MN Providers

[daymommy]

Hi guys just wondering if there are any mn providers that have opinions on the new proposed daycare regs....especially the proposed decreases in ratios. I was reading that you may only be allowed one child under 2 and then be required to keep a max of 4 including your own. With 2 of my own and one on the way this would only allow me to have 1 daycare child and they would need to be over 2. Just curious in the thoughts if others or more information anyone might have to share.

Right now I have 4mo, 2, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5 and one on the way in Jan so this would drastically effect not only me and my business but my families as well as I would basically have to close up shop.

If your not in MN I'd be curious to know what your ratios and capacities are. I was looking at a few other states and it seems like a max of 6 seems to be a common number.

Thanks!

[Unregistered]

Im in Illinois. I will copy and paste our rules from DCFS on this issue.

A caregiver alone may care for:

1) A mixed age group consisting of:

A) Up to 8 children under the age of 12, of which

B) Up to 5 children may be under the age of 5, of which

C) Up to 3 children may be under 24 months of age.


OR

2) A mixed age group consisting of:

A) Up to 8 children under the age of 12, of which

B) Up to 6 children may be under the age of 5, of which

C) Up to 2 children may be under 30 months of age.

[Willow]

Do you have a link to any of the information you're asking about?

I hadn't heard of anything like that being proposed.


Are you only talking about Class A licenses? and if so would the option to bump up to another Class still remain an option?

[Rubysmom]

I received the same questionaire you are referring to. I was okay with alot of the proposed changes, but I wrote a comment about the proposed lowering of the number of children. i stated that no one would go into home child care if there is no opportunity to make money. I also stated that it would cause more unlicensed and underqualified individuals to go into the field, and raise the price of daycare considerably.

[mema]

Do you have a link to any of the information you're asking about?

I hadn't heard of anything like that being proposed.


Are you only talking about Class A licenses? and if so would the option to bump up to another Class still remain an option?

Here is a link to the mlfcca review. I think there is some more info on their website. I know our local association has been keeping us informed.

http://mlfcca.org/associations/11524/files/DHS.pdf

[Blackcat31]

Do you have a link to any of the information you're asking about?

I hadn't heard of anything like that being proposed.


Are you only talking about Class A licenses? and if so would the option to bump up to another Class still remain an option?

Here is the panels review. Proposed cahnges are listed beginning on page 15 http://stmedia.startribune.com/docum...are+Homes1.pdf.

It is for ALL licensed child cares, essentially eliminating the Classes as we currently know them.

I received the same questionaire you are referring to. I was okay with alot of the proposed changes, but I wrote a comment about the proposed lowering of the number of children. i stated that no one would go into home child care if there is no opportunity to make money. I also stated that it would cause more unlicensed and underqualified individuals to go into the field, and raise the price of daycare considerably.

THAT is what I truly believe is the ultimate goal. They do not want sahm's caring for children and want to make child care more part of our educational system like school is. They are striving to make the business, their business and take it out of the small business owners hands. Across the board regulations is the point. More control by the government and less control by us.

This is another reason we are seeing changes in things such as unionization of child cares, Parent Aware and curriculums for toddlers and infants as well.

Family child care as we currently know it will be non-existant IMPO, in the next 10-15 years and ALL providers will be college degreed and oprating as center would.

The proposed changes make sense as MN is one of the most lenient when it comes to ratios and staff as well as guidelines for infant care.

"The state Department of Human Services (DHS) has highlighted these excellent recommendations in a letter to legislators that asks lawmakers to work with the department to review safety standards and consider statutory changes. The state agency is appropriately treating the increase in licensed family day care deaths -- from three in 2003 to 11 in 2011 -- as a public health priority. Eighty-three children have died since 2002. Action is needed.

The panel's recommendation on ratios is understandable, given that Minnesota's are more lenient than those called for by a national child-advocacy organization. But it's not clear how many states have moved to adopt these "best practices" standards or whether there's data to support that such standards will reduce deaths at in-home day cares"

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/editorials/169831346.html?refer=y

[daymommy]

I agree. That was the fist thing I thought when I read about the ratio proposals.

Does anyone know when these will be voted on, or when they would take effect if passed?

[MNMum]

I'd be back to working as a RN in the hospital. In my area there is a huge need for care for the under 2 year crowd. That's basically all I have in care. Maybe it would push more mother's to stay home with their babies?? The infant sleep measures may stop providers from taking infant's anyway.

[Blackcat31]

I'd be back to working as a RN in the hospital. In my area there is a huge need for care for the under 2 year crowd. That's basically all I have in care. Maybe it would push more mother's to stay home with their babies?? The infant sleep measures may stop providers from taking infant's anyway.

That is my plan of action. I stopped taking infants for a long time only to start again a year or so ago. If the sleep measures are passed soon, I will NOT be taking any children under 15 mos.

It may "force" more mothers to stay home with their babies but at what cost? They aren't able to secure their jobs so they would be out of work, perhaps on unemployment or worse yet, having to apply for state assistance which lends to an even bigger problem IMPO.

Ideally, it would be great to see families ABLE to stay home with their infants but I don't really see how that will be financially possible for a majority of people.

Moms staying home with their infants would also have a profound effect on the business we currently do as most of these moms would more than likely keep their other children home with them as well.

Lots of things to think about and process. I am trying to find out when and how soon they will be addressing and possibly implementing these changes.

[DCBlessings27]

Good luck with the changes if they get passed. We're currently in the final stages of new regulations here in Kansas. Ours started as a proposed law that got passed and then went to some proposed regulations that were passed and will be completely enforced by February 2013.

The law was passed in 2010 here, and will be complete in February 2013. So, here at least, we've had some time for the changes. At first, some had recommended more strict regulations than were actually passed. We've been fortunate that they did do a hearing in which providers could have their say. However, it wasn't widely known about so many providers were upset after the regulations were passed. They didn't make it a big deal to inform providers until everything was set in stone.

The changes here have moved us from the bottom ranking to #3 according to a national watchdog site or something like that. I know that I recently read an article from MN that talked about the new regulations here.

If they do get it passed and it's as drastic as only allowing 4 kids, I'd look for many providers doing care illegally. We have a ton here providing care illegally, but the resources are so spread thin by all the new inspections here that they really don't have time to investigate illegal ones. Some formerly legal providers also chose just to do illegal care due to our new regulations.

[daymommy]

I think a lot of providers would stop taking infants if they kept doing daycare at all. It seems like a lot of families would be stuck without care for their infants since it is already scarce to come by....around here at least. For me I won't have a choice since I will have an infant of my own. But even the option of legally unlicensed would allow me to care for one other family which would be more than one child (the max i would be able to have under proposed licensed ratios). I feel like this would force a lot of providers to go unlicensed and I'm sure that some will take their chances and continue care as an illegal unlicensed daycare as well....to me that just doesn't seem like if fixes anything. JMO.

[mema]

I know for myself, I would probably not take under 2's at all. Not even sure if I would actually continue at all. I don't want to run as a "center". I am a home. The price is going to skyrocket and well, it is high enough I think. I have never raised my rates-in fact I decreased it a few years ago for some when I went to a flat rate regardless of age, but I know some of my families couldn't afford to pay more.

Some of the points I agree with. Especially the training hours. I mean right now we need like what 8? That isn't a lot, but at the same time, it is hard to get to trainings sometimes and they can be expensive.

The whole thing about requiring a physician's authorization for any position but back sleeping-I thought that was already law? When did that change to just parents being able to put it in writing? No way. I wouldn't take a baby if the physician signed off for back sleeping. It's hard enough when the baby rolls on their own.

I have a lot of questions, but really until anything is put in place as a bill to pass thru the session in January, all you can do it wait and put your voice out there.

Our local association is having some informational thing at the end of the month that I am going to try to attend.

[lucky]

I personally think while mn licensing could use some improvement there are several factors they will need to consider. The biggest one currently being a shortage of quality infant care available. I started my last infant this week, but am planning on her being my last. I am uncomfortable with it given all the current changes and feel it's more of a liability than I chose to deal with. That being said I think if the changes go into effect as they are being proposed we are going to see children and especially infants being cared for in less than ideal conditions. Parents are still going to have to work, the sad fact of the matter is most families cannot afford to make ends meet on one income.

The providers who chose to go over capacity and not follow regulations will continue to do so, they may just go about it as unlicensed. The providers we are going to lose are the good ones who try to follow regulations and are not going to be able to afford to any longer.

While I think more frequent visits from licensing are a good idea, in my county at least my licensors are so overworked I don't know how this is practically feasible.

I also don't think having a helper be 16 should make a difference. In my understanding a 13 year old helper has to be with you and not left alone with the children anyway.

The 15-30 min checks on sleeping infants seems a bit extreme also. We wouldn't possibly expect this of the infants parents so why is it logical for childcare providers to follow this practice. I personally have an angel monitor and a video monitor for my own peace of mind.

[lil angels]

I am finding myself freaking out about all the new rules. I guess it isn't the rules but the possible changes in numbers how could you afford to stay open. I could go get a $10 an hr job and make the same so why would it be worth the liability anymore. I don't know just venting I guess. Does anyone know what the legally unlicensed numbers are in mn?

[mema]

I am finding myself freaking out about all the new rules. I guess it isn't the rules but the possible changes in numbers how could you afford to stay open. I could go get a $10 an hr job and make the same so why would it be worth the liability anymore. I don't know just venting I guess. Does anyone know what the legally unlicensed numbers are in mn?

1 Family unrelated.