Choose Right Childcare Facility

A child’s safety is a parent’s number one priority. In this day and age when most parents are working, they rely on child day care facilities for support. There are many factors to be considered when choosing a childcare facility/in-house care provider: Safety, training and qualifications are important but the most important in our opinion is a thorough background check. A person could be extremely qualified and probably the best in the lot for the job, but without a background screening, it is impossible to really find out if the person is trustworthy. A recent background screening revealed 31 people with various criminal offences working for two Army day care centers at Fort Myer, VA. The employees were suspended and the Defense Secretary has given “Defense Department and the military services until Jan. 21 to review the background checks on all employees who have contact with children in department programs.”

How to Choose Child Care Facility
When enquiring about care facilities and providers, remember to ask about the type and frequency of background checks conducted for the employees. Parents also have the right to ask the care facility that their child should not be left alone with employees with unsuccessful background checks. It is assumed that employees in institutions that receive government subsidies undergo background checks, the truth is that every state has its own rules. According to the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA),
“For child care centers:
44 states require a check of the child abuse and neglect registry;
28 states conduct a state fingerprint check;
26 states conduct a federal and state fingerprint check; and,
18 states require a check of the sex offender registry.
Only 10 states require a check of all of the above.
For family child care homes:
38 states require a check of the child abuse and neglect registry;
24 states conduct a state fingerprint check;
24 states conduct a federal and state fingerprint check; and,
18 states require a check of the sex offender registry.
Only 9 states require a check of all of the above”

You can also go the NACCRRA website and see the legal background check requirements for your home state. Do not hesitate to ensure that the person entrusted with the job of taking care of your precious little ones is safe to be left alone with the child.