Little Hands Care

AAC R9-3-301.N. When the premises of a child care group home are left unoccupied during hours of operation or the child care group home is temporarily closed due to an unexpected event, a certificate holder shall ensure that a staff member notifies the Department before leaving the child care group home unoccupied or closing the child care group home, stating the period of time during which the child care group home will be unoccupied or closed.

“Findings: Based on documentation and the Compliance Officers' observation, the licensee failed to notify the department of a temporary closure.”

AAC R9-3-408.A.1. A. A certificate holder shall only allow a staff member to take an enrolled child away from an area of the child care group home approved for providing child care services during hours of operation with written permission from the enrolled child’s parent as follows: 1. For a trip to drop off the enrolled child at or pick up the enrolled child from the enrolled child’s school, bus stop, or another location, the written permission shall include: a. The enrolled child’s name; b. The location where the enrolled child will be dropped off or picked up; c. The time at which the enrolled child will be dropped off or picked up; d. The time period, not to exceed 12 months, during which the permission is given; and e. The dated signature of the enrolled child’s parent; and

“Findings: Based on documentation and Compliance Officers' observations, a field trip was conducted on Thursday, May 23, 2024. The certificate holder is not approved for transportation to field trips at this time.”

AAC R9-3-205.B. B. At least 30 calendar days before the date of an intended change in a child care group home’s space utilization or capacity, a certificate holder shall submit to the Department a written request for approval of the intended change that includes: 1. The certificate holder’s name; 2. The child care group home’s name, if applicable; 3. The name, telephone number, e-mail address, and fax number of a point of contact for the request; 4. The child care group home’s certificate number; 5. The type of change intended: a. Space utilization, or b. Capacity; 6. A narrative description of the intended change; and 7. The following additional information, as applicable: a. If requesting a change in capacity, the square footage of the outdoor activity area and the square footage of the indoor areas where child care services will be provided; b. If requesting a change that involves a modification of the residence that requires a building permit, a copy of the building permit; c. If requesting a change in space utilization that affects individual rooms: i. A floor plan of the residence that complies with R9-3-201(2)(g) and shows the intended changes, and ii. The square footage of each affected room; and d. If requesting a change in space utilization that affects the outdoor activity area: i. A site plan of the premises that complies with R9-3-201(2)(h) and shows the intended changes, and ii. The square footage of the intended outdoor activity area.

“Findings: Based on documentation, staff statements, and the Compliance Officers' observations, the licensee was not approved to provide transportation for enrolled children. Staff stated that they transported three enrolled children in their vehicle to a field trip on 05/23/2024. The licensee has not submitted a written request for approval to provide transportation.”

AAC R9-3-505.D.9. D. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 9. An enrolled child does not have access to the following on the premises: a. Lawn mowers, ladders, toilet brushes, plungers, and other equipment that may be a hazard to a child; b. An air conditioner, evaporative cooler, heat pump, or furnace; c. A hot tub or spa; d. A pond or fountain; e. An irrigation ditch, abandoned mine, or well; or f. A trampoline.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, there was a lawn mower in the outside activity area, accessible to enrolled children.”

AAC R9-3-301.F.1. F. A certificate holder shall: 1. Prepare a document that includes the following information: a. The name and contact telephone number of the provider; b. The hours of operation of the child care group home; c. Charges, fees, and payment requirements for child care services; d. Whether medications are administered at the child care group home and, if so, a description of what the parent is required to give to the child care group home; e. Whether enrolled children go on field trips under the supervision of a staff member; f. Whether the child care group home provides transportation for enrolled children to or from school, a school bus stop, or other locations; g. The mechanism by which a staff member will verify that an individual contacting the child care group home by telephone claiming to be the parent of an enrolled child is the enrolled child’s parent; h. A statement that a parent has access to the areas on the premises where the parent’s enrolled child is receiving child care services; i. A statement that inspection reports for the child care group home are available for review at the child care group home; and j. The local address and contact telephone number for the Department; and

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the Statment of Service lacked a method to verify the identity of the enrolled child's parent when calling the group home.”

AAC R9-3-303.B. B. Except as required in A.R.S. § 36-309, before a child is enrolled at a child care group home, a certificate holder shall require the individual enrolling the child to complete a Department-provided Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, city, state, zip code, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of each parent of the child; 4. The name and contact telephone number of at least two individuals authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the child care group home or to be contacted if the child’s parent cannot be contacted; 5. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse practitioner; 6. Written authorization for emergency medical care of the child; 7. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; 8. A written description provided by a child’s parent of the nutritional and dietary needs of the child; 9. A written description provided by the child’s parent noting the child’s susceptibility to illness, physical conditions of which a staff member should be aware, and any individual requirements for health maintenance; and 10. The dated signature of the individual completing the Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observations, it was determined that 2 out of 5 enrolled children's Emergency, Information and Immunization Record cards reviewed lacked the following required information: Child #1: The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of a second parent of the child. The contact telephone number of a second individual authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the facility in case of emergency, or if the child’s parent cannot be contacted. Child #2: The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of a second parent of the child. The name and contact telephone number of a second individual authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the facility in case of emergency, or if the child’s parent cannot be contacted. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s health care provider. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child.”

AAC R9-3-303.C. A certificate holder shall maintain a current Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card for each enrolled child on the premises in a place that provides a staff member ready access to the card in the event of an emergency at, or evacuation of, the child care group home.

“Findings: Based on documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, the licensee lacked a current Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card for 2 enrolled children.”

AAC R9-3-304.A.1. A. A certificate holder shall not permit an enrolled child to receive child care services at a child care group home until the child care group home receives: 1. An immunization record for the enrolled child with the information required in 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7, stating that the enrolled child has received all current, age-appropriate immunizations required under 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7, that is: a. Provided by a physician, physician assistant, registered nurse practitioner, or another individual authorized by state law to administer immunizations; or b. Generated from the Arizona State Immunization Information System, which is the Department’s child immunization reporting system established in A.R.S. § 36-135; or

“Findings: Based on documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that Child #1 lacked a written immunization record.”

AAC R9-3-507.B.4. B. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 4. Soiled disposable diapers and disposable training pants are: a. Stored in a waterproof container that is tightly covered and lined with a plastic bag; and b. Removed from the diaper-changing area and discarded in an outside waste receptacle once daily or, if necessary, more often.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observation, the soiled diaper container lacked a waterproof liner and a tight-fitting lid.”