Sheriff Sal Rivera recently was visited by a regional inspector from Texas Health and Human Services to share the importance of choosing licensed childcare. HHS has programs in place to ensure the health, safety and well-being of children in out-of-home care through Child Care Regulation.
Child Care Regulation is a statewide program that regulates childcare operations and child-placing agencies by inspecting and investigating these operations to ensure they meet the standards the state has set up.
The Child Day Care program issues permits and monitors center-based and in-home operations caring for children 13 years of age or younger for less than 24 hours a day while parents or guardians are at work or school.
The 24-hour Residential Child Care program issues permits and monitors operations and child-placing agencies providing around-the-clock care for children 17 years of age or younger whose parents or guardians are temporarily or permanently unable to care for them.
Child Care Regulation inspects licensed and registered operations to evaluate the minimum standards, rule and law. When CCR observes a violation, it issues a deficiency, notifi es the operation in writing and posts the deficiency on the operation’s public online record.
In addition to routine monitoring inspections, Child Care Regulation investigates reports and complaints of possible violations of minimum standards, rule or law including operations that might be providing childcare without a permit. These operations are called unregulated or illegal operations. CCR’s goal is to reduce risk to children by helping educate the public and potential providers on the benefits of regulation.
Child Care Licensing offers technical assistance to childcare operations and parents during pre-application orientation sessions, inspections,investigations and community outreach activities. Areas of frequent technical assistance include meeting minimum standards, safe sleep environments for children, child guidance and discipline, transportation and water safety, and child health and safety.
To learn more, visit www. hhs.texas.gov/services/safety/ child-care.