recite-Not Met): (c) Infants shall not sleep in equipment other than safety-approved cribs, such as, but not limited to, a car safety seat, bouncy seat, highchair, or swing. Infants who arrive at the Center asleep or fall asleep in such equipment, on the floor or elsewhere, shall be transferred to a safety-approved crib.

Rule .30(1)(a)3 - Crib Sheet (Recite-Not Met): 3. Crib Sheet. Each crib shall have only an individual, tight-fitting sheet which is changed daily or more often as needed and prior to a change of occupant.

Rule .26(9) - Playground-Safe/Clean (Recite-Not Met): (9) Safety and Upkeep of Playground. Playgrounds shall be kept clean, free from litter and free of hazards, such as but not limited to rocks, exposed tree roots and exposed sharp edges of concrete.

Rule .26(8) - Fall Zones and Surfacing (Recite-Not Met): (8) Fall Zones and Surfacing. Climbing and swinging equipment shall have a resilient surface beneath the equipment and the fall zone from such equipment must be adequately maintained by the Center to assure continuing resiliency.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground (Recite-Not Met): Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .25(8) - Outlets (Recite-Not Met): (8) Electrical Outlets. Except in School-age Centers, all unused electrical outlets within reach of children shall have protective caps specifically designed to prohibit children from placing anything in the receptacle. Electrical outlets in use which the children can reach shall be made inaccessible to the children.

Rule .09(1)(l)3. - New Comprehensive Records Check Determination required: 3. At least once every five years; and

Rule .09(1)(c) - Employee - satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination: (1)(c) A Center must ensure that every Employee has a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior to being present at the Center while any child is present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Center. The Comprehensive Records Check Determination must have a Records Check Clearance Date that is no older than the preceding 12 months of the hire date; provided, however, if the Employee has had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, a new satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination is required.

Rule .32(4) - Center Cap. 19+/ Separate ages: (4) For Centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more, children under three (3) years of age shall be housed in separate physical areas from older children and cannot be mixed with older children except at the following times and circumstances:

Rule .33(4) - Staff training-food preparation and nutrition training: (4) Food Preparation and Nutrition Training. Within the first year of employment, the Director and the person primarily responsible for food preparation shall receive four (4) clock hours of training in food nutrition planning, preparation, serving, proper dish washing and food storage.

Rule .33(3) - Staff Training-Health and Safety Orientation

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight: (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .32(2) - Mixed-ages groups/cap. of 19+: (2) Mixed-Age Groups for Centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more children. The Staff:child ratios for a mixed-age group shall be based on the age of the youngest group of children that includes more than twenty (20%) of the total number of children in the mixed-age group .

Rule .32(1) - Ratios: (1) A center must establish groupings of children for care and maintain staff:child ratios as follows: Ages of Children Staff:Child Ratio* Maximum Group Size** Infants less than one (1) year old or children under eighteen (18) months who are not walking 1:6 12 One (1) year olds who are walking 1:8 16 Two (2) year olds 1:10 20 Three (3) year olds 1:15 30 Four (4) year olds 1:18 36 Five (5) year olds 1:20 40 Six (6) years and older 1:25 50 * Staff, such as the director or service workers (food, maintenance and clerical staff, etc.), shall be counted in the staff:child ratio only during the time that they are giving full attention to the direct supervision of the children. Service staff routinely acting as child care workers shall meet the qualifications of the respective caregivers. ** Maximum group size does not apply to outdoor play on the playground routinely used by the center or for special activities in the center lasting no more than two (2) hours. However, required staff:child ratios must be maintained.

Rule .30(4) - Cots and Mats Storage: (4) Storage. If cots and mats are stored in the children's activity room or area, they shall be stored to prevent children's access to them and to allow maximum use of play space. When storage is available and used for the storage of cots and mats that allows the cots, mats and any bedding to be stored without touching any other cots, mats or bedding, the bedding may be left on the cot or mat. When such storage is not available for the cots and mats, each child’s bedding shall be kept separate from other children’s bedding and stored in containers marked for individual use, such as, but not limited to, bins, cubbies, or bags.

Rule .30(2)(c) - Sleep in safety-approved cribs: (c) Infants shall not sleep in equipment other than safety-approved cribs, such as, but not limited to, a car safety seat, bouncy seat, highchair, or swing. Infants who arrive at the Center asleep or fall asleep in such equipment, on the floor or elsewhere, shall be transferred to a safety-approved crib.

Rule .30(1)(a)3 - Crib Sheet: 3. Crib Sheet. Each crib shall have only an individual, tight-fitting sheet which is changed daily or more often as needed and prior to a change of occupant.

Rule .26(9) - Playground-Safe/Clean: (9) Safety and Upkeep of Playground. Playgrounds shall be kept clean, free from litter and free of hazards, such as but not limited to rocks, exposed tree roots and exposed sharp edges of concrete.

Rule .26(8) - Fall Zones and Surfacing: (8) Fall Zones and Surfacing. Climbing and swinging equipment shall have a resilient surface beneath the equipment and the fall zone from such equipment must be adequately maintained by the Center to assure continuing resiliency.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground (Recite-Not Met): Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .25(8) - Outlets (Recite-Not Met): (8) Electrical Outlets. Except in School-age Centers, all unused electrical outlets within reach of children shall have protective caps specifically designed to prohibit children from placing anything in the receptacle. Electrical outlets in use which the children can reach shall be made inaccessible to the children.

Rule .19(1) - License capacity-35 square feet (Recite-Not Met): (1) Usable Space Per Child. A Center's License capacity is based upon its size. A Center must have thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child. Kitchens, bathrooms, closets, halls, storage areas or rooms, offices, rooms designated for Staff use, other single use areas and space occupied by adult size furniture shall be excluded in determining usable space.

Rule .03(2) - Lesson Plans/ Equipment/Materials: (2) Current lesson plans shall be kept on site and reflect appropriate instruction practices and activities to support children’s development. The center shall have sufficient and varied play and learning equipment and materials to support the above program of activities in all developmental areas.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground: Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .25(8) - Outlets: (8) Electrical Outlets. Except in School-age Centers, all unused electrical outlets within reach of children shall have protective caps specifically designed to prohibit children from placing anything in the receptacle. Electrical outlets in use which the children can reach shall be made inaccessible to the children.

Rule .19(1) - License capacity-35 square feet: (1) Usable Space Per Child. A Center's License capacity is based upon its size. A Center must have thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child. Kitchens, bathrooms, closets, halls, storage areas or rooms, offices, rooms designated for Staff use, other single use areas and space occupied by adult size furniture shall be excluded in determining usable space.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair (Recite-Not Met): (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .30(4) - Cots and Mats Storage: (4) Storage. If cots and mats are stored in the children's activity room or area, they shall be stored to prevent children's access to them and to allow maximum use of play space. When storage is available and used for the storage of cots and mats that allows the cots, mats and any bedding to be stored without touching any other cots, mats or bedding, the bedding may be left on the cot or mat. When such storage is not available for the cots and mats, each child’s bedding shall be kept separate from other children’s bedding and stored in containers marked for individual use, such as, but not limited to, bins, cubbies, or bags.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair: (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .19(1) - License capacity-35 square feet: (1) Usable Space Per Child. A Center's License capacity is based upon its size. A Center must have thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child. Kitchens, bathrooms, closets, halls, storage areas or rooms, offices, rooms designated for Staff use, other single use areas and space occupied by adult size furniture shall be excluded in determining usable space.

Rule .17(8) - Handwashing-Staff: (8) Handwashing, Staff. Personnel shall wash their hands with liquid soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for the day, when moving from one child care group to another, and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after diapering each child, dispensing medication, applying topical medications, ointments, creams or lotions, handling and preparing food, eating, drinking, preparing bottles, feeding each child, and assisting children with eating and drinking; after toileting or assisting children with toileting, using tobacco products, handling garbage and organic waste, touching animals or pets, and handling bodily fluids, such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood; and after contamination by any other means.

Rule .12(4) - Equipment/Furniture-Secured: (4) Equipment and furniture shall be secured if it is of a weight or mass that could cause injury from tipping, falling, or being pulled or pushed over. Potentially unstable equipment and furniture that might injure a child if not secured include, but are not limited to, televisions, chests of drawers, bookcases, shelving, cabinets and fish tanks. Examples of items not required to be secured include, but are not limited to, child-sized tables and chairs, rocking chairs, and cribs.

Rule .09(1)(l)3. - New Comprehensive Records Check Determination required (Recite-Not Met): 3. At least once every five years; and

Rule .09(1)(b) - Director - satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination: (1)(b) A Center must ensure that every Director has a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior to being present at the Center while any child is present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Center. The Comprehensive Records Check Determination must have a Records Check Clearance Date that is no older than the preceding 12 months of the hire date; provided, however, if the Director has had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, a new satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination is required.

Rule .09(1)(l)3. - New Comprehensive Records Check Determination required: 3. At least once every five years; and

Rule .09(1)(c) - Employee - satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination: (1)(c) A Center must ensure that every Employee has a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior to being present at the Center while any child is present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Center. The Comprehensive Records Check Determination must have a Records Check Clearance Date that is no older than the preceding 12 months of the hire date; provided, however, if the Employee has had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, a new satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination is required.