1. (a) The registered home primary caregiver shall be eighteen (18) years or older.
2. (b) The primary caregiver and all secondary caregivers shall have a high school diploma or general education diploma (GED).
3. (c) The caregiver shall not be otherwise employed during the time he or she is responsible for children in the home.
4. (d) Employment at other times shall not affect the quality of care given to the children.
5. (e) The caregiver shall not use profanity or speak in an abusive manner when children are present.
6. (f) The caregiver shall also cooperate with licensing staff during regular monitor visits.
7. (g) The caregiver shall have a person who would be able to care for the children in the event of an emergency.
8. (h) Newly registered home providers shall attend family childcare provider training within the first six (6) months of being registered.
9. (i) The registrant shall notify the Child Care Licensing Unit within five (5) calendar days of any change in the person or persons designated as secondary caregivers.

10. (j)

    1. (1) The caregiver shall obtain at least fifteen (15) hours of training, including child development training registered with the Office of Early Childhood professional development registry or Department of Education-approved or Department of Higher Education-approved training each year in continuing early childhood education, which is approved by the office.

    2. (2) Topics appropriate for continuing early education shall include, but are not limited to the following:

       1. (A) Child growth and development;
       2. (B) Nutrition and food service;
       3. (C) Parent communication and involvement;
       4. (D) Curriculum and curriculum development;
       5. (E) Developmentally appropriate practice and learning environments;
       6. (F) Behavior management;
       7. (G) Emergency care and first aid; and
       8. (H) Administration and management of early childhood program.

11. (k)

    1. (1) All caregivers, including volunteers who are counted in the ratios, shall receive the following orientation within three (3) months of employment (and every three (3) years thereafter) and shall not be left alone with children until this is completed.

    2. (2) Introduction (eight (8) clock hours):

       1. (A) Proper supervision of children;
       2. (B) Behavioral guidance practices;
       3. (C) Safe sleep practices for infants;
       4. (D) Shaken baby syndrome, which includes prevention, Carter’s Law, Acts 2013, No. 1208;
       5. (E) Appropriately responding to a crying or fussy infant or child;
       6. (F) Emergency procedures in the event of severe weather, or fire, including:

12. (i) Evacuation procedures and routes; and

    1. (ii) Location and use of fire extinguishers;

       1. (G) Mandated reporter training;
       2. (H) Administering medication;
       3. (I) Caring for children with special needs or care plans;
       4. (J) Transportation and car seat safety;
       5. (K) Policies regarding release of children to authorized individuals;
       6. (L) Prevention and control of infectious diseases;

       7. (M) Building and physical premises safety, including the identification of, and protection from:

          1. (i) Hazards;
          2. (ii) Bodies of water; and
          3. (iii) Vehicular traffic;
       8. (N) Nutrition and physical activities;
       9. (O) Prevention and response to food sensitivities and allergic reactions;
       10. (P) Basic child development; and

       11. (Q) The handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of bio contaminants.

           1. (l)
    2. (1) At least one (1) caregiver who has a current certificate of successful completion of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from an approved organization shall be on-site at all times.
    3. (2) If the home serves infants and toddlers, this training shall include infant and child CPR.

    4. (3)

       1. (A) Infant and child CPR may be included in the basic course or in a separate course.
       2. (B) The curriculum shall conform to current American Heart Association or American Red Cross guidelines.
       3. (C) The curriculum shall require hands on, skill-based instruction, as well as practical testing.
       4. (D) Training and certification that is provided solely online will not be accepted.

       5. (E) The instructor shall be qualified and authorized to teach the curriculum and shall be certified by a nationally recognized organization, including but not limited to:

          1. (i) The Health and Safety Institute; and
          2. (ii) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Safety Services, Inc.
          3. (m) The caregiver shall be physically and emotionally able to care for children.
13. (n) The licensing unit may require a physician’s statement for the caregiver anytime behavioral or physical indicators warrant.

14. (o) The caregiver shall not engage in behavior that could be viewed as:

    1. (1) Sexual;
    2. (2) Dangerous;
    3. (3) Exploitative; or
    4. (4) Physically harmful to children.

15. (p)

    1. (1) The caregiver shall not consume or be under the influence of illegal drugs.
    2. (2) The caregiver shall not consume or be under the influence of alcohol while delivering care.
    3. (3) The caregiver shall not consume or be under the influence of medications, prescription or nonprescription, which may impair his or her ability to provide care.
16. (q) Newly registered caregivers shall attend Business Administration Scale training within the first six (6) months of being registered.
17. (r) At no time shall children be left unsupervised.
18. (s) Additional staff provisions shall be made for enrollment of children with disabilities who require individual attention.
19. (t) It is recommended that all staff members who have direct contact with children receive annual influenza (flu) immunizations.

20. (u) It is recommended that all staff members who have direct contact with children receive a one-time Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) immunization.

    1. (v) It is recommended that all staff members who have direct contact with children receive the recommended series of immunizations for chicken pox, mumps, measles, and rubella, or evidence of immunity.

Codification Notes: Carter’s Law, Acts 2013, No. 1208, is codified at Arkansas Code § 20-9-1401 et seq.