Camera for In-Home Daycare?

[Country Kids]

I'm wondering if my state is going to "require" camera's soon. There is a new campaign for safety in childcare's in our state which yes is great but at the same time not all childcare's are unsafe. I haven't seen it but I guess there is a new commercial from our governor about all the injuries, deaths and unsafe conditions in-home childcare's for our state.

It is coming in on the heels of QRIS so I'm sure there will be new expectations for in-home childcare's in our state.

[Blackcat31]

I'm wondering if my state is going to "require" camera's soon. There is a new campaign for safety in childcare's in our state which yes is great but at the same time not all childcare's are unsafe. I haven't seen it but I guess there is a new commercial from our governor about all the injuries, deaths and unsafe conditions in-home childcare's for our state.

It is coming in on the heels of QRIS so I'm sure there will be new expectations for in-home childcare's in our state.

I can see that "fight" being bigger than unionization of in home family child care providers.

Imagine the uproar being forced to have cameras in your home would ignite? The breach of privacy for family etc... Yikes... Of course, if it's tied to QRIS the state would require access so they can "check up" on providers....because yeah...that's a guarantee that the children will be safe. Ugh! I surely hope this is just in "discussion" phase for you. That "might" be a deal breaker for many.

[Country Kids]

I can see that "fight" being bigger than unionization of in home family child care providers.

Imagine the uproar being forced to have cameras in your home would ignite? The breach of privacy for family etc... Yikes... Of course, if it's tied to QRIS the state would require access so they can "check up" on providers....because yeah...that's a guarantee that the children will be safe. Ugh! I surely hope this is just in "discussion" phase for you. That "might" be a deal breaker for many.

I have read and heard that with the QRIS, Preschool Promise and Free Preschools that this is just another push to get home daycare gone.

There is a new website going in so providers that have complaints, you will now be able to see what the licensor wrote in response to the complaint. It will be in full detail I guess.

QRIS is separate from our state here so I don't see the state having access to the cameras. I can see them though if a complaint is filed wanting to then see the footage.

There needs to be crackdown on illegal childcare's also! I know at one time I heard our state was going to have it if a childcare is caught be illegal it would be a felony. Not sure if that is still in the works or what though.

[daycarediva]

I have read and heard that with the QRIS, Preschool Promise and Free Preschools that this is just another push to get home daycare gone.

There is a new website going in so providers that have complaints, you will now be able to see what the licensor wrote in response to the complaint. It will be in full detail I guess.

QRIS is separate from our state here so I don't see the state having access to the cameras. I can see them though if a complaint is filed wanting to then see the footage.

There needs to be crackdown on illegal childcare's also! I know at one time I heard our state was going to have it if a childcare is caught be illegal it would be a felony. Not sure if that is still in the works or what though.

Here it is in our regulations, if we have online parent access to cameras, we have to give the info to licensing.

Ya....NOPE.

"Little Johnny cried for 2 minutes until someone wiped his nose for him, despite him being perfectly capable of doing it himself and both provider and assistant busy with the more pressing needs of other children.'

[hwichlaz]

I have read and heard that with the QRIS, Preschool Promise and Free Preschools that this is just another push to get home daycare gone.

There is a new website going in so providers that have complaints, you will now be able to see what the licensor wrote in response to the complaint. It will be in full detail I guess.

QRIS is separate from our state here so I don't see the state having access to the cameras. I can see them though if a complaint is filed wanting to then see the footage.

There needs to be crackdown on illegal childcare's also! I know at one time I heard our state was going to have it if a childcare is caught be illegal it would be a felony. Not sure if that is still in the works or what though.

In California, all complaint reports and conclusions, and all inspection notes are open to the public online. They have been for about 5 years.

[Country Kids]

In California, all complaint reports and conclusions, and all inspection notes are open to the public online. They have been for about 5 years.

We have had complaints on line for like 8+ years. They are now including the inspection reports for the public.

[Unregistered]

no it is not, if you are a licensed ECE then you would know this...

all camera access has to be given to state inspectors and parents if cameras are in the home during hours of operation whether public or in-home. You can restrict the access of the cameras to parents and state employees before or after your hours of operations. By having cameras as long as parents are informed of their presence it by no means is a violation or breach to any other child's privacy or your own IF they're set up in common areas and not private areas like washrooms, bathrooms, changing areas, and areas that are not used or accessible during business hours. Cameras cannot be used to monitor children while in other areas of the home or center, and ratio must always be kept. If you do not allow parents to view them that is one thing, but you have to inform them of the presence of camera security systems or it can call for a lawsuit due to the breach of their child's privacy. You also absolutely have to give access to state inspectors/ attendees. Or we can revoke your license and/or fine you. Any employees must be aware / contracts must state the presence as well. Just like family contracts. you also have to have signs/ notice of personal/ private or family accessible cameras being in use and present in the home/ center.

happy reading!

Other threads about cameras.

https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=camera

I have cameras in my home. I have 6 inside and 6 outside.

I would NEVER allow a parent to view them. It would be a direct violation of privacy for other children/families.

I have them for liability reasons and to protect myself.



This is a good example of why I would never allow parents to view or have access to video feeds.

[Blackcat31]

If you were a member here you’d know this

all camera access has to be given to state inspectors and parents if cameras are in the home during hours of operation whether public or in-home. You can restrict the access of the cameras to parents and state employees before or after your hours of operations. By having cameras as long as parents are informed of their presence it by no means is a violation or breach to any other child's privacy or your own IF they're set up in common areas and not private areas like washrooms, bathrooms, changing areas, and areas that are not used or accessible during business hours. Cameras cannot be used to monitor children while in other areas of the home or center, and ratio must always be kept. If you do not allow parents to view them that is one thing, but you have to inform them of the presence of camera security systems or it can call for a lawsuit due to the breach of their child's privacy. You also absolutely have to give access to state inspectors/ attendees. Or we can revoke your license and/or fine you. Any employees must be aware / contracts must state the presence as well. Just like family contracts. you also have to have signs/ notice of personal/ private or family accessible cameras being in use and present in the home/ center.

happy reading!

Where did I say I don't notify parents of the presence of cameras?

Where did I say or indicate that I wouldn’t allow law enforcement or licensing to view them?

Please don’t make assumptions as to how I manage cameras in my facility.
I am well versed in the laws that apply to my practices.

[Rockgirl]

Or we can revoke your license and/or fine you.

Who is “we”?

[flying_babyb]

I feel like cameras are a good thing but not ones that can be viewed by the parents at will. I worked at a center with them, only viewable in the office. I was in the toddler room with 8 kids. 3 were on the loft climber. Two were brother and sister. The brother shoved the sister by the edge of the loft. I was standing right there. I saw it happen, reached out to grab the falling child and she went over my arms. Were talking major tooth damage, lots of blood, stiches in the lip. Parent flipped out, like accuing me of pushing her child ect. Parent wanted to sue then she was shown the video. The video showed I was innocent and it truly was a accident. Without the video there would have been a lawsuit and I would likely have been fired.

[Snowmom]

Who is “we”?

Agree- who is "we"?

Unregistered:
"Cameras cannot be used to monitor children while in other areas of the home or center"
Yes, they can. It's called a baby monitor and approved here as long as in-person checks are regularly performed.

"You also absolutely have to give access to state inspectors/ attendees. Or we can revoke your license and/or fine you."
Show me that legislation. This is not in any of my state's licensing verbiage that I've seen.
The only thing my licensing department wants from me is for me to ACKNOWLEDGE to my clients that I have their permission to take their child's pictures/images while they are here (this is to protect ME). The licensing department touches my RING doorbell to notify me every time they come, they see my iPad mounted on the wall of my playroom which shows camera footage of my property... they have never said a word to me or required me to sign off on anything stating what you are referring to. And believe me, I'd be all over my rights with that. I love the law and am also well versed in what freedoms I have.
Now, law enforcement can seize video if they have a warrant or a legitimate reason to believe a crime has been committed. Last time I checked, a licensor was not given the authority to act as police.

"Any employees must be aware / contracts must state the presence as well."
This is not neccesarily true either. While yes, there is a "reasonable expectation of privacy" in the workplace, it is dependent on the job, the environment and if cameras are in plain view. Even if hidden cameras are used, many employers can deem them necessary to prove illegal activity in the workplace.

Most states are a "one-party consent" in regards to video surveillance.

**Not to say that ethically, any of us wouldn't want to help with a crime if we could OR clear our name if accused of a crime and we could provide proof otherwise.
Video can help us in proving the "burden of proof" in a court of law, therefore cancel out any/all fines imposed by the commissioner.

[Jo123ABC]

As a home provider I would never, ever place cameras in my home. I wouldn't want any risk of them being on after hours or anything funky. It feels really invasive of my home and my own family.

But as a parent, I would absolutely never, ever send my child to a daycare without cameras. It's my personal preference and one of reasons I decided to stay home. I just couldn't stomach the thought of being completely out if touch with my children.

So I understand the parent's desire but as a home provider I'd suggest they go to a center of the cameras are s deal breaker

As a parent I would never send my kid to a daycare WITH cameras that other parents can access. I don't want random people gawking at my kids. Too many weirdos out there and I'd have no control over who gets to "monitor" my kid. Nope.

[Unregistered]

Old post but my experience with cameras, as a Director:

We used it to monitor what happened in a situation, or sometimes to ensure employees followed protocol. I knew if they lied when they said they washed hands after changing a kid's diaper. An employee who was promoted to lead wobbler teacher before my time simply because of a vacancy really pissed me off with her nastyness. She never washed hands, put food on the floor for the kids to eat, sat on her phone, didnt lesson plan, nada. And when I could not do anything about it...yay corporate...I decided I did not want to fight an uphill battle and it went on my list of reasons to leave center childcare -and I did leave.
3 of 4 centers I worked at with cameras.
1st: private daycare, camera only for admin staff to review as needed, not to watch over staff. It was also used if there was a break in-the vans often did.
Once in a blue moon a parent viewed it but we did not make habit of searching video for a parent. Aint nobody got time for that.

2nd: high end childcare, they had cameras that parents could see if the child was in that class-no other classroom. It allowed outside camera access at their child's designated playground time. I (as ass't director) had the camera as did the director|owners, in our offices. However the director grilled it in we had to monitor staff and call them up immediately for violation. I was not comfortable with that so I barely did.
3rd: big non profit corporation, very well known. Only admin had access and we could not let parents see. I was told to keep it up and use it for observations of kids and staff, but I could choose when to immediately call out or not-severity of situation. We never let parents access due to "confidentiality" but really....it is not. They could be in the room just the same.

I see its benefits so there is proof when there is something big. Or it can make employees more on guard-yet I have had staff who didnt care. But, it does create for mistrust, lack of privacy if something messes up, and it opens things for parents to demand the provider to watch playback to find out when 2 year old Johnny got hit at some point in a 10 hour span and not get why that demand is ridiculous.
If you're alone you don't need cameras for yourself just parents so you have to decide is it a) worth cost b) worth privacy issues inn event of malfunction and c) get all parents on board with it and maintain boundaries on what is viewed or not

[Meeko]

Many of you are aware that we had a situation some years ago, with a father who liked to drop by and spend time. After I became uncomfortable with how often he was here, we found out he was a registered child sex offender and was abusing his own daughter...but also having a "great time" hanging out with her and all her little buddies.

After that, we went to a no parents in the playroom policy. Parents have instant access to THEIR child, but nobody else's.

I can only imagine the "fun" that dad would have had if he could have sat behind his computer desk and watched the kids all day on camera.

I wonder if the parents who think it's awesome to watch their Snowflake on camera have stopped to think that Buster's dad is also having fun watching Snowflake all day?

My kids are all grown....but I would never have left them in a facility that let strangers watch them.

[Unregistered]

Wow

This thread, like so many others on this forum, makes me petrified to ever bring my child to a daycare center or home daycare.

It is so eye-opening to see how daycare caregivers think and feel.

I'd really love my toddler to get the socialization and structure that a PT morning daycare could provide, and I'd happily pay a lot for it.

But possibly not after getting this glimpse (over many threads) into how many providers think.

My only hope is that the majority on this platform represent the minority in real life, and that the teachers at the facility I am interested in are different.