[FSSA] FSSA’s Bureau of Child Care (BCC) Begins Outreach on Legislative Changes (6/3/2013 - 6/4/2013)

Mon, 3 Jun 2013 18:00:00 GMT

Start Date:	6/3/2013	Start Time:	2:00 PM
End Date:	6/4/2013	End Time:	2:00 PM

Important new child care laws recently enacted by the Indiana General Assembly (SEA 305 and HEA 1494), go into effect on July 1, 2013. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Bureau of Child Care (BCC) begins a significant outreach effort this week to ensure that all child care programs are aware of the changes and prepared to comply. This outreach will include emails, letters, information packets and teleconference and webinar trainings for child care providers.

“Our ultimate goal is to increase protections to ensure the health and safety of Hoosier children, and we believe these new laws take significant steps to achieve that goal,” said Melanie Brizzi, administrator of FSSA’s Bureau of Child Care. “We hope this helps to ease parents’ burden, so they can go to work with less worry about the safety of their children.”

Changes that will go into effect will affect different types of child care programs differently. Changes include:

A requirement to conduct national background checks – including fingerprinting – of all employees and volunteers
A requirement that all caregivers be 18 years of age or older. If assistant caregivers are employed, they must be at least 14 and must be supervised at all times.
A requirement that a primary caregiver complete training on safe sleep for infants and that all staff and volunteers complete training on child abuse detection and prevention
A requirement that child care providers implement policies on the safe transportation of children and the use of appropriate discipline. These policies must be shared with parents.

Information mailed to child care providers and a schedule of teleconference and webinar trainings is available at www.in.gov/fssa/carefinder/4813.htm.

All regulated child care programs will be impacted by the new laws including licensed homes, licensed centers, registered ministries, legally licensed exempt provider (LLEP) homes that receive payments through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) and legally licensed exempt facilities that receive payments through CCDF.

Family and Social Services Agency - News Releases

[FSSA] FSSA’s Bureau of Child Care (BCC) Begins Outreach on Legislative Changes (6/3/2013 - 6/4/2013)