(a) Childcare staff shall:

1. (1) Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age; and
2. (2) Have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

(c)

1. (1) Childcare staff shall complete preservice training prior to being counted in the staff-to-child ratio.
2. (2) This training may be counted toward training hours for the first year.
3. (3) This applies to personnel employed on or after January 1, 2011.

(d) Preservice training shall include without limitation:

1. (1) Confidentiality;
2. (2) Resident grievance process (psychiatric only);
3. (3) Fire and disaster plans;
4. (4) Suicide awareness and protocol;
5. (5) Behavior management;
6. (6) Crisis intervention strategies;
7. (7) Agency policies and procedures;
8. (8) Child maltreatment mandated reporter rule;
9. (9) One (1) hour of training on the program’s safety plan (sexual rehabilitative only); and
10. (10) Minimum Licensing Standards for Child Welfare Agencies (that pertain to license type).

(e)

1. (1) All childcare staff shall have a current certificate of successful completion of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
2. (2) The training shall require hands-on and skill-based instruction as well as practical testing.
3. (3) Training and certification that is provided solely online will not be accepted.
4. (4) Staff shall complete this requirement within ninety (90) days of hire.

(h)

1. (1) All full-time childcare staff shall have thirty (30) hours of job-related in-service or workshop training each year.
2. (2) First aid, CPR, and in-service training at the facility may be included.

(i)

1. (1) Childcare staff working twenty-four (24) hours a week or fewer shall have at least fifteen (15) hours of job-related in-service or workshop training each year.
2. (2) First aid, CPR, and in-service training at the facility may be included.

(j)

1. (1) All childcare staff in psychiatric facilities shall complete ten (10) hours of psychiatric-specific training before being counted in the staff-to-child ratio.
2. (2) This applies to employees hired on or after September 1, 2016.

(m) Documentation verifying annual training shall include the:

1. (1) Date;
2. (2) Number of hours;
3. (3) Name of the source; and
4. (4) Topic or title.

(o) The agency shall maintain a personnel file for each employee, which shall include:

1. (1) A resume or application;
2. (2) Date of hire;
3. (3) Verifications of qualifications;
4. (4) Documentation of required annual training;
5. (5) Criminal record check and Child Maltreatment Central Registry check information as required by law;
6. (6) Documentation that applicable employees are informed that they are mandated reporters of suspected child maltreatment, according to Arkansas Code § 12-18-402, and are provided the information needed to make a report;
7. (7) A functional job description; and
8. (8) At least three (3) positive personal references from nonrelatives.