This Can't Be Right, RIGHT!?!?

[hawkfan428]

Hi ladies! So I just started working today at a YMCA in their nursery. I work for 2 hours and 15 minutes each day. I asked when hired if I'd be working with anyone and she said I'd be alone.
Yeah...so within 5 minutes I had 15 kids between 11 months and 6 years old. I know they aren't licensed the same way that centers are, but that seems crazy...RIGHT? It was chaos.

I called the DCFS hotline number and the lady told me she didn't think it sounded right and gave me a number to file a complain locally. I called them and they said they're without a licensing rep right now so transferred me to the one in Springfield (IL). I ended up just getting some guys voicemail and haven't heard back yet.

I don't think I can do 15 every day like that!

[MarinaVanessa]

I'm not sure how it works in your state but in my state (CA) the ratios are only different if you are FCC (home daycare) and a center. Even church daycares follow the same ratios as DC centers.

If that's the case then your ratios are WAY off.

https://www.daycare.com/illinois/

According to the info on the link if you have a mixed age group then the ratios of the youngest child you care for apply ... if these ratio regulations apply to the YMCA that means that you the ratio for the youngest child in your care applies :confused:. That means if your youngest is 11 months then you should only have 5 kids ... even if it were a 2 yo should only have 8 children.

If center ratios didn't apply to the YMCA I still don't see how having 15 kids to one person is smart especially if they're a mixed age range. You probably don't have them all day but still .. even one - two hours would be extremely difficult to adequately supervise that many young kids mixed in with older kids.

[hawkfan428]

Yeah...I've worked in daycare before so I with thinking that. I know they have some different license than actual centers, so I think that could make it a bit different. Heck...I'd probably be okay with even 8...but 15!?!?

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Like Marina said, it goes by the youngest in a center.

You should only have FOUR children if one is an 11-month-old infant.

[itlw8]

This is a nursery for a gym nt a daycare right? I don't think they have to be licensed or even follow ratios. But as a parent why would you leave your child ? I remember going to the Y as a young mom and tons of kids in the nursery I did not feel safe leaving my infant and preschooler. so I did not go back.

[Heidi]

I know in Wisconsin, if the parents are on the premises for an activity, they don't have to be licensed. Most YMCA's are not licensed, they consider it more a "playroom".

If you are licensed, there should be a license posted on the wall somewhere. I'm guessing that is a reg in all states, and I'm guessing you won't find one.

[SunnyDay]

I know in Wisconsin, if the parents are on the premises for an activity, they don't have to be licensed. Most YMCA's are not licensed, they consider it more a "playroom".

If you are licensed, there should be a license posted on the wall somewhere. I'm guessing that is a reg in all states, and I'm guessing you won't find one.

This is how it is in MI, too. Our YMCA does have a regular, licensed daycare on premises, but that is for parents who are leaving their children and going to work. The care for children whose parents are present working out is not licensed. I'm not sure what kind of ratios they follow, but 15 children as young as infants does sound like a lot for one person!

[Little Love Bugs]

I know in nevada when they have mixed age groups the ratio is 1 to 6

[itlw8]

I found this is a search
Day Care Worker Leaves Children Unattended In Gym. Situation Demonstrates The Need For More Regulation Of Child Care In Alternative Settings
By Jonathan Rosenfeld on April 18th, 2010Posted in Abuse In Chicago Nursing Homes & Other Communities Within Illinois, Children In Nursing Homes, Group Homes, Foster Care & Day Care




A client emailed my the above news clip regarding a day care worker at a gym that abandoned the children she was responsible for looking after in order to attend to a personal errand. Of course, I was shocked and appalled by this blatant disregard to child safety, but what is most disturbing about this story is the fact that most quasi-day care facilities in… a gym, a church or any privately operated facility where the parents are on the premises are not subject to the same scrutiny — and laws that a ‘normal’ day care facility obligated to abide.

In Illinois and many other states, gyms and other facilities where the parents remain on the premises, do not need to conduct the same facility inspections and employee background checks that more traditional day care facilities are subject to.

Thankfully, this episode of poor judgment resulted in minor injuries to a child. However, as the parent of a toddler, I cringe to think of what may have occurred had the day care worker chosen to extend her break?

[Cat Herder]

Sounds like a closing shift position. It was very common for that room to be way over ratio for an hour or so, IME.

It was generally overlooked since it was such a small amount of time...

Here, the YMCA is a non-profit so don't have to be inspected or follow the same regs.

[Scout]

When I have used my Ymca childwatch, there have been at least 3 people working. It is a busy one & has always,been saturday mornings. I never felt bad. In fact, once i came out of the bathroom & a worker was standing there holding a board with mine & my baby's name on it cus he was crying for 15 min & she thought he didnt feel well.

[jojosmommy]

I would speak up. Ask the person who hired you what the rules are?

Tell them you are uncomfortable meeting the health and safety needs of 15 alone.

I also stopped using the YMCA childcare at our Y because it was overcrowded and staffed by young girls who didnt know better. My dd needs are more than they can handle so we just stopped going. Wish we could though. It is a nice convience.

[Country Kids]

Is it the actual childcare for the people working out or a childcare that parents use when they go to work?

Our Y has an actual childcare for working parents and they are regulated by the state.

I do believe they no longer have childcare on site for people working out.

[SunshineMama]

I don't know how the laws would affect your situation, but.... wow! Theres no way in heck i would want a mixed age group of 15. 15 4 year olds, okay, maybe... but 15 including infants and toddlers sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

[spud912]

We have a child watch at our local YMCA. In the handful amount of times we have used it, there were usually 3 young adults and anywhere from a couple of children up to 20 or so. They do not change diapers and will come find the parents if the child becomes soiled or if the child has been crying for 10 minutes nonstop (or an injury of course). We don't use it because my younger dd absolutely hates it and acts like we are abandoning her there (despite being within eyesight ).

I think it's really unfortunate that they don't have an internal policy at least outlining a ratio of some sort. It seems like they open themselves up to a lot of liability if that is the case.