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Preschool and Daycare Discussion
Help me clear this up -- Virginia in home daycare
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Anonymous
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Perhaps someone can help me clear this up -- and I apologize in advance if this is a stupid question, must be pregnancy brain!
I'm currently trying to find suitable in home daycare for an infant (starting in January 2012 -- yes, we are probably a few months early to be doing this, but I'm getting really nervous because it looks like we will not be getting into the center we were counting on). I've been checking out the State's website for providers (http://www.dss.virginia.gov/facility/search/cc.cgi) and Fairfax County's website of in home providers (http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/childcare/search/default.aspx). The list of providers that show up on the State's website is much more scant than the massive list that shows up on the County's website -- are not all providers registered with both the County and the State? Do I only want to consider one who is only registered with the State? I'll be honest, I've looked up the records of those in our zip code and neighboring zips, and most have multiple violations over the years. I don't know how to navigate this! Thanks for any tips you can provide! |
Anonymous
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I live in Arlington County, so the rules may be slightly different than Fairfax. County licensing will allow up to 5 children. State provides for up to 9, with additional requirements of course. I think there are differences in the amount of yearly training they must receive, and other issues like that. For some providers, the extra requirements of a state license are not something they want. For others we interviewed, they only want to care for 1 or 2 children, and so don't need the additional state license to keep more children.
Almost every provider you find will have had some violations. For us we had to decide which ones matter. If the provider was cited because a parent hadn't filled in their emergency contact number on a form or a tube of diaper cream had expired or they had run out of gauze in their first aid kit, I'm not that concerned. If provider is cited for having 15 children with no assistant, or no baby gates on the door leading out to the street, or something else that might impact the health or well-being of my child, then I moved on. Good luck. This was more nerve-wracking to me then the prospect of labor, so I know it's scary. Take the time to interview. Do a second visit with your DH. Trust your gut. Talk to references. |
Anonymous
Thanks so much for your input, that makes sense. And yes, I agree with this sentiment -- we visited the daycare center and our first in home provider yesterday, and I ended up in tears when we got in the car. I feel like I have no idea what I am doing! |
Anonymous
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Not sure if you are still looking or have found answers- but I have a 3 year old and 6 month old twins and I might have some answers for you. Fairfax county has its own licensing program so the state does not mandate that providers be licensed within that county. If you go outside the county (eg, Loudoun) there is no county license program available, so anyone who wants to get licensed has to go through the state. The requirements for both programs are almost identical, although I believe with a state license you can have more children. There is no real advantage to a state licensed provider versus a county licensed. Our in-home provider was licensed by the county, and then she moved to Loudoun, so she had to get a state license. There has been no change from our perspective. She still is required to undergo inspections (routine and surprise) and meet the same safety requirements, staff ratios, and maintain the same paperwork.
I agree with previous poster re: look at the violations, but definitely expect that ANY provider will have some. Frankly, if all PARENTS were subject to the same requirements, all of our homes would have some. I am sure if you walk around my fully baby-proofed house you would still find a missing outlet cover here or there or a can of Lysol on the bathroom counter that could technically be considered within reach of the child. You just have to decide which ones are too egregious to ignore, or if the same ones are repeated over and over. I agree that not keeping the required number of people on staff, or stairs with no baby gates, or hygiene issues (place smells like urine), would have me looking elsewhere. But issues with paperwork or an unlabeled tube of Desitin are not a big deal for me personally. We have been with the same in-home provider since my 3 year old was 3 months. You will find one you like. Take a deep breath- this is a scary decision to make, but trust your instincts- you will be fine! 
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Anonymous
| where are you located? I have a PHENOMINAL in-home daycare provider I can recommend! She's in the Springfield area. if you want to post your email, I can email you. I know exactly what you are going thru. SERIOUSLY!!!! |
Anonymous
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I am a childcare provider in Fairfax county and can tell you exactly what the difference is between the state and the county.
With a Fairfax county PERMIT we are allowed to have 5 children in our care at any given time. With a state LICENSE, they are allowed to have up to 12 children, BUT according to the meeting I just attended recently, the provider is supposed to check with local zoning and follow their regulations (which is currently no more than 7 children in a single family home, and 5 in a townhouse). With the county PERMIT you basically will need to rely on recommendations, referrels (i give at least 3 at the time of interview) whereas with the LICENSED providers, you do have the state website on which you find the info on visits, and violations and such. Mainly, all providers are required to have the same training as far as CPR/First Aid, the background check, a TB test, fire department inspection, etc. The one difference is in the number of training hours and the rules and regulations are far stricter with a licensed provider. IMHO, I honestly do not feel that it makes a licensed provider better than a permitted provider as I have seen some licensed providers I wouldnt send my dog to. good luck with your search!! |
Anonymous
| Here's one tip - if you can swing it, visit the daycare when parents are picking up. I managed to get some direct feedback from a parent out in the street as we were both leaving. It was not necessarily one of the official references. I just asked the parent, do you like it? And I asked her about one concern I had (about how much tv was allowed). She answered me honestly and it was really nice to talk to someone face-to-face. |
Anonymous
| I'm interested in recommendations for in-home prodivers in Springfield. Could you send it to mmluna7@yahoo.com? Thanks! |
Anonymous
| I only looked at State Licensed providers because they do yearly or sometimes twice yearly "pop up" inspections. They document the violations on their website. Our provider has to complete a certain number of training hours a year or else her license can be revoked. I really wanted someone with accountability. If I'm not mistaken, once you have Fairfax county permit there is no additonal in home follow up. |
Anonymous
 I have to agree that there are state providers whom I would not send a dog to. I am a capable provider of 24 years. I live in a townhouse and can only care for 5 children with or without the state. I have one grown child. I am educated and currently finishing a degree at UVA. I have loved my years as a provider and enjoy working with children. This was always my first choice. However, the climate in Fairfax Co. is against home daycare providers. I have always cared for children as if they were my own, but parents are different from when I first began. Now, it is about keeping up with the Jones' and not what is best for the child...sad. Why are kids so ill behaved iin schools and agressive? They are housed in centers 10-12 hours a day. Nurturing at it's best......sad. There are alot of wonderful providers out there... I have seen bad and abusive parents through the years...I now screen and do background checks on my parents, I too am concerned with who I am letting in my home!
Lot's of rambling here...but just frusterated with the state of daycare and Fairfax Co. |
Anonymous
| Just because a provider has a permit does not mean they do not have as much training or more than a state provider. I have always more than exceeded training standards as a provider. |
Anonymous
| op, try the infant-toddler program. My friend found a great provider through them. |
Anonymous
i agree, me too. |
Anonymous
I am going on 30 years of providing care and I could have written what you wrote, esp about parents being so different today than they were years ago!!! I love my job and the kids, but the parents expectations are often so out there, makes it hard sometimes dealing with it on a daily basis. When I see posts from parents wanting to know who the best daycare, school, preschool, etc is, I cringe. What is good for one person/child is not always what is good for the next. Why keep up with the joneses? I would love to know how to screen parents and do background checks on potential clients. I think we should be able to check out parents the same way they check us out. |
Anonymous
The worse you can do is ASSUME that just because a provider is state licensed and has unannounced visits they are better than the provider with the permit with few visits. I have known some during my years of providing care, and let me tell you, I wouldnt leave my dog much less my child with them. One of them was a friend of mine that I myself reported to the state, along with parents who were upset with the care their kids were getting, and she lost her license, was told never to provide care for children anymore. She ended up having to go out to get a job and in the end, lost everything she had/owned and moved away. I havent talked to her since shortly after all that happened. I was appalled to hear what she'd been doing, and didnt blame the parents one bit for feeling the way they felt |