Loving and Learning Child Care

AAC R9-3-206.A. A. An applicant, certificate holder, or provider shall allow immediate access to all areas of the premises that may affect the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child or to which an enrolled child may have access during hours of operation to representatives from: 1. The Department, 2. The local health department, 3. Arizona Department of Child Safety, or 4. The local fire department or State Fire Marshal.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, immediate access was not provided to the home. Upon arrival at the inspection, the Compliance Officer knocked on the front door and rang the Ring doorbell multiple times, and children and staff members could be heard inside the home. The Compliance Officer then knocked again, the CO at the front door was not acknowledged. The Compliance Officer then knocked on the window and waved. One of the staff members finally looked and then pointed at the side gate. The Compliance Officer went through the side gate and knocked on the side door. There was no answer. The Compliance Officer knocked again and heard children and staff members talking behind the door. The door finally opened, and the Compliance Officer was asked to step aside as the children were heading outside to play.”

AAC R9-3-508.1. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. Each dog, cat, or ferret at the child care group home has a current vaccination against rabies;

“Findings: Based on a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, current pet rabies vaccinations were not available for review at the time of the inspection. The pet rabies vaccinations available for review expired on 07-30-2025.”

AAC R9-3-202.A.2. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 2. An adult resident completes, signs, dates, and submits to the certificate holder before the resident’s starting date of residency or the date of certification of the child care group home the form required in A.R.S. § 36-897.03(B).

“Findings: Based on a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer’s observations, the files for Resident #1, Resident #2, and Resident #3 lacked documentation of a DCS background check.”

AAC R9-3-301.A.3.a. A. A certificate holder shall: 3. Ensure that each resident 12 years of age or older and each staff member submits, on or before the starting date of residency, employment, or volunteer services, one of the following as evidence of freedom from infectious active tuberculosis: a. Documentation of a negative Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administered within 12 months before the starting date of residency, employment, or volunteer service, that includes the date and the type of tuberculosis screening test; or b. If the resident or staff member has had a positive Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test, a written statement that the resident or staff member is free from infectious active tuberculosis that is signed and dated by a physician, physician assistant, or registered nurse practitioner within six months before the starting date of residency, employment, or volunteer service; and

“Findings: Based on a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, the files for Staff #1 (DOH 10-20-2025) and Staff #2 (DOH unknown) lacked documentation of a negative Mantoux skin test.”

AAC R9-3-301.A.4.b. A. A certificate holder shall: 4. Ensure that the provider: b. Maintains on the premises a file for each staff member, for 12 months after the date the staff member last worked at the child care group home, containing: i. The staff member’s name, date of birth, home address, and telephone number; ii. The staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service; iii. The staff member’s ending date of employment or volunteer service, if applicable; iv. The staff member’s written statement attesting to current immunity against measles, rubella, diphtheria, mumps, and pertussis; v. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-897.03(B); vi. For an adult staff member, a copy of the staff member’s valid fingerprint clearance card issued under A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 12, Article 3.1; vii. Documents required by subsection (A)(3); viii.Documentation of the requirements in A.R.S. § 36-897.03(C); ix. If applicable: 1. The form required in A.R.S. § 8-804(I); 2. Documentation of the submission required in A.R.S. § 8-804(C) and the information received as a result of the submission; and 3. Documentation of the completion of the Department-provided orientation training specified in subsection (A)(1)(e), if applicable; x. Documentation of the training required in R9-3-302; and xi. Documentation of a high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, associate degree, or bachelor degree, if applicable;

“Findings: Based on a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, 6 of 7 reviewed staff/resident files lacked the following required documentation: *Staff #1 (DOH 10-20-2025), Staff #2 (DOH unknown), Staff #3 (DOH 09-08-2025)- A DCS background check. *Staff #2 (DOH unknown)- A high school diploma, high school equivalency diploma, associate degree, or a bachelor's degree.”

AAC R9-3-302.C. C. A certificate holder shall ensure that each staff member completes a total of 12 or more actual hours of training every 12 months after becoming a staff member in two or more of the following: 1. Child growth and development, which may include sudden infant death prevention; 2. Developmentally appropriate activities; 3. Nutrition and developmentally appropriate eating habits; 4. Responding to accidents and emergencies, including CPR and first aid for infants and children; 5. Recognizing signs of illness and infestation; 6. Detecting, preventing, and reporting child abuse or neglect; 7. Guiding and disciplining children; and 8. Availability of community services and resources, including those available to children with special needs.

“Findings: Based on a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, the file for Staff #4 (DOH 03-04-2003) lacked documentation of 12 hours of annual training hours from 03-04-2024 to 03-04-2025.”

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 a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, 2 of 10 Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record cards reviewed lacked the following required information: *Child #1- The home address, city, state, and zip code of the child's 2nd parent/guardian. *Child #2- The name, home address, city, state, zip code, and contact telephone number of the child's 2nd parent/guardian.”

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 a review of facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, Child #3's file lacked documentation of an immunization record.”

AAC R9-3-202.A.1.b. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. A staff member completes, signs, dates, and submits to the certificate holder before the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service: b. If required by A.R.S. § 8-804, the form in A.R.S. § 8-804(I); and

“Findings: Based on documentation and the Compliance Officers' observations of 3 staff files, Staff #1's (DOE 2.14.2025) file lacked documentation of the DCS submittal.”

AAC R9-3-402.A. A. A certificate holder shall ensure that: 1. Each enrolled child who naps or sleeps at the child care group home is furnished with a bed, cot, mat, or crib that accommodates the enrolled child’s height and weight; 2. The bed, cot, mat, or crib is not used by another individual while in use by the enrolled child; 3. The cot, mat, or bed’s mattress is covered with a clean sheet that is laundered when soiled, at least once every seven calendar days, and before use by a different enrolled child; 4. The crib mattress is covered with a clean fitted-sheet designed for the crib mattress size that is laundered when soiled, at least once every 24 hours, and before use by a different enrolled child; and 5. A clean blanket or sheet is provided to each enrolled child.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officers' observations, there was a child napping on a mat on the floor, and the mat was surrounded by a metal gate.”

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 facility documentation and Compliance Officer #1's observation, after a review of 7 children's immunization records, 1 lacked the following: Child #1: an immunization record.”

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 Compliance Officer #1's observation, after a review of 7 children's Emergency Information and Immunization Record cards, 1 lacked the following: Child #1: An Emergency Information and Immunization Record card.”

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 Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that 2 out of 9 enrolled children's Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record cards reviewed were incomplete and lacked the following required information: Child #1: The date of the child's enrollment. Child #2: The name and phone number of a second emergency contact and the name and contact telephone number of the child’s physician.”

AAC R9-3-302.A. A. Within 10 calendar days after the starting date of employment or volunteer service, a certificate holder shall provide, and each staff member shall complete, training for new staff members that includes all of the following: 1. Names, ages, and developmental stages of enrolled children; 2. Health needs, nutritional requirements, any known allergies, and information about adaptive devices of enrolled children; 3. Guiding and disciplining children; 4. Hand washing techniques; 5. Diapering techniques and toileting, if any enrolled children are in diapers or require assistance in using the toilet; 6. Sudden infant death syndrome awareness, if child care services are provided to an infant or a one year-old child; 7. Preparing, serving, and storing food; 8. Preparing, handling, and storing infant formula and breast milk, if any enrolled children are fed infant formula or breast milk; 9. Recognizing signs of illness and infestation; 10. Detecting, preventing, and reporting child abuse or neglect; 11. Responding to accidents and emergencies; 12. Sun safety; 13. Procedures for trips away from the child care group home, if applicable; and 14. Staff responsibilities as required by A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 4 and this Chapter.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2 observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the file for Staff #1 (start date: 12/11/2023) lacked documentation of the new hire training within 10 days of the starting date of employment.”