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Parenting Information
Wilson County Resources:
Imagination Station Science Museum - Creative Outreach
Contact Person - Jonathan Brooks
Office: (252)291-5113 Fax: (252)291-2968
Wilson County Department of Social Services
- Subsidized Care
Contact Person - Tracey Mooring
Office: (252)206-4168 Fax: (252)206-1544
Wilson County Health Department - Dental
Health Education Program
Contact Person - Jeanette Jones
Office: (252)291-5470 Fax: (252)237-2146
Wilson County Public Library
Contact Person - Rebecca Tighe
Office: (252)237-5355 Fax: (252)243-4311
Wilson County Schools
Contact Person - Superintendent Dr. Larry Price
Office: (252)399-7700 Fax: (252)399-7757
Know The "Stars"
Child care providers work hard to provide high quality care at their
center or home. Parents will now be able to tell at a glance the level
of quality care provided by looking at the number of stars on the new
license. A rating of "one star" lets parents know that the program
meets North Carolina's minimum standards for child care. Licenses with
2-5 stars represent higher levels of quality care available.
The number of stars on a license is based on how well the center or home
performs in three areas: staff education standards, program standards, and
compliance history. A program can earn a maximum of five points in
each area. The number of stars awarded to the program is based on the
total number of points scored; for example, a total of 14-15 points must be
earned for a five-star license.
More Information
New Requirements in the Child Care Law
1. House Bill 152 - Reducing the Risk of Sudden Infant
Death
Syndrome (SIDS) in Child Care
This bill only impacts centers and homes licensed to care for infants.
The intent of the bill is to reduce SIDS risk factors in child care
facilities. It requires providers to place infants 12 months and
younger to sleep on their backs unless there is a written waiver from a
health care provider specifying a different position. A waiver from a
parent for a different sleep position is allowed once the infant is six
months old. Providers must develop safe sleep policies and review the
policy with parents before the child enrolls, and parents will sign a
statement that they reviewed the policy. Infant caregivers will be
required to take training in safe sleep practices. The bill also
requires state and local agencies to work together to ensure that reports of
child abuse or neglect are investigated properly. This law becomes
effective December 1, 2003.
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Beginning December 1, 2003, anyone caring for
an infant (age 12 months or younger) in center or home must place the baby
on its back to sleep unless there is a waiver for another position as
described above. We encourage you not to wait to begin putting
babies on their backs to sleep if you are not already doing so. After
December 1, this will be a licensing requirement monitored by your child
care consultant. If babies roll over into another position after you
place them on their backs to sleep, you do not have to reposition them on
their backs unless you choose to do so. You will learn more about
sleep position and other safe sleeping practices in training.
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Center and home providers licensed to care for
infants will be required to take training in safe sleep practices. The
Child Care Commission is working on rules to specify who must take the
training and when it must be completed. We anticipate that directors
of centers licensed for infants and any person in that center who is
scheduled to work in the infant room must be trained. The 1 1/2 hour
Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep & SIDS Risk Reduction in Child Care training is
also known as "ITS-SIDS" training.
Contact Mary Artis,
Child Care Resource &
Referral Coordinator, for more information about Child Care Resource &
Referral.
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