Little Lambs and Ivy Child Care Center

Policies- complete, implemented: The operator shall implement and annually review specific written policies, plans and procedures that include, but not necessarily be limited to discipline, when a child is not picked up as planned, multi-hazard and medical emergencies, supervision of children, general operating policies, administrative oversight and personnel policies. The operator shall notify the parent(s), staff and the Office of Early Childhood within five (5) days of changes in these policies, plans and procedures.

Rule 19a-79-3a(d)(2)-(7).

Staff Health Records: A file shall be kept on the licensed premises for each employee of the child care center or group child care home which shall include an acceptable medical statement, completed within 12 months before the date of employment for new program staff, and every 36 months for current program staff. Such statement shall document the presence of any known medical or emotional illness or disorder that would currently pose a risk to children.

Rule 19a-79-4a(a)(1).

Comprehensive background checks: The operator shall ensure that all program staff have completed a comprehensive background check before they have unsupervised access to children. The operator shall provide to the Office of Early Childhood any information obtained concerning substantiated child abuse or neglect records or criminal convictions upon request. The operator shall obtain from each prospective employee, who is eighteen years of age or older, for a position that requires the provision of care to a child or involves unsupervised access to a child, a listing of all employment held in the United States for an organization that provides care or services to children in the preceding five years. The operator shall take reasonable steps to contact each previous employer provided by the prospective employee to verify at a minimum the prospective employee�s job title, description of his/her regular duties, confirmation of employment dates, and whether such previous employer would recommend the prospective employee for rehire. This information shall be made accessible to the Office upon request. The operator shall not employ program staff, including volunteers, who have a record that the commissioner reasonably believes renders such program staff unsuitable to be employed in a child care center or group child care home.

Rule 19a-79-4a(b).

Child Health Records: The operator of a child care center or group child care home is responsible for maintaining on the licensed premises a current record for each child enrolled. A copy of the record shall be available and provided upon request to the Office of Early Childhood, the child’s parent(s) and the local health director. It shall include a health record that shall include date of birth, a signed physical examination form including the child’s date of birth, a statement about the child’s general health and the presence of any known medical or emotional illness or disorder that would currently pose a risk to other children or which would currently affect this child�s functional ability to participate safely in a child care setting.

Rule 19a-79-5a(a)(2)(A)-(E).

Individual care plan- signed by parents/staff: An individual plan of care for any child with special health care needs or disabilities when it is necessary that special care be taken or provided while a child is in attendance shall be developed and implemented with the child’s parent(s) and health care provider and updated, as necessary. The plan shall include appropriate care of the child to prevent and respond to a medical or other emergency and shall be signed by the parent and program staff responsible for the care of the child.

Rule 19a-79-5a(a)(2)(E).

Nutritious meals and snacks: A nutritionally adequate meal shall be provided by the child care center or group child care home, or the parent(s) whenever a child remains on the premises for five (5) hours or more. Children who stay on the premises less than five (5) hours shall have a nutritious snack. Children who stay on the premises longer than five (5) but less than eight (8) hours shall have one (1) meal and one (1) nutritious snack. Children who stay on the premises eight (8) hours or more shall have one (1) meal plus two (2) nutritious snacks, or two (2) meals plus one (1) nutritious snack.

Rule 19a-79-6a(a)(2).

Medication Trainings: Prior to the administration of any medication, the director(s), head teacher(s), program staff or group child care home provider(s) who are responsible for administering the medications shall first be trained by a pharmacist, physician, physician assistant, advanced practice registered nurse or registered nurse in the methods of administration of medications and shall receive written approval from the trainer which indicates that the trainee has successfully completed a training program as required herein. In addition to being trained in the methods of medication administration, such trained staff may administer injectable medications by a premeasured, commercially prepared auto-injector used to treat allergic reactions or other type of injectable medication and rectal medications, only after he or she has successfully completed a training program on the administration of such type of medication. After completing such training, the director, head teacher, program staff or group child care home provider shall annually have his or her skills and competency in the administration of such medication reviewed and/or validated in accordance with the regulations. The facility shall have program staff trained in the use such medications on site during all hours when a child who has orders to receive such medication is on-site. Upon completion of the required training program or the review and validation of the required training, the written training approval for staff shall be on file at the facility. Approval for the administration of oral, topical, inhalant medications, rectal medications and injectable medications other than by a premeasured commercially prepared auto-injector shall remain valid for three years. Approval for the administration of injectable medications by a premeasured commercially prepared auto-injector shall be valid for one year. A copy of the approval shall be on file at the facility for a period of three years and shall be available to Office staff upon request. The operator shall ensure that the trainer provides the trainee with an outline of the curriculum content which verifies that all mandated requirements have been included in the training program. A copy of said outline shall be on file at the facility for a period of three years for Office review. The Office may require at any time that the operator obtain the full curriculum from the trainer for review by the Office.

Rule 19a-79-9a(b)(1)(A-F)-(2)(A-C).

Safe Sleep: Infants under twelve months of age shall be placed in a supine (back) position for sleeping in a well-constructed, free standing crib or other piece of equipment designed for infant sleeping and appropriate for the particular child. A well-constructed, free standing crib or other piece of equipment shall be used designed for infant sleeping and appropriate for the particular child, with a snug fitting mattress covered by a tightly-fitted sheet. Infants under twelve months of age shall be placed in a supine (back) position for sleeping in a well-constructed, free standing crib or other piece of equipment designed for infant sleeping and appropriate for the particular child, with a snug fitting mattress covered by a tightly-fitted sheet unless the child has written documentation from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse specifying a medical reason for an alternative sleep position or alternate piece of equipment. When infants can easily turn over from the supine to the prone position, they shall be put down to sleep on their back, but allowed to adopt whatever position they prefer for sleep. No items including, but not limited to, pillows, soft bumpers, toys and blankets, including weighted blankets, weighted sleepers, and weighted swaddles, shall be placed with an infant in a crib or hung over the side of a crib or other piece of equipment designed for sleeping except for a pacifier without attachments unless the child has written documentation from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse specifying a medical reason for its use. Bibs and garments with ties or hoods shall be removed from infants that are placed to sleep. No toys or objects shall be attached to sleeping or rest equipment. No infant shall be put to sleep on a sofa, bed, couch, soft mattress, waterbed or other soft surface. No infant shall be put to sleep or allowed to remain asleep in a child restraint system intended for use in a vehicle, an infant carrier, a swing or any place that is not specifically designed to be an infant bed unless the child has written documentation from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse specifying a medical reason for their use. No infant shall be swaddled unless the child has written documentation from a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse specifying instructions and a timeframe for swaddling the infant. Infants under twelve months of age shall be physically observed at least every fifteen minutes to assess the infants breathing, color, temperature and comfort. No child under three years of age shall have access to teething necklaces, teething bracelets or other jewelry that could present a choking or strangulation hazard. Written policies and procedures for sleep arrangements shall include the requirements of this subsection and shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the areas where infants under twelve months of age sleep. The operator shall document that the child�s parent(s) has been informed of the child care center or group child care home�s policies and procedures for sleep arrangements prior to enrollment and reviewed as needed during the period of the child�s enrollment.

Rule 19a-79-10(g)(1-8).

Daily Attendance Records: Children/Staff: Daily attendance records for both children and program staff, recorded daily at the time of arrival and departure and kept on file at the facility for at least one year, showing the specific times of arrival and departure.

Rule 19a-79-3a(d)(1).

Professional development: Documentation of professional development for each program staff who cares for the children, including new employee orientation and annual training for current program staff on the child care center or group child care home policies, plans and procedures. Program staff, including the director, shall complete health and safety training no later than three months after the date of hire. Written verification of ongoing training that is at least one percent of the total annual hours worked. As of April 1, 2025, such annual training shall include content as defined in 45 CFR � 98.41(a)(1)(i) to (a)(1)(xi). Such education may include, but is not limited to, early education and child development, licensing and regulations, emergency preparedness, prevention and control of infectious diseases, prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleep practices, administration of medication, prevention and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions, building and physical premises safety, protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants; child maltreatment, prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma, precautions in transporting children, pediatric first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, nutrition and programming for children with disabilities or special health care needs.

Rule 19a-79-4a(a)(2), (h)(1-2).

Comprehensive background checks: The operator shall ensure that all program staff have completed a comprehensive background check before they have unsupervised access to children. The operator shall provide to the Office of Early Childhood any information obtained concerning substantiated child abuse or neglect records or criminal convictions upon request. The operator shall obtain from each prospective employee, who is eighteen years of age or older, for a position that requires the provision of care to a child or involves unsupervised access to a child, a listing of all employment held in the United States for an organization that provides care or services to children in the preceding five years. The operator shall take reasonable steps to contact each previous employer provided by the prospective employee to verify at a minimum the prospective employee�s job title, description of his/her regular duties, confirmation of employment dates, and whether such previous employer would recommend the prospective employee for rehire. This information shall be made accessible to the Office upon request. The operator shall not employ program staff, including volunteers, who have a record that the commissioner reasonably believes renders such program staff unsuitable to be employed in a child care center or group child care home.

Rule 19a-79-4a(b).

Consultants: An education consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice and support regarding the educational content and practice of the program. A person needs to apply for approval to be an education consultant. Program staff shall not serve as education consultants for programs in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role; or in a program with the same operator as a program in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role. Specific duties of the education consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, annual site visits to the facility, reviewing daily plans, curriculum documents, and educational policies for the developmental and age appropriate practices, observing program staff interactions, use of materials and equipment, implementation of plans and approaches to classroom management; and providing feedback on documentation review and classroom observations to the director and head teacher. A health consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the health of the children and the health program. Specific duties of the health consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, quarterly site visits to facilities that serve children three years of age and older; or for group child care homes, facilities that operate no more than three hours per day, or facilities that enroll only school age children, semi-annual site visits. Facilities that are closed during the summer months may omit the summer quarterly visit. Site visits shall be made by the health consultant during customary business hours when the children are present at the facility. Specific duties include, but are not limited to reviewing health and immunization records of children and program staff, reviewing the contents, storage and plan for maintenance of first aid kits, observing the indoor and outdoor environments for health and safety, observing children�s general health and development, observing diaper changing and toileting areas and diaper changing, toileting and hand washing procedures, reviewing the policies, procedures and required documentation for the administration of medications, including petitions for special medication authorizations needed for programs that administer medication, assisting in the review of individual care plans for children with special health care needs or children with disabilities, as needed; and quarterly review of all injury, illness, incident and accident reports. A social service consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the emotional needs, program staff support and the social service program. A registered dietitian consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding nutrition and food service for those programs that prepare or plan meals. A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. Consultative service shall include, but not be limited to an annual review of written policies, plans and procedures that relate to the services provided by the consultant, availability by telecommunication for advice regarding problems, availability, in person, of the consultant to the program, consulting with administration and program staff about specific problems, acting as a resource person to program staff and the parent(s) to include coordinating services and assisting families and program staff in identifying necessary resources, and seeking and supporting the collaboration of multiple consultants serving the program. The activities and observations required by each consultant shall be documented in a consultation log that is kept on file at the facility for two years.

Rule 19a-79-4a(i)(1-2)(H), (F).

Toileting: Where toilets and sinks are shared by children and adults, a written policy shall be developed and implemented that requires supervision of children when using the shared toilet room. Programs shall provide changing and sanitary facilities appropriate to meet the individual needs of children who are enrolled at the facility who need assistance with toileting or who are not independent with toileting. Facilities using potty chairs in addition to the required toilets shall ensure that they are of a nonporous, synthetic product, and emptied into the toilet, cleaned and disinfected after each individual use. For programs serving children under five years of age there shall be at least one toilet and one sink with hot and cold running water for every sixteen children, or fraction thereof. For programs serving only school age children, there shall be at least one toilet and one sink with running water for every twenty-five children, or fraction thereof. Toilet facilities shall be designed in such a manner to allow individual privacy. Sinks with running water shall be readily accessible to the toilet rooms if not located within them. Toilet tissue, soap, a mechanism for individual hand drying and a waste receptacle shall be accessible to the toilets and sinks. Staff, program staff, and children shall wash their hands with soap and water after toileting. Each toilet and sink shall be located at the facility or licensed premises, as applicable, of the child care center or group child care home. Each toilet room shall be well lighted and ventilated to the outside atmosphere. In child care centers constructed or renovated after January 1, 1994, all toilet facilities shall be mechanically ventilated to the outside atmosphere.

Rule 19a-79-7a(d)(10)(A-H).

Supervision: Children shall be supervised at all times while at the facility, indoors or outdoors, or on field trips. At no time shall a child be left unsupervised.

Rule 19a-79-4a(d)(4)(D).

Administration-Ensuring the safety, health & development of children: The operator of the child care center or group child care home shall be responsible for compliance with the requirements of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies and applicable endorsements in such a manner as to ensure the safety, health and development of the children while in the operator’s care.

Rule 19a-79-3a.

Staff Health Records: A file shall be kept on the licensed premises for each employee of the child care center or group child care home which shall include an acceptable medical statement and a written report of a negative tuberculin test.

Rule 19a-79-4a(a)(1) and/or 19a-79-4a(a)(2).

Background Checks: A file shall be kept on the licensed premises for each employee of the child care center or group child care home which shall include evidence that the necessary information and documentation specified by the Office of Early Childhood in order to conduct background checks has been submitted. The operator shall provide to the Office of Early Childhood any information obtained concerning substantiated child abuse or neglect records or criminal convictions upon request.

Rule 19a-79-4a(b).

Consultant Agreements/Contracts: A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. These services shall include an early childhood educational consultant, a health consultant, a dentist or dental hygienist consultant, a social service consultant, and a registered dietitian consultant for those programs that serve meals. Consultative services shall include annual review of written policies, plans and procedures, annual review of education programs, availability by telecommunication for advice regarding problems, availability, in person of the consultant to the program, consulting with administration and staff about specific problems, and acting as a resource person to staff and the parents.

Rule 19a-79-4a(h)(1) and/or 19a-79-4a(h)(2).

Individual Care Plan (Signed by Parent/Staff): The operator of a child care center or group child care home is responsible for maintaining on the licensed premises a current record for each child enrolled. A copy of the record shall be available and provided upon request to the Office of Early Childhood, the child’s parent(s) and the local health director. It shall include an individual plan of care for any child with special health care needs or disabilities, developed with the child’s parent(s) and health care provider and updated, as necessary.

Rule 19a-79-5a(a)(2)(E).

Nutritious Snacks/Meals: A nutritionally adequate meal shall be provided by the child care center or group child care home, or the parent(s) whenever a child remains on the premises for five (5) hours or more. Children who stay on the premises less than five (5) hours shall have a nutritious snack. Children who stay on the premises longer than five (5) but less than eight (8) hours shall have one (1) meal and one (1) nutritious snack. Children who stay on the premises eight (8) hours or more shall have one (1) meal plus two (2) nutritious snacks, or two (2) meals plus one (1) nutritious snack.

Rule 19a-79-6a(a)(2).

Required Toilets/Sinks/Supplies: Requirements regarding toilet and washing facilities shall be satisfied. Programs shall provide changing and sanitary facilities appropriate to meet the individual needs of children. Programs serving under age 6 shall have at least 1 toilet and sink with hot and cold running water for every 16 children. Programs serving only school age children shall have at least 1 toilet and sink with running water for every 25 children. Toilet tissue, soap, single use disposable towels and a waste receptacle shall be accessible.

Rule 19a-79-7a(d)(11).

Equipment Clean/Good Repair/Safe/Non-toxic: All equipment shall be of such design and material as to be readily cleaned and safe for children. Equipment shall not be colored or covered by any poisonous material. Equipment shall be sturdy, safely constructed and free from protruding nails, rust, toxic material and other hazards.

Rule 19a-79-7a(g).

Nonprescription Topical Medications: Administration/Parent Permission/MAR: The written permission of the parent(s) shall be required prior to the administration of the nonprescription topical medication and a medication administration record shall be written in ink and kept on file at the facility for each child administered a nonprescription topical medication.

Rule 19a-79-9a(a)(2).

Nonprescription Topical Medications: Labeling/Storage: Nonprescription Topical Medications shall be stored in the original container and shall be appropriately labeled and shall be stored away from food and inaccessible to children. Any unused portion of the medication shall be returned to the parent(s).

Rule 19a-79-9a(a)(3).

Oral/Topical/Inhalant/Injectable Medications: Authorized Prescriber/Parent Permission/MAR: Except for nonprescription topical medications, no medication shall be administered to a child without the written order of an authorized prescriber and the written permission of the child’s parent(s) which shall be on file at the facility. Individual written medication administration records for each child shall be written in ink, reviewed prior to administering each dose of medication and kept on file at the facility for at least two (2) years after the child is no longer attending the program.

Rule 19a-79-9a(b)(3) and/or 19a-79-9a(b)(4).