Iowa Is Going To Start Posting The "Results" Of Our Compliancy Checks Online

[grandmom]

My state also puts the provider's response to the write-up. So providers need to be extremely careful how they respond to licensor's write-ups. They are on there permanently.

[DCBlessings27]

Kansas has just started doing this. I dont think any parents have looked up the info yet. I have looked up info on other daycares. It is interesting to look at, but I don't think the average parent is going to understand what they are looking at. The state is really cracking down on paperwork and if you are missing one small piece of info on a form, then you will receive a write up. For instance, our medical record form has about 40 blanks on the front side. THe parents must fill out every single one. If they leave any one of them blank, we will receive a write-up. If the parent puts a dash in one of the lines, then we will get a write-up, because that might just mean that their pen slipped. To me, this is not as big of a deal as a provider running over ratio, for example, but I think parents will have a hard time evaluating what things mean.

Lori

Yes, KS recently implemented the program to show violations, complaints, and administrative orders. So far, I don't know ANY parents who have actually used the portal. At this point, it seems to be used mainly by providers interested in the histories of other providers.

We are NOT given the option of responding to a violation or complaint and having our response listed. It's a very frustrating system because they do have to list unfounded complaints. The state tried to say that this looks good bc the portal would say that we were cleared. It doesn't do that. It doesn't list the reason or any information about the complaint--it just lists it. Then it will say under "results" something like "needs corrections." I haven't had a complaint, but I was frustrated when I looked at the listings. I was trying to find providers to recommend for my maternity time, and I came across some with complaint histories. However, I don't know what the complaints were for since it doesn't list any information about them.

Oh, and like the other KS provider said, the surveyors spend the longest amount of time during the yearly inspections making sure every little blank is filled out. I think being over numbers or not having any safe surface under a playset is more important than making sure my daycare parents wrote in a dentist's phone number for their 6 week old.

[Countrygal]

As Heidi said, WI already does this. I have had one contact who contacted me because of other non-compliancies she saw on other Daycares.

The thing I see as bad about this is that you have no chance to explain. For example - when my certifier stopped by just for a visit I was in the middle of making breakfast. I had a knife out on the counter (obviously, I didn't know who was at the door and all the children were gated in the playroom. If it had been an inspection I would have been "dinged" for the knife laying out. She commented on that as she walked through the house. It was obvious I had been in the middle of cooking with it. And I would have looked bad, even though in my mind it was a pretty minor infraction, considering I was in the MIDDLE of making breakfast. I often thought about if I was in the bathroom when they come knocking on the door......

[Blackcat31]

I think there needs to be some sort of movement towards more equal and fair inspection processes.

I read enough horror stories on this forum to make me think that licensors, in general, are NOT on the same team as the provider and that really saddens me.

My licensor is my support team! She enccourages the providers in our area to do the best we can and she is hands-on helpful about things we need assistance with or information about.

I have NEVER felt like she has showed up at my child care with an agenda to "do me in" or find violations. She is friendly, helpful and makes herself "one of us" in every way. I cannot say enough good things about her.

I know that this isn't just this one licensor as I have had 3 different ones over the course of my career and ALL of them have been fantastic!

I have shared with all of them (licensors) this site and talked with them about issues that providers across the country have posted about and about how differently licensing is all over.

My licensor rocks! happyface

[Cat Herder]

What I have a problem with is them posting every complaint and not posting enough information about not meeting licensing standards. .

I agree with this, too.

Mine still says "toxic chemical in reach of children" from years ago.

It was small bottle of Johnson's baby oil sitting on the side of the tub. I met the unannounced inspector at the door with naked baby in my arms, wrapped in a towel, after a particularly nasty blowout. (this also now includes most of your art supplies, btw. Check each and every label carefully)

I still can not get them to remove it. Absurd.

I am all for educating parents, but this needs to be met with some common sense.