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Idaho Child Care

The government of Idaho have different programs that are focused with the welfare of children. And one of the things they monitor are the child care facilities to ensure that every child in the state is well taken cared off under a healthy and clean learning environment.

Child Care Resource Center

One of the services of the Panhandle Health District of Idaho is the Child Care Resource Center. This center matches the parents who are scouting for child care and the child care service providers. Its primary mission is enhancing the quality, accessibility, and availability of child care services especially in North Idaho.

The benefit of this center to parents is that they will able to find either in-home providers, child care centers, group child care homes, ICCP-approved providers depending on their personal and special choice/needs.

For additional information about this center, you can contact them in 1-800-926-2588

or

Panhandle Health District
208-415-5130
8500 N. Atlas Road, Hayden, ID 83835

Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children

The Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children or Idaho AEYC is an affiliate of National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). It is non-profit organization where it supports the quality of education and early care of every child in the state from birth to eight years old. It also promotes excellence in the early childhood education where children will grow and learn.

Idaho AEYC manages the annual renewal process of the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) through Idaho STARS. It develops choices of available child care facilities to the parents who are qualified to avail the subsidies and it also provides child care referrals to the families who are seeking for care.

Idaho AEYC also aims to increase the awareness of the public on the importance of quality education and that parents can choose different setting for this such as home care, daycare center, or school.

Its members are supported throughout the state through its five local AEYC affiliates by promoting training and conferences which will help to serve the families. The members are encouraged in participating in the Idaho STARS professional development system which includes the local Child Care Resource and Referral offices in seven regions of Idaho.

The membership of Idaho AEYC is available to individuals who have desire to serve and act in behalf of the rights and needs of young children, specifically on education and early care aspects. By joining, you automatically become a member to the national, state and local affiliates.

Starting a Day Care Service in Idaho

If you like to have a day care business in Idaho, all you have to do is to follow the rules and licensing of the state they are requiring. You must need to choose the location, make great advertisement for your service, make the contact, buy the equipment needed, and hire the right employee in your business.

Guidelines to follow:

First
step, you must find grants that will help to fund your Idaho day care business.
There are many financial aid programs, the federal and the state grants in
Idaho, who are willing to support and help you fund your day care center. You
can also get help from a local grant writer to assist you to get funds. You can
search grants for Idaho businesses at href="http://www.commerce.idaho.gov/communities/economic-advisory-council-eac-aspx">www.commerce.idaho.gov/communities/economic-advisory-council-eac-aspx

Second step is, decide if you will build your own establishment or buy an existing building and then just convert or renovate it. You can also use a certain part of your home and or you can also search for day care centers that are for sale in this Idaho web site: www.loopnet.com/Idaho_care-centers-for-sale/>

Third step, the phone number in Idaho state licensing office is 1-800-926-2588, you can call them to get information and also you need to let them know that you are going to start a day care business so that you will be guided to the proper licensing procedures and application.

Fourth step, be aware of the day care rules and regulations services in the state of Idaho. Every year in Idaho, employees should have four hours of continued trainings. If you wish to have a center-based day care service, one day care employee is needed for every 12 kids, however for a family-based service, you will need one day care employee for the 6 kids.

Fifth step, prepare your business hours and the number of children that you can handle. From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., most day care are open for their services, and you have to think wisely how many children that you can handle. If you have 12 children, one day care worker can handle them. It depends on the size and the number of employees that you will hire to the number of children that you will accept.

The sixth and final step, be sure you check your employees’ information before you hire them. Day care workers must have good moral character and must have experience working with children. They must not have any criminal background or activity, and they must have training in first aid and CPR. Also, they should attend four hours of training per year, which is in accordance to state of Idaho law. For the best interest, they should have this course within 30 days of hiring or better if before you hire them they already taken this course. Do not forget to check all their background seriously so that your day care center will be safe and out of trouble.

For further details of starting a day care in Idaho, you can contact this:

Idaho Department of Health & Welfare
Bureau of Family & Community Services
450 W. State Street

Boise, ID 83720-0036
Hotline: (2-1-1 Idaho CareLine) Dial 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588; (TDD) 208-332-7205
Phone: Dial 2-1-1 (within state) or 800-926-2588 (nationwide)
Fax: 208-334-5531
Web site: http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/portal/alias__Rainbow/lang__en-US/tabID__3374/DesktopDefault.aspx
Requirements:Licensing Requirements for Starting a Daycare in Idaho

Business Plan

When it comes to a type of career for infant (or they call it infant type career such as child rearing, child supervision programs, home based business), a sound business practice and quality care are essential to the success of your day care. A good planning and preparation is also very important in achieving success in any business establishment.

A lot of businesses like schools or centers, even home-based operation centers, use newsletters to communicate with parents and update them with the latest news and announcement of the school or center. Communication is a very important tool to have open channels between parents, teachers, kids or students, and caregivers in your school. Newsletter is important in posting the deadline of payments, enrollment schedules, school rules, prices and discounts, etc. But for a starting day care business, you can still omit this and concentrate on other things like how you plan to start, how much charges per child, how much capital that you need to invest, etc to ensure the success of the business.

To start up, ask assistance from a real estate agent for the caveats, zoning, floor plans, value of your place, area or neighborhood, and other related statistics like the survey of the lives and type of care that is needed in the vicinity.

Usually, parents go to work to ensure that they will be able to give the best for their children. They are willing to shell out funds to get the best service to take good care of their kids. So your day care should have competitive and realistic rates, which are affordable for parents with the quality of service you offer. Thus, these will be a sure road to success of your business.

Different child has different needs like developmental growth which requires and different attention level so you need to treat them individually. You can provide attention to a child if you have a good ratio between employee and the children that you are planning to accept. The employee ratio in your business should follow the Idaho laws and regulations aspects like using of cars seats in buses or any means of transportation in getting through and from your establishment.

Day cares and other care providers are being compared and rated. It will help your business to grow if you are going to get testimonial letters, endorsements, and word of mouth referrals from parents and children. You can also include in your special services the visitation to doctors, field trips or outings, physiotheraphy, care for special child etc.

Planning your business includes the services that you will provide, cost that you are going to charge per child, licensing and registration, investment’s needs to grow or expand, marketing strategies, management team, etc. Share your plan to your team and make this tangible so that you will be directed to one vision or one goal. Consultations from the experts, financial advisors, business loans professionals, real estates gurus, childcare professionals will ensure that you covered all the facets in your business and to ensure your success.

Naming a Day Care Business

There are many tasks in starting a day care and one of the tasks is choosing the name of your business. Think of a name that is suitable for you as a business owner and a name that appeals to the potential clients. This day care business revolves around the welfare of the children so rekindle your memories as a child when you are brainstorming for the name so that you will be more efficient in naming it. If you are having hard time choosing the right name of your day care, the following will definitely help you.

Procedure

1. You really need to decide before you start your day care if you want to include a preschool or not. If you decide to include preschool in your day care business, you need to add more learning words or scholastic words in your name like ABC, development and education. However, if you decide not to make it obvious on the name, you can use the words play, adventure and fun
2. Brainstorming is one of the powerful ways to create ideas that you never thought. Invite your friends and tell them your ideas in creating a name for your day care business. Your friends might share ideas, one person’s idea will create new possible name. Make a list for names that will come out and avoid being selective and picky at this point. You just gather all the possible names that will pop out from the brainstorming session.
3. Read carefully the list of names and choose the best one that would appeal to parents and kids. Believe it or not, parents listen to their children in choosing the school, so the fun name that has big appeal with the kids, will be an effective name for your day care business.
4. In choosing the name, it should begin with the first letter of the alphabet because many potential clients will search the list from the phonebook by simply the name of daycare that will come first. If ever that you will go down to your list between two names, choose the one that comes first alphabetically.
5. Select a name that is unique then check the list of existing day care facilities through your directory or phonebook and make sure that your business name will stand out from the rest. The major word should not be repeated in other day care business in your local area. A good example for this is “ABC Learning Center” and if you love to include the word “learning” to your name, do not name it as, “Play and Fun ABC Learning.”

Child Care Licensing of Idaho

The Idaho child care licensing provides contact information regarding child care business in Idaho. Under the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is the Regional Family and Children’s Services, where they issue child care licenses of Idaho which is renewable every after two years. Obtaining a license is a must because you cannot operate legally without this.

The three types of day care settings are: family child care home, group child care, and child care center. Only the family child care home is not required to get license unless you want to participate to the federal funded food program.

There are seven city governments which impose the additional requirements on Idaho child care licensing. Check your local county for additional information on licensing, local fees, and other requirements. In other cities, they require business permits or license from their Planning and Zoning Department.

The following is a list where you can find additional information on Idaho daycare and child care providers:

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
Bureau of Family and Community Services
450 Westgate Drive
Boise, ID 83720-0036
Toll Free: (2-1-1 Idaho CareLine) Dial 2-1-1 or (800) 926-2588
Fax: (208) 334-5531
Website: href="http://www.healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/portal/alias__Rainbow/lang__en-US/tabID__3374/DesktopDefault.aspx">Idaho
Department of Health and Welfare

Local Licensing Offices
Boise (208-384-3710)
Chubbuck (208-238-2376)
Coeur d’Alene (208-769-2229)
Jerome (208-324-8189)
Lewiston (208-746-7363)
Moscow (208-883-7015)
Pocatello (208-234-6285)

Family Child Care Association of Kootenai County
1722 Tullis Drive
Coeur D Alene, ID 83815
Email: lilbunnys@roadrunner.com

Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children
1471 Shoreline Drive, Suite 202
Boise, ID 83702,br>Phone: (208)345-1090
Toll-Free: 1-800-706-2320
Website: Idaho AEYC

American Red Cross of Greater Idaho Chapter Headquarters
146 South Cole
Boise, ID 83709
Telephone: 800-853-2570
Fax: 208-947-4371

Boise
146 South Cole
(800) 853-2570 ext 803

Twin Falls
253 N. 4th Avenue
(800) 853-2570 ext 302

Idaho Falls
330 Shoup Suite B (US Bank Bldg)
(800) 853-2570 ext 701

Lewiston
504 Main Street, Suite 420
(800) 853-2570 ext 202

Coeur d’Alene
Harding Family Center – 411 N 15th Street
(800) 853-2570 ext 103

Pocatello
5023 Rainbow
(800) 853-2570 ext 701
Website: American
Red Cross of Idaho>

CPR of IDAHO
1233 N. Main Street
Meridian ID 83642
Phone: (208) 629-6544
Website: CPR of Idaho

Idaho STARS Child Care Training
Website: Idaho STARS

Report Child Abuse in Idaho
You can report a child abuse in Idaho by calling the 2-1-1 Idaho CareLine by dialing 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588 for the contact information on local Child Protection Services office.

The
following shows the requirements for each type of child care license including
the approximate amount to be incurred:

The National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education has the regulations particularly on the health and safety of child care in Idaho. These regulations are enumerated below:

Four different documents which regulates the health and safety of child care in Idaho	Effective Date
16.06.01 Rules Governing Family and Children’s Services	4/2/2008
16.06.02 Rules Governing Standards for Child Care Licensing	3/30/2007
16.06.12 Rules Governing the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP)	5/1/2008
16.02.11 Immunization Requirements for Children Attending Licensed Day Care Facilities in Idaho	4/6/2005

Running Day Care Business Center

For a young child, a daycare center is a home away from their sweet home. In this formative and crucial year of the child, he learns to interact with the daily stimulus and this will be carried over to the later part of his growing years. Therefore, you must be prepared with this responsibility because parents had entrusted the mind of their toddlers to you. Here are some few tips on how we can live up to this duty in running a day care center:

• Find your niche

  There is a lot of academic schools and practice in the world of teaching or in the academe on how the young minds are to be molded. There are some techniques, like music or play, which involves and processes the child’s formative minds. The pillar of an educational institution is higher learning or play school.

  There is a lot of academic schools and practice in the world of teaching or in the academe on how the young minds are to be molded. There are some techniques, like music or play, which involves and processes the child’s formative minds. The pillar of an educational institution is higher learning or play school.

  So the technique that you will use in your daily activities in your day care is imperative. There must be no dull moment with the child, or even worst be exposed to incorrect values. But when the child learns a lot from you, their parents would be more grateful and become satisfied clients. By simple research and study, a day care administrator, just like you, must be equipped to provide the first building blocks of a child’s learning experience and will gain a good credibility for the business.

• Marketing importance

  This is not all about the well being of children, it is still a business and this depends upon the number of children who will accept for the service. A good marketing strategy is needed in advertising the business, this includes posting of advertisement on pediatric wards or doctor’s clinic, giving flyer to the local residential homes, and word of mouth to the residents. For those parents who are tech savvy, they will get information thru the net about your day care so you need also to post ads in the internet. You need to get the minimum income in order for the business to survive. Once your business is operating, you will finally have a big eye catching sign located in front of your day care making impressionable clients walking in or marching in to your establishment. This will this help your business to be known, viable, and profitable.

• Certifications and Qualifications

  Starting a day care is really a serious regulated business, and the government has strictly deemed necessarily for the well being and safety of the children. There are important requirements to be imposed for the potential business owners. Some of the requirements include the ratio between teacher and children, the facilities, and the food they are going to serve. The food must be periodically monitored to check if they are safe for children and if they are following the qualifications mandated by the Idaho government. As the owner of the business, you should follow qualifications and complete the certifications. Sometimes you need to post or display your certifications this in order to let the parents see that you have the permit to operate without causing worries on their part and they will think that their kids are in good hands.

Day Care Insurance

Child care business, either home or house type child care, has some risks, exposure, legal action and liability so insurance coverage is needed. You need to get a comprehensive and good insurance coverage that includes safety health, life, property, contents, third party, employee, and others. The insurance policies need to be current and updated for the best quality care and protection of your interests which allow recourse when required.

Liability Insurance for Day Care

When dealing with children’s care, which includes infants, toddlers, babies, under-aged children (below 12 years of age), there are a lot of legal and insurance options that you need to consider and update throughout the operation of the business and the life-cycle of your company. The cost of your insurance policy might be deducted at tax time.

Importance of Insurance for Day Care

As a company owner or operator, you are at risk with the costs, fees, coverage and liability, and personal property. Therefore for your protection, you need to have insurance in order to protect yourself, business operation, assets or collateral, financial status, management, from mitigation that helps remove some of the risk in operating your business. If you are fully covered, you will be worry free.

Liability and Coverage

In United States of America, which consists of different countries and geographical locations, there are different requirements, regulations, and specifications in licensing to operate a business. You need to adhere to the minimum insurance coverage of the state where you are going to operate your care business in order to avoid encountering a problem in getting your license to operate a legitimate home-based Day Care business.

Requirements on Health and Safety

Provider’s Age

A child care provider must be at least 18 years old. If below this age (16 to 17), there must be a direct supervision from a licensed one.

Child-Staff Ratios

For the group or family day care, the child-staff ratio is 12:1 irregardless of their age. The following are the recommended ratios for child and staff:

The following are the child-staff ratio for every Uniform Fire Code or Fire Safety Standards in day care centers:

Procedures and Policies

The daycare has to submit to the office of ICCP the following procedures and policies: payment collection, discipline, medication and evacuation. These must be posted in the daycare and its staff must be aware of these.

Emergency Communication

An emergency communication is a must for the provider. The Idaho Code is 39-1109 and 1110.

CPR and First Aid

There must be someone in day care who has certification on pediatric rescue breathing and the first aid treatment professionals. A day care is required to have well-stocked first aid kit.

Immunizations

The provider must have the records of immunizations of the children under his care and he has to review them annually and update them every time the children receive their shots. The immunization of each child must jibe with immunization schedule of Idaho Code, so he has to always discuss the status of immunization of each child to his parents.

Play Areas and Activities of Children

The play area in daycare must always be clean and well vacuumed everyday. The chairs, tables, and toys must be washed and sanitized more often. This includes the mats, sleeping cots, and blankets. All the furnishings, equipment, and materials must be free from hazardous parts, protruding objects, sharp corners, rusty parts, splinters, and with lead free paints,

All the activities in daycare must enhance the development of the children.

Disease Reporting and Notification Procedures

It is required by Idaho Reportable Disease Regulations to report to the Bureau of Preventive Medicine (1-800-632-5927) or District Health Department if the children have communicable diseases.

Even the child care staffs are not allowed to attend the class if they are infected by diseases.

All the parents must be notified about the incidence of diseases to have some preventive measures. The Health District can help in the notification and they can also provide information on the details of the disease and can offer preventive measures.

Diaper Changing Facilities and Practices

There must be a designated diaper changing area and must not be in the kitchen or on the tables that are used for food preparation. The surface of the changing area must be smooth and non-absorbent. And this must be sanitized every after use.

The day care staff must wash his hands when changing diaper including the child’s hands to avoid contamination. It is recommended by the Health District the usage of disposable diapers to control any outbreak of diseases (if there is).

Hand Washing Facility and Practices

• The hand sink must be near the changing area for hand washing.
• The hand sink in the kitchen is not for persons who are changing the diapers. This is used for hand washing before and after eating, after going to the restroom, and other related use.
• There must be hot and cold water, with soaps and paper towels in the hand washing area.
• The duration of hand washing must be 20 seconds. The children must be monitored and instructed in using the water, soap, and paper towels. Hand sanitizers can be supplemented but these products have high alcohol content which dries the skin.

Sources of Food

The foods in day care must be from approved sources and must be served and prepared sanitized. Home-made canned goods and non-inspected meat, milk, and milk products are not allowed.

Food Protection

Thawing of foods – when thawing, it must not be at room (1) inside the refrigerator, (2) using cold running water, (3) part of cooking process, and (4) using the microwave and cooking it immediately after.

Foods that are not to be re-served – any leftovers from the served foods in open container should not be served again. But this is not true with ½ gallon of milk. Any unwrapped foods that are put on the table are not advisable to re-serve.

Avoid too much handling of foods – if possible, avoid hand contact with the food. You may use utensils instead. These must be used in handling, mixing, and serving the foods. This is to avoid contamination of food and the spread of diseases. Therefore, hand washing is very important when preparing food.

Food storage – the foods must be properly stored. Avoid contact on the floor to protect them from flies, dust, pets, chemicals, and water. Do not put also the foods under the plumbing pipes. Do not eat nor smoke while preparing and serving the food. To avoid contamination, clean cloths and aprons must be used when preparing the food.

Utensil Storage – do not stock the utensils, utensil trays, dishes, glasses, pans and pots, and cabinets under the sinks to avoid contamination. The handles of the utensils must be in single direction.

Sanitizing the food surfaces – food contact surfaces are all the areas in the kitchen where there is direct contact with the food. These are: cutting boards, glassware, plasticware, dinnerware, pots, pans, tables, countertops, baby bottles, teething toys, pacifiers, and more.

General disinfecting – disinfect all the toys and the diaper changing areas every after use. Disinfect daily or if needed the following: synthetic sponges dish cloths, floors, and bathroom areas.

Dishwashing

All the utensils, glasses, dishes, and silverwares have to be totally cleaned after every use. You may use wash in washbasins/sinks or using an automatic dishwasher.

Wiping cloths/dish cloths

Rinse in sanitizing solution all wipe and dish cloths which are used on tables, high chairs, counters, and others prior and after using.

Storing Toxic Materials and Hazardous Substances

All medicines and chemicals must be stored and locked in unreachable cabinets to avoid contact of children.

The cleaning materials, pesticides, detergents, health and beauty aids, aerosol cans, poisons and other hazardous materials must be in their original containers and these must be used in accordance with intended purpose and manufacturer’s instructions. These must only be used in such a way that these will not infect the play areas, food, or areas intended for food preparation and not hazardous to children. If these are not in used, keep them in separate storage and away from the access of children. The bleach, disinfectants, cleaners, plant fertilizers, paint thinners, insect sprays, or the other chemicals have to be stored away from the utensils and of course to the foods.

All potentially harmful or poisonous plants in the area must be away from the reach of children. Also those items which are sharp and hazardous like knives, scissors, razors, and others.

All the crafts and arts materials that are used inside the facility must be nontoxic. Drinking or eating during the use of those materials are prohibited.

Medicine Storage

All medicines, including those refrigerated, must be in tight containers and should be properly labeled. These must be stored in inaccessible place.

Garbage

All the garbage of the daycare, including the disposable diapers, should be put in closed garbage bags. And these must be collected / disposed daily to avoid nuisance of odor.

Water Supply

There must be an approved source of water in the day care and the water must be free from contaminants. In case the water is from a private well, a sample must be tested in Panhandle Health District for any bacterial contamination. The lab fee is $11 and this should be paid immediately and a sterile bottle must be provided for the collection of sample. If the well is serving above 24 persons, it must pass to the standards of water system of the community.

Plumbing

The plumbing in daycare has to be in good condition and in accordance with the local codes of plumbing.

Fire Extinguishers, Smoke Detectors, and Fire Exits

The inspection of Idaho Child Care Program requires the personnel of Health District to inspect daycare facilities for compliance to the requirements regarding fire extinguisher, smoke detector, and fire exit. However, this does not intend to replace the inspection conducted by the local fire marshal. They will inspect using the approved checklist of the state.

Fire Extinguisher – there must be at least one fire extinguisher in daycare and it should be ABC multi-purpose type.

Smoke Detectors for the Commercial Day Care Facilities:

• Smoke detectors are regularly checked by the one who maintains the system and the records on maintenance and the testing must be available for review of the personnel of Health District and fire marshal.

for the In-Home Day Care Facilities:

• There must be at least one centralized unit in the sleeping area or hallway. In case there is a basement, an additional one is required in the hallway of basement even though the area is not for day care use.
• There must be test button on all units. The batteries must be replaced every year and the alarm must be checked semi-annually.

Emergency Exits – the local fire marshal determines the required number of emergency exits.

The windows, doors, and sliding doors (in-home only) can be used as emergency exits. There must be at most 5 sq. ft. and 44" from the window sill to the floor to make it accessible for escaping; the windows have to be easily opened; exit doors have to be open outward (in commercial day cares); and the sliding glass doors are only considered to be an emergency exit for in-home day care setting. The windows in the sleeping rooms should be near the exit.

The basements and upper stories are prohibited to be used as day care facility unless there are enough windows or doors.