CA Providers: A Reg Question

[AmyLeigh]

I will be practically full this summer, with my 3 and 5 dcks 3-4 days a week and an occasional drop in that will have to fit aorund everyone else's schedule.
My cousin is planning a trip out from AZ around the 4th of July with her 2 girls, ages 6 & 8. I might close a day or two, maybe not, depending on what they want to do. If I don't close, am I violating my capacity if she is here with her children on days everybody else is here?

[Blackcat31]

I am not from California (looong ways away...) but I would recommend you PM Crystal as she is really great about knowing all the ins and outs of the regulations for California.

[daycare]

I will be practically full this summer, with my 3 and 5 dcks 3-4 days a week and an occasional drop in that will have to fit aorund everyone else's schedule.
My cousin is planning a trip out from AZ around the 4th of July with her 2 girls, ages 6 & 8. I might close a day or two, maybe not, depending on what they want to do. If I don't close, am I violating my capacity if she is here with her children on days everybody else is here?

I was told yes..... I ran into this issue even when my sister was here with my nephew.

I still did it though. My sister basically took her son for most of the day to fun places and then they came back to nap. It was a friday and only one day. I was not going to deny my nephew a nap and figured that I would just deal with it.

My sister is on my license. I had her go through everything so that if she was here when LIC came, she would allow to be here.

[sharlan]

I will be practically full this summer, with my 3 and 5 dcks 3-4 days a week and an occasional drop in that will have to fit aorund everyone else's schedule.
My cousin is planning a trip out from AZ around the 4th of July with her 2 girls, ages 6 & 8. I might close a day or two, maybe not, depending on what they want to do. If I don't close, am I violating my capacity if she is here with her children on days everybody else is here?

Call licensing and ask them.

I've always been told no, that doesn't count AS LONG AS the parent is there. My sister used to come visit with my niece and when I called, they said it was fine as long as #1 I was at capacity and not over OR #2 that my sister was there with her child.

[MarinaVanessa]

I've never been in this situation but I'm assuming that because here in CA your own children are considered a part of your ratio then that can only mean that your relatives will too.

I'm assuming that you're licensed for a small FCC so that means you can have 8 total:
2 infants - under 2yo
4 toddlers - 2-preschool age
2 school agers - one at least in kinder, and one at least in 1st grade or older

The kids always be older than the restrictions. Will you still fall under the ratio requirements? What are the ages of the DCK's and your kids? If you still fall under the ratio limitations then all you have to do is alert licensing that you'll have an adult on the premises staying with you through those dates (temporaily) and then have your DCF's sign a Parent Notification, Additional Children in Care form (to be able to care for the full 8 instead of the 6).

If it turns out that you don't meet the ratio requirements then I'd call licensing and ask about what you can do. You may want to ask for a temporary varience for just those 2 days and ensure licensing that your cousin is an adult and mother to the children and that she will be there to care for her children at all times that DC kids are present. They may grant you temporary permission to be over your ratio.

But it sounds to me like you only have a maximum of 5 kids now anyway so adding 2 kids will put you at 7 kids total. Numberwise it sounds as if you'll be fine but it depends on the ages of your DC kids and your own kids. What are the ages of the kids and their schedule? (inluding your own kids)

[daycare]

I've never been in this situation but I'm assuming that because here in CA your own children are considered a part of your ratio then that can only mean that your relatives will too.

I'm assuming that you're licensed for a small FCC so that means you can have 8 total:
2 infants - under 2yo
4 toddlers - 2-preschool age
2 school agers - one at least in kinder, and one at least in 1st grade or older

The kids always be older than the restrictions. Will you still fall under the ratio requirements? What are the ages of the DCK's and your kids? If you still fall under the ratio limitations then all you have to do is alert licensing that you'll have an adult on the premises staying with you through those dates (temporaily) and then have your DCF's sign a Parent Notification, Additional Children in Care form (to be able to care for the full 8 instead of the 6).

If it turns out that you don't meet the ratio requirements then I'd call licensing and ask about what you can do. You may want to ask for a temporary varience for just those 2 days and ensure licensing that your cousin is an adult and mother to the children and that she will be there to care for her children at all times that DC kids are present. They may grant you temporary permission to be over your ratio.

But it sounds to me like you only have a maximum of 5 kids now anyway so adding 2 kids will put you at 7 kids total. What are the ages of the kids and their schedule? (inluding your own kids)

MV- not sure if it is by county, but I was told that in CA that they will NEVER give a variance for any reason. Even if another adult is present.

I would call and talk to LIC and ask them to email you what the rule is...This way it is in writing.

[MarinaVanessa]

MV- not sure if it is by county, but I was told that in CA that they will NEVER give a variance for any reason. Even if another adult is present.

I would call and talk to LIC and ask them to email you what the rule is...This way it is in writing.

I know they have done it before in the past but that was more than 7 years ago, that's why I said to call and ask. I think it depends on the licensing rep and the way their office is run. In any case it sounds like she will only have 7 kids on her busiest days so numerically it sounds like she'll be okay KWIM? But without knowing the specific ages of the kids, their schedules or which days her family will be in town it's a little difficult to know for sure KWIM?

If she has 3 kids under 2 for example, she can only have a total of 6 kids which will put her over ratio regardless of whether her cousins kids are SA's or not.

[proudmommyofthree]

I'm also in Ca. and get visits from my brothers, friends, relatives. All with children. I was told that if licensing was ever to come by when they are here, as long as the children left with their parent, I was fine.

Example my friend comes often with her 5 year old son. If licensing was to show up all she would have to do is leave with her child.

I could be wrong but this is what I was told. Also at oreintation I remember being told that if one of our own kids wanted a friend over for the day that they could. But again I could be wrong, so I would just call licensing.

Calling licensing can be tricky also, it seems I get a different answer to the same question depending how that person sees the regulation

[MarinaVanessa]

Example my friend comes often with her 5 year old son. If licensing was to show up all she would have to do is leave with her child.

This is what I was told as well along with the "friends of my own children" thing. As long they can leave if licensing arrives then you'll be fine. The same with my DD's friends, as long as I can send them home by themselves it's fine. I'm just not sure if that's only for licensing paperwork wise (obviously family and friends kids won't have paperwork filled out unless they regularly come to DC) or if it counts when it makes you over capacity too.

[AmyLeigh]

Grr....see this is why I asked. I keep getting different answers. Last year, it didn't matter, I was way under capacity.

Marina, these are the ages:

My kiddos: 3, 5, 8
DCK's: 2 (drop in)
2 (4 set days a week)
5, 7 (sibs, 3 1/2 days set schedule)
5, 8 (sibs 3-4 days variable schedule)

I guess I will have to email licensing once I know exactly what days they are coming and what they want to do.

[daycare]

Grr....see this is why I asked. I keep getting different answers. Last year, it didn't matter, I was way under capacity.

Marina, these are the ages:

My kiddos: 3, 5, 8
DCK's: 2 (drop in)
2 (4 set days a week)
5, 7 (sibs, 3 1/2 days set schedule)
5, 8 (sibs 3-4 days variable schedule)

I guess I will have to email licensing once I know exactly what days they are coming and what they want to do.

LIC stinks..... I called, because my sister will be here in July with her son....AND I was told if they are there, they will count...UGH YOu got to love it......

I bet you if I call next week and talk to someone else, I will get a whole different answer....

[sharlan]

I've been told several times that as long as the parent is there or the child can leave on their own, they don't count. I had a girl scout troup for 3 years and we often met in my house. The girls lived in the neighborhood and could walk home on their own.

[Crystal]

Yes. They would count in your capacity in you would be over ratio.

Is it possible for you to close for those days? Or, perhaps there is a parent you can offer a discount too if they are able to keep their children home for the day?

[Crystal]

If it turns out that you don't meet the ratio requirements then I'd call licensing and ask about what you can do. You may want to ask for a temporary varience for just those 2 days and ensure licensing that your cousin is an adult and mother to the children and that she will be there to care for her children at all times that DC kids are present. They may grant you temporary permission to be over your ratio.

Unfortunately California does not allow any type of variance AT ALL, EVER when it comes to ratios. You can request exemptions and waivers for other things.....which is a HUGE process in and of itself, but NEVER on ratios.

[AmyLeigh]

Yes. They would count in your capacity in you would be over ratio.

Is it possible for you to close for those days? Or, perhaps there is a parent you can offer a discount too if they are able to keep their children home for the day?

Thank you Crystal. Yes, I can close, but I feel a little bad talking about it now since I literally just closed all last week.
DCF are all good friends of mine and are related to each other, so I know that they can work something out amongst them for one or two days. I just wanted to know how licensing would view it if she just wanted to hang out at the house on one of my 'busier' days.