51 Child Deaths In Virginia Unlicensed Care?

[NightOwl]

Here in Alabama, the licensing dept is a joke. I was last visited 20 months ago and haven't seen that lady since. That was for a scheduled licensing appointment. Yes, it's nice to not have them breathing down my neck, but no, it's not good practice. In my County, we have ONE licensing agent for FCC. ONE for the entire County. Ridiculous.

I'm in total agreement with the ladies who say enforcement of current standards is far more important than creating new ones. If no one is coming by to see if they're being implemented, then it doesn't matter how many new ones the state comes up with.

I always operated within the standards because it's been drilled into my head for 13+ years. It's just in my nature now to do things by the book. But I can only speak for myself. There are dozens in my area that are so subpar, it's disgusting. And they get away with it because there's ONE licensing agent here.

[Febby]

So Virginia wants to tighten and expand regulations for legally licensed and legally unlicensed daycares due deaths in illegally unlicensed daycares? That's supposed to solve safety issues in illegally unlicensed daycares how...?

[daycare]

So Virginia wants to tighten and expand regulations for legally licensed and legally unlicensed daycares due deaths in illegally unlicensed daycares? That's supposed to solve safety issues in illegally unlicensed daycares how...?

this was exactly my thought...... Great you are making it harder for those already following the rules. But they are not doing anything about the illegal operations.

Why not?

[Play Care]

So Virginia wants to tighten and expand regulations for legally licensed and legally unlicensed daycares due deaths in illegally unlicensed daycares? That's supposed to solve safety issues in illegally unlicensed daycares how...?

Pretty much what I was trying to say...

[Play Care]

I don't. I have read all 50 states and they are SO different. They are set to meet the needs of their people.

I think, in this day and age, where moms can go online and research ANYTHING child related and join groups of like minded people on every single child rearing practice... they can easily research child care regulations.

If they can spout African Tribes extended breastfeeding practices, deaths and injuries in circumcision, Dr Sears 7 B's in attachment parenting, anti vax research, car seat installation guidelines, etc. They can research their states daycare regs before they have a kid.

It shocks me that parents don't bother to look into regulations (well, until they are unhappy with their provider and want to turn them in )

I do think states do a HORRIBLE job educating parents - they want providers to do it and parents don't want to hear it from the "sitter"

[LysesKids]

Like I said many times before, I have rolled with change so I am in for the long haul, but licensed child care is NOT what I would encourage anyone to enter as a new provider in my state.

I hear that... it's why I am sorta glad they didn't fully license me . Remember, I live less than 3 hrs from you.

Of course a lot of parents don't like that I have written policies, set rates etc etc and I'm not just a lowly, under the table sitter; I'm a professional home that is entering my 15th year and it's groups like this that help make me who I am today

[Cradle2crayons]

I'm legally unlicensed. I don't have any inspections. The state doesn't regulate legally unlicensed here at all. I guess they would if there was a complaint.

I'm able to accept vouchers even though I'm legally unlicensed.

The reason I chose to remain legally unlicensed is because if I were licensed, my ratios wouldn't change at all.

[NightOwl]

We don't have the option to be legally unlicensed. Do most states have this? I read about it often on the forum. Here, even one child on a regular basis and over 4 hours at a time would get you labeled as an illegal daycare.

[LysesKids]

I'm legally unlicensed. I don't have any inspections. The state doesn't regulate legally unlicensed here at all. I guess they would if there was a complaint.

I'm able to accept vouchers even though I'm legally unlicensed.

The reason I chose to remain legally unlicensed is because if I were licensed, my ratios wouldn't change at all.

Mine wouldn't either because I work with babes under 24 months... I do have oversight because I can take vouchers/offer food program/ do foster respite care

[Cat Herder]

I don't. I have read all 50 states and they are SO different. They are set to meet the needs of their people.

I think, in this day and age, where moms can go online and research ANYTHING child related and join groups of like minded people on every single child rearing practice... they can easily research child care regulations.

If they can spout African Tribes extended breastfeeding practices, deaths and injuries in circumcision, Dr Sears 7 B's in attachment parenting, anti vax research, car seat installation guidelines, etc. They can research their states daycare regs before they have a kid.

Excellent points. I wonder if standard regs would not level things out, though. Some states regs are so over the top, others seem more of an after-thought. I guess my hope would be for something more reasonably in the middle... :confused:

[daycare]

don't cyber smack me, but I think it has a lot to do with the Adult providing the care. I think there are not enough restrictions or requirements on the providers to even apply for a license.

Here in CA we are heavily diverse, so you get a lot of people who come from another country, can't speak the language, does not understand our laws, but they care for children. THen we wonder why the kids go off to kinder without the ability to speak any english at all.

I see this all the time here. My good friend, she is from the same country as me, don't get me wrong, I love her. But she is a good example of someone who should not be running a daycare. Well in my eyes.

she can hardly speak English, the kids run a muck, watch tv all day. She did not even graduate from high school. I met her years ago when I came to North Cali to get my license. It was in the orientation that I met her.

I was so embarrassed of the questions she was asking. She actually asked the licensing instructor this:

(we were talking about capacity allowed within your daycare)
She says:
"I have 5 kids all under the age of 5, so I can only take one kid by myself?" The instructor said yes that is correct, the ratio is 1 to 6, unless 2 of the kids are enrolled in school, then you can have 8 by yourself. My friend replies, well what if I just let them play in the backyard all day? Can I take more kids?"............WHAT THE WHAT?? She got a license.


This was a few years back, she is closed now, but in the two years that she was open she would call me every week with all of these crazy stories and questions. I was so surprised she could even get people in. She was closed down by the state after a few kids were hurt under her care. I don't know if that is the whole story, but that is all I know.

It just seems like anyone can open shop here in CA and then when things go wrong, the good people take the hit for it..........

[NightOwl]

Here's my two cents. Take it or leave it. I believe you should have to be licensed to have even a single child under your care, and only be allowed one related child if you don't have a license. I never understood why someone could not be licensed if they had less than 3 children or less than 5 children, etc. Do fewer numbers make it Ok to not follow standards?? Maybe I'm misunderstanding what it means to be unlicensed? Idk. We don't have that option in Alabama, so I don't know exactly what it means to be legally unlicensed. Does it mean the state has absolutely no concern for how you operate? Does it mean you have different standards from licensed providers? Anyone care to enlighten me?

Also, one single set of standards for every state makes perfect sense to me. I'm 5 miles from the Tennessee state line, so my standards are vastly different from someone who lives 5 miles from me. THAT makes no sense. Should the children at my childcare get better or worse care/standards than children 5 miles away? 500 miles away? Why does it matter where we live?? All children are equal so the standards for their care should be equal.

[AuntTami]

don't cyber smack me, but I think it has a lot to do with the Adult providing the care. I think there are not enough restrictions or requirements on the providers to even apply for a license.

Here in CA we are heavily diverse, so you get a lot of people who come from another country, can't speak the language, does not understand our laws, but they care for children. THen we wonder why the kids go off to kinder without the ability to speak any english at all.

I see this all the time here. My good friend, she is from the same country as me, don't get me wrong, I love her. But she is a good example of someone who should not be running a daycare. Well in my eyes.

she can hardly speak English, the kids run a muck, watch tv all day. She did not even graduate from high school. I met her years ago when I came to North Cali to get my license. It was in the orientation that I met her.

I was so embarrassed of the questions she was asking. She actually asked the licensing instructor this:

(we were talking about capacity allowed within your daycare)
She says:
"I have 5 kids all under the age of 5, so I can only take one kid by myself?" The instructor said yes that is correct, the ratio is 1 to 6, unless 2 of the kids are enrolled in school, then you can have 8 by yourself. My friend replies, well what if I just let them play in the backyard all day? Can I take more kids?"............WHAT THE WHAT?? She got a license.


This was a few years back, she is closed now, but in the two years that she was open she would call me every week with all of these crazy stories and questions. I was so surprised she could even get people in. She was closed down by the state after a few kids were hurt under her care. I don't know if that is the whole story, but that is all I know.

It just seems like anyone can open shop here in CA and then when things go wrong, the good people take the hit for it..........

Thank you. This is what I was trying to convey in my original reply. There ARE some of us out there who are legally unlicensed, and who run a tight ship and everything is up to code and standards. And then there are those that just let the kids watch tv, and feed them chicken nuggets.

Like I said, "unlicensed" care isn't the problem. It's the ILLEGALLY unlicensed daycares that are the issue. Now, I understand that you can't fix one without getting rid of the other, so when it comes down to it and I'm required to be licensed, I'll do that because I enjoy my profession. However, many of the illegal homes won't be doing that, I'm sure, which will be beneficial for everyone, well except them.

[Febby]

I think the hardest part is actually catching the illegal providers. It's not like inspectors can just pull their names off a list and go check on them. Either someone has to report them or something has to go wrong that would draw attention to them (lost child, injury, death, etc.) in order for one to actually be caught.

[daycare]

I think the hardest part is actually catching the illegal providers. It's not like inspectors can just pull their names off a list and go check on them. Either someone has to report them or something has to go wrong that would draw attention to them (lost child, injury, death, etc.) in order for one to actually be caught.

I see illegals all the time listing on craigs list. I asked about this at a training I was at and they said exactly what you said.

they can't go out there without probable cause and they don't have the man hours to have someone investigate those type of setups.

I call baloney. they spend so much frivolous money, why can't they create a frad dept.??

They also need to consider making the consequences much more harsh than they are.