in our areas we have a higher demand for daycares and we just dont have them and we need to be able to have the p[laces for kids to go and we dont. I have been asked by alot of people to take there kids and i have to turn them away because of the unability to have more kids here and not that i cant do it i can and would like the oportunity to do just that. thank you .

I believe that the health, safety, and welfare of children are paramount regardless of who provides the care and care should include programs supporting the three elements addressed by this amendment. The welfare of the child(ren) should include programs that prepare early childhood students for kindergarten readiness, which  provides trajectory into early childhood academic achievements and self-sustaniment later in life.  More education facilities are needed to provide such services that would deter placing disadvantaged children into learning disabled classes based on their cognative disparities due to no fault of their own.  Children learn the most in their first five years of life and this is an opportunity in day home care providing structured and approved education programs are implemented.  There should be strict guidelines on the care-giver-to-child ratio as not to cause or create a volitile environment. Background checks should be required on each worker involved with the children. Care-givers should not be allowed to take visitors when on duty...this may put a child or children at risk during the visitation period as attention is drawn away from the children.  Providing meaningful attention to each child in home care should be consistent and intentional.  Funds issued by federal Child Care and Development Block Grant Act should require certain stipulations that give account for the spending of those funds.  Children are our assets and we should invest in their health and educational processes as soon as possible.  Having home care facilities that  effictively facilitate the cognitive abilities of children to promote kindergarten readiness is a benefit for communities. This practice afford opportunities for early childhood students.  Numerous parents are not income eligible for early childhood preschool programs. This grant for child home daycares will allow those parents to take advantage of childcare development programs through a grant.  Lastly, television viewing should be limited for children during the time spent in home daycares.  Early childhood education has a plethora of benefits from a home daycare perspective.  Child care providers can make a significant difference in the life of a child, especially during the early childhood years.

When we need to include the programs that could prepare the Early Childhood children for kindergarten Readiness the community should be open for all the children that do not belong to the community but the part of the park should be free from hazards and safe from the killer kidnappers inside the daycare or held in women should be implemented as strictly on the kill of us the book the bathroom and the play places should be fully equal sanitizers and antibacterial soaps need to need approve the educational and more and more to approve the behavior of the children should be strictly employee air and implemented

The Fairfax County Child Care Advisory Council (CCAC) appreciates this opportunity to comment on the proposed amendments to the Family Day Home Licensing Standards 22 VAC 40 – 111.

We support the proposed amendments, and believe that the new additions to the regulations in health, safety, and emergency preparedness will improve quality and safety in licensed family child care homes.  The proposed increase in the ongoing training hours is in line with efforts throughout the country to improve professional development for early childhood professionals.

In reference to 22VAC40-111-60-B-2-F, we recognize the importance of having a written care plan for children diagnosed with a food allergy.  As this is a new requirement that may garner different interpretations, we hope that the state will provide appropriate guidance and resources for family child care providers, families, and health care practitioners to develop and implement their plan.  In reference to 22VAC40-111-210-C, the Fairfax County CCAC agrees that professional development in areas of different health and safety areas is important for family child care providers to complete every two years.  However, with this requirement, we recommend that ample opportunities be offered throughout the state for family child care providers to access these professional development opportunities.

While we support standards that strengthen the health and safety of children in care, we remain concerned that many new regulations present an added cost to family child care providers, which must be passed on to families or subsidized by the providers.  Thank you for your consideration.

Monica Jackson, Chairman, Fairfax County Child Care Advisory Council

The family child care community appreciates the opportunity for family child care providers to get involved in the process of revisions and updates to the Family Child Care Licensing Standard. As a licensed family child care provider in Northern Virginia, I support the proposed regulatory action to amend Standards for Licensed Family Day Homes (22 VAC40-111). This amendment reflects federal health and safety standards to provide additional protections for the health, safety, and welfare of Virginia’s children. I believe children should be protected when they are under the care of other adults in any setting or program. This protection is for the children, but the parents will also benefit by knowing their children are safe while they are at work to support of our states economy. Additionally, to ensure the safety of all the children, it should be required by law for all providers to be held accountable to the standards going forward. No provider or caregiver should be exempt when it comes to planning for the health, safety, and emergency preparedness for our children. As part of the advocacy group for family child care providers of Virginia, I went through the minimum standards many times with our concerned providers. It is time for us to change and achieve the highest quality standards so that we are par with federal standards and other states who believe in quality family child care and have acted on. While the new amendments are in progress, this is an excellent opportunity include statewide support, financial support, grants, scholarships, and incentives for providers to obtain state required training. Additionally, training opportunities should be offered in the evening or weekend so that a standard of care can be maintained. In reference to 22VAC40-111-60-B-2-F, the proposed amendments need to be specific and provide clear interpretation and guidance of the new standards. Active links which provide resources like scholarship information and trainings would also be beneficial. Thank you for your extremely helpful attention to this matter. Sincerely, Aisha Bhatty