Substitute Not Approved by Licensing

[ChelseaB]

My state was like yours until recently. The change has ensured that we can no longer even find subs for our daycares. Has it benefited parents? My clients don't feel that it has. Rather than having a sub pop in for 2 hours while I go to the dentist, parents now have to take an afternoon of vacation from work every time I have an appointment or they have to find another childcare for their child for an entire afternoon or day because I had to spend an hour at the dentist.

Parents are FRUSTRATED at this new regulation because it has taken the power away from them and from me in choosing a sub and the parents choosing who cares for their children, and is requiring them to spend more money, more vacation time, and more of their personal time arranging care for their children when they used to have a trusted, SAHM (whom their kids had a relationship with already) who cared for their kids in my absence.

The regs are getting out of control. There really is no reason for a sub to spend 10 hours on training to spend an hour with my kids. It used to be a CPR/FIRST AID card and a background check were all that were needed. Now, it's a hassle that no one is willing to deal with.

Oh my word, that sounds chaotic! To be 100% honest, I would not be surprised if a change like that occurs in WV sooner rather than later. Legislature has been uprooting everything, especially concerning our schools, daycares, etc! I can understand some changes, but it is nearly impossible to find someone willing to undergo those stipulations just to sub occasionally! This is one of the many reasons I decided pretty much from the beginning to upgrade into a facility so that my ratio may increase. I plan to fill the 6 full time slots (what I can have with just me), but I will only allow for 2-3 part timers (although I can have 12 kiddos with an assistant). And potentially a part time worker to fill in. Of course, that’s a different circumstance, where they will require more trainings, but they’d be working regularly and would be more willing to undergo trainings and other requirements! I too hate closing for appointments and such, it’s a pain for the parents and myself!