Licensing Rules: Where Does Your State Fall?

[mema]

Yes, you are right... I see I wrote $100... My bad. It is $200 but the fine does not increase for repeated occurrences... so what is the point??

I've read a couple reports where the provider has so many violations that the report is several pages but the provider is still allowed to operate.

I think there needs to be a better system of consequences for repeat offenders....you know so there really aren't so many repeat offenders.. I don't understand why that is rocket science for some??? :confused:

Oh good (well not good, but I thought maybe there was another stinkin inconsistency). I totally agree there needs to be a better system. I don't think we will ever see it tho. FCC will be obselete by the point they get it together.

There is a lady here that is under temp immediate suspension. This happened in Dec 2012. It says under appeal. Not sure what happened, but really curious. I have heard that she has since moved to a different town and is doing care again. I could not find her on DHS, so I am assuming unlicensed, but not sure if it is legal.

There are definitely too many with too many violations and usually they are the same stinkin one everytime. I guess not everyone learns from their mistakes

[Blackcat31]

Oh good (well not good, but I thought maybe there was another stinkin inconsistency). I totally agree there needs to be a better system. I don't think we will ever see it tho. FCC will be obselete by the point they get it together.

There is a lady here that is under temp immediate suspension. This happened in Dec 2012. It says under appeal. Not sure what happened, but really curious. I have heard that she has since moved to a different town and is doing care again. I could not find her on DHS, so I am assuming unlicensed, but not sure if it is legal.

There are definitely too many with too many violations and usually they are the same stinkin one everytime. I guess not everyone learns from their mistakes

Yeah it specifically says "You are also prohibited from operating as a legally unlicensed child care provider unless and until such time as this order is reversed upon appeal. " when you get an immediate suspension of your license.

Is she still listed on the DHS website? Usually you can click her name and see the violations and what they say.

I signed up for e-mail notices from DHS so every day I get atleast 2-4 e-mails listing the violation in every county in the state. It's sad really. If parents actually looked at those lists, I think some of those ladies would be out of business.

[Mom2TLE]

Idaho got a 0. I'm not surprised you guys always talk about your pages of regs. Idaho has 1page front and back. When they first started qris we were ranked clear at the bottom like 49th I believe. A few laws have changed since then, we were able to be certified and have up to 12 kids. Now it is 6 @ 7 you have to be licensed and a background check for 3 or more. My inspector is also the health dept food/ restaurant inspector. She comes by once a year for those who are accepting state paid and 2 yrs for licensing. When they were trying to get the laws changed 5 years ago some of our lawmaker suggested moms not work and stay home with their children. Change is slow but it is changing. Here,'s an article about it.

http://m.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/15/lawmakers-ease-day-care-rules/

[mema]

Yeah it specifically says "You are also prohibited from operating as a legally unlicensed child care provider unless and until such time as this order is reversed upon appeal. " when you get an immediate suspension of your license.

Is she still listed on the DHS website? Usually you can click her name and see the violations and what they say.

I signed up for e-mail notices from DHS so every day I get atleast 2-4 e-mails listing the violation in every county in the state. It's sad really. If parents actually looked at those lists, I think some of those ladies would be out of business.

She is still on the website (for our town, not the one she moved too). It says it is being investigated by community services and the police department. Because it is under investigation, it is unable to be released in the letter. If you look at her FB page (I know, stalker), it says she is a preschooler teacher at such and such daycare. I know a family that went to hers before she was closed down, but no longer talk with them. When it happened, the family called me looking for care, but didn't know what all happened.

I get the DHS emails also. Sometimes I read thru them and sometimes it bugs me too much.

[Crazy8]

well personally I feel NJ is very lenient, doesn't over-regulate much at all like some of the things I read here. But looking at that link we automatically score a zero because we are allowed to be unlicensed.

[LadyK8]

Are you looking for this type of info?

Ranking of State Standards and Oversight of Small Family Child Care Homes

"Child Care Aware® of America assessed state policies for small family child care homes, where up to six children are cared for in the home of the provider for compensation.

The maximum number of points a state could receive is 150.

Sixteen states scored zero.

Of the states that scored points, the average score was 69, which equates to 46 percent - a failing grade in any classroom.

Family child care in the United States is characterized by weak state inspection standards, incomplete background checks, weak training requirements, weak early learning standards and weak basic health and safety standards."

Here is the link so you can read the full report yourself.
There is also a complete state ranking so you can see where each state falls. There is also an individual page for each state listing the areas they scored high in and the areas that are in need of repair or better assessment.

http://www.naccrra.org/about-child-care/state-child-care-licensing/2012-leaving-children-to-chance-child-care-homes

This is a subject that interests me greatly so any other info you are in need of, just let me know...I might already have it collected and saved.

HTH

Nice! My state scored really well. Thanks.

[melilley]

My state scored a big fat 0. It says because you can get your license before they do an inspection (for family homes). I always thought that that was strange.

I do think that compared to other states, MI is very lax in their regulations. Here, only 10% of fcc's get inspected before the 3 year renewal date for your registration/license and they do it by doing a lotto! And I've heard that it takes forever for any licensing consultant to investigate anything as far as fcc's go (mil used to work in a horrible fcc and called on the lady at least 3 times before they came out), but for centers, they are there right away.

Thanks for posting the link bc! Very interesting.

[melilley]

Wow...I was reading some of the suggestions, and they seem a bit over the top. I know other states (CA?) require licensing for more than one unrelated family, but seriously! How on earth would they ever enforce THAT when they can't enforce illegals with 12 or 15? :confused:

Again...make the regulations a bit more realistic, and ENFORCE them! I wonder why it's rocket science for the state? ::

That's how it is here, you have to have a license/registration if you care for one or more unrelated children in your home, yet there are tons of ads just on cl for sahm's and grammys that advertise care in their homes. It's unbelievable, but unless my state (and others) have funding to investigate illegal dc's, they are always going to be around. Plus, I don't think we have any type of fine or consequence if you are caught operating illegally (I could be wrong) so why not?!

Man, it would be so easy to operate illegally and not have to abide by any regulations, without getting caught....I just couldn't do it though.