New Regs And $125 Fee For Texas Providers? Tata Backfire

[Crystal]

I'd like to add what my annual fires inspection entails:

Head count.....making sure not over capacity
Facility inspection: making sure smoke detectors and fire exptinguisher are up to date and in working condition, making sure all locks on exit doors are no-knowledge hardware and are in good working condition, checking hot water heater temp, checking all exit routes to ensure not blocked or locked, checking that fire retardent has been applied to all window coverings annually, checking logs of monthly fire drills.
Those are things I can list off the top of my head. They also will report any other deficiencies they observe, if any (I haven't had that happen) so licenisng can do a follow-up if needed.
They send two inspectors, who are here for about two hours. They then have to go back, fill out a report, submit the report, send a copy to licensing and then process my fire permit. I'm sure that all costs more than $125. ( I pay more, but using the Texas fee as an example)

I don't LIKE paying it, but I'm certainly not going to complain about having to pay to run my business.

[Symphony]

Crystal, how does paying a fee make the kids safer? Why not have regulations in place to educate and inform? How about making all providers have background checks YEARLY, mandatory ongoing education, and age requirements for providers? That would be a start to safety. Fees don't equal safe.

In my state we are inspected 2x a year (one announced, one not) by fire and health. Licensing inspects 6x a year (one announced), we are required to take 30 hours of training biannually, and providers, spouses, and anyone over 18 in the house for more than two weeks has to have a background check every 3 months.

I pay $25/year, but I also live in an very sparsely populated state. We only have four inspectors in each category for the whole state.

[Crystal]

Maybe in addition to being aware that we are checked for reg. violations when we get an unannounced visit from our licensors or our food program coordinator who counts kids for capacity checks, we are suppose to be fearful of fire trucks as well...every time the fire sirens go off or we see a fire truck drive by it will be a warning not to go to Target and shop.....:confused:

Sorry, I was being a smarta** but I do agree that the more trainings and educational requirements we have, as well as the more safety requirements we have all contribute to the safety of the kids we care for.

I agree that we need more trainings and educational requirements as well. BUT, can you imagine the uproar IF providers were required to further their education????

BTW, How often are unnanounced visits in Texas?

[Crystal]

In my state we are inspected 2x a year (one announced, one not) by fire and health. Licensing inspects 6x a year (one announced), we are required to take 30 hours of training biannually, and providers, spouses, and anyone over 18 in the house for more than two weeks has to have a background check every 3 months.

I pay $25/year, but I also live in an very sparsely populated state. We only have four inspectors in each category for the whole state.

My goodness, what state are you in??!!

[nannyde]

Nanny, do you really think they will make money with this? I don't. It's not free or cheap to run licensing, conduct fire inspections or conduct annual visits. I think the fee will only be a drop in the bucket compared to what it will cost to set up and enforce regs.

Maybe I'm wrong... but I think Texas already requires registration. I'll look that up when I have a chance.

I think the operative part of this is: register with the city

[Symphony]

My goodness, what state are you in??!!

I'm in the Rocky Mountain states.

[Blackcat31]

I agree that we need more trainings and educational requirements as well. BUT, can you imagine the uproar IF providers were required to further their education????

BTW, How often are unnanounced visits in Texas?

I have no idea about unannouced visits in Texas but where I live, I have to say that I have been licensed for over 15+ years and NOT counting the visits I get when I renew my license (every 2 years) I have NEVER received an unannounced visit.

I did get a visit once from my licensor because a parent complained about something (she owed me money so she retailiated by saying something to the county.....) and a visit is required, but the licensor called and told me she would be stopping by so ????

I do think there would be a major uproar if providers were expected to further their educations, but maybe there are some other solutions such as limiting the number of kids you could legally have the first year you are open before being allowed to go to max capacity. Or maybe providers could enroll a certain number of children based off of how much training or documented experience they have...or they could be required to "intern" at another childcare for x amount of hours so they really can get a feel for what it is like being responsible for so may kids.

I really do not know the right answers but I do know that the system we have now is failing our children...impo. I think that if every provider on this board was really honest with themselves, they would admit that running a daycare is not really exactly what they thought it would be compared to what it really is. I have learned a ton over the years and am still learning today, and none of the things I have dealt with or faced in my career were ever things I would have thought I'd be dealing with.

Sure, we all know the ins and outs of children and their basic care but no one taught me about dealing with illnesses and late payments, no one taught me the stresses I would endure worrying about a child and how sick they are and no parent is coming for them, no one told me about the parents and how tough that part of the job would be, no one told me about eating and how weird kids can be about it. Most of the providers on this forum either have young children and can relate to the problems of young children but do not know the right answers more than anyone else or the providers have older children and have been there/done that but those same things do not work while trying to parent this new generation of children.

The only thing I do know is there is far too many things that happen in childcares (centers and homes) that should not be happening and doing something is better than doing nothing.

[Crystal]

Maybe I'm wrong... but I think Texas already requires registration. I'll look that up when I have a chance.

I think the operative part of this is: register with the city

Yes, I see that they have to be registered or licensed.....fees vary. I realize that this new fee will cover a fire safety inspection, which in hindsight should have been required long ago. No, it probably would not have prevented this tragedy, but it might prevent other tragedies. Being registered with the city is just one more way to ensure safety and compliance.

Looking at TX regs, I'd say the first thing they really need to look at is the number of children to one caregiver. 12:1 is not a good ratio, especially for a young, inexperienced, uneducated provider like Tata.

[jen]

Just my 2 cents...

The daycare market is tough...We've got the truly high end care, they have the best of everything and the parents PAY for it. They increase their rates regularly to cover the cost to keep things tip-top. They don't complain about fees.

Most of us don't have parents that can afford to be paying the BIG bucks, and in fact complain about the little amount that they are paying. So, when the price of gas goes up, along with the cost of heating oil, milk, and just about everything else, the provider eats the cost. There is always somene around the corner who will charge less and parents looking to save a buck. Providers end up feeling angry and frustrated by the cost of doing business, especially since they are eating the additional fees being described here.

If we kept general track about how much our expense go up each year, and then adjusted our rates to reflect those increases, perhaps we wouldn't mind paying the fee...since WE wouldn't be paying it, rather the customer would be. Instead, not only are we not giving our selves a simple cost of living raise, we are literally making less money when we look at the increased expenses. Unfortunatly, kids usualy end up paying the biggest price with decreased quality, less activities, and more stressed out providers.

[Crystal]

Blackcat....I'm right there with you. I feel the exact same way you do.

[daycare]

Well, I'm on the flip side here. I think it is WONDERFUL that there is going to be oversight. I think it is necessary to prevent OTHER things from happening, and it should have been enacted PRIOR to this tragedy.

Obviously, as has been stated already, inspection would not have prevented THIS accident, but had there been regs in place and fees required so that regs could be enforced, then it is likely that Jessica Tata never would have been caring for children in the first place....she would have undergone an FBI background check and her prior history would have been exposed. (most liklely) OR she would have been afraid that it would be exposed and would not have began caring for children anyway.Having licensing regs and annual inspections could prevent many other issues, and may force "bad" providers out of business.

In California I pay $127 annual licensing fee, PLUS $236 for my fire permit, PLUS $150ish for a city business permit. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Yes.

wow where are you in CA that you pay so much in fees for your license and other certs? I am in SF one of the most expensive places in the US and I don't pay that much...

[daycare]

I don't think any amount of education or required paid/unpaid inspections could prevent someone who is mentally ill like TATA...

But the county has to do something to show that they are trying to take action. I think they know that its not going to change anything!