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6. A review of applicable center policies.
7. First aid procedures.
8. A review of child abuse and neglect laws and center reporting procedures.
9. Information on any special needs a child being transported may have and the plan for how those needs will be met.
10. A review of the use of the vehicle alarm, if applicable.
11. Any other job responsibilities as determined by the licensee.
1. Prior to the day a driver first transports children in care and annually thereafter, the licensee shall obtain a copy of the driving record for each driver and place the record in the staff file. The licensee shall review each driving record to ensure that the driver has no accidents or traffic violations that would indicate that having children ride with the driver could pose a threat to the children.
2. In determining whether a driver may pose a threat to the children, the licensee shall consider the totality of the driver’s record, any other relevant facts, and the following factors in combination:
a. The seriousness of any accidents or violations.
b. The amount of time that has passed since an accident or violation occurred.
c. The number of accidents or violations.
d. The likelihood that a similar incident will occur.
3. A driver whose driving record indicates that the driver poses a threat to the children may not transport children.
Note: Information on how to obtain driving records may be obtained by contacting the Department of Transportation at (608) 261-2566 or https://wisconsindot.gov/pages/online-srvcs/other-servs/request-record.aspx.
1. Except as provided in subd. 2., a driver of a vehicle that is transporting children in care may not use a cellular phone or other wireless telecommunication device while loading, unloading, or transporting children, except when the vehicle is out of traffic, not in operation, and any of the following applies:
a. The phone or device is used to call 911.
b. The phone or device is used to communicate with emergency responders.
c. The phone or device is used to communicate with the center regarding an emergency situation.
2. A navigation device may be used during transportation of children if the device is programmed to a destination when the vehicle is out of traffic and not in operation.
(5)Vehicle.
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each vehicle that is used to transport children is all of the following:
1. Registered with the Wisconsin department of transportation or the appropriate authority in another state.
2. Clean, uncluttered, and free of obstruction on the floors, aisles, and seats.
3. In safe operating condition.
(b) At 12-month intervals, the licensee shall provide the department with evidence of a vehicle’s safe operating condition on a form provided by the department.
Note: The department’s form, Vehicle Safety Inspection, is used to record evidence of the vehicle’s safe operating condition. Information on how to obtain forms is available on the department’s website, https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
(c) The licensee shall obtain and maintain vehicle liability insurance with minimums no less than those specified in subch. VI of ch. 344, Stats.
(d) Hired or contracted school buses used to transport children shall be in compliance with ch. Trans 300.
(e) At least once per year, the licensee shall make available to the department each vehicle that is required to have a child safety alarm under sub. (8) (a) to determine whether the child safety alarm is in good working order.
(6)Seat belts and child safety restraints.
(a) No person may transport a child under 8 years of age in a motor vehicle, unless the child is restrained in a child safety restraint system that is appropriate to the child’s age and size in accordance with s. 347.48, Stats., and ch. Trans 310.
Note: For further information on child safety restraints, see https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/safety/education/child-safety/default.aspx.
1. Each child who is not required to be in an individual child car safety seat or booster seat when being transported under par. (a) shall be properly restrained by a seat belt in accordance with s. 347.48, Stats., and ch. Trans 315.
2. Each adult in the vehicle shall be properly restrained by a seat belt in accordance with s. 347.48, Stats., and ch. Trans 315.
3. Seat belts may not be shared.
(c) Children transported in school buses or vehicles built to school bus standards shall be properly seated according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
(d) Children under 13 years of age who are in the care of the center may not ride in the front seat of a vehicle.
(7)Vehicle capacity and supervision.
(a) The center shall be responsible for a child from the time the child is placed in a vehicle until the child reaches his or her destination and is released to a person responsible for the child. A parent of a school age child may authorize a child to enter a building unescorted.
Note: Form, Transportation Permission - Child Care Centers, may be used to designate an adult to receive a child being transported. The form is available on the department’s website at https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/cclicensing/ccformspubs.
(b) Children may not be left unattended in a vehicle.
(c) When children are transported in a vehicle, there shall be at least one adult supervisor in addition to the driver whenever there are more than 3 children who are either under 2 years of age or who have a disability that limits their ability to respond to an emergency.
(d) The licensee shall develop and implement a procedure to ensure that all children exit the vehicle after being transported to a destination.
(e) No child may be in a vehicle for transport to or from a center, a field trip, or other center activity for more than 60 minutes for a one-way trip.
(8)Child care vehicle safety alarm.
(a) A vehicle shall be equipped with a child safety alarm that prompts the driver to inspect the vehicle for children before exiting if all of the following conditions apply:
1. The vehicle is owned or leased by a licensee or a contractor of a licensee.
2. The vehicle has a seating capacity of 6 or more passengers plus the driver. The seating capacity of the vehicle shall be as determined by the manufacturer.
3. The vehicle is used to transport children in care.
(b) No person may shut off a child safety alarm unless the driver first inspects the vehicle to ensure that no child is left unattended in the vehicle.
(c) The child safety alarm shall be in good working order each time the vehicle is used for transporting children to or from a center.
Note: Information on the required vehicle safety alarm is available on the department’s website at http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/ccregulation/providers.
History: CR 03-052: cr. Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; CR 07-102: renum. (3) and (5) to be (3) (a) and (5) (a) and am., cr. (3) (b), (c), (5) (b), (c), (d), (e) and (6) (e), r. and recr. (4), am. (6) (b) Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09; CR 14-028: cr. (8) Register July 2016 No. 727, eff. 8-1-16; EmR1918: emerg. r. and recr., eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: r. and recr. Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; correction in (6) (a), (b) 1., 2. made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register February 2023 No. 806.
DCF 250.09Additional requirements for infant and toddler care.
(1)Applicability, qualifications and general requirements.
(a) Family child care centers providing care and supervision to infants and toddlers shall comply with the additional requirements of this section.
(c) General requirements.
1. A provider shall use information obtained on a department-provided form for children under 2 years of age to individualize the program of care for each child. The information shall be at the center before the child is left for care on the child’s first day of attendance. A provider and the child’s parents shall periodically discuss the child’s development and routines.
Note: The department’s form, DCF-F-CFS0061-E, Intake for Child Under 2 Years – Child Care Centers, is used to record information for individualizing the program of care for each child. Information on how to obtain the form is available on the department’s website, http://dcf.wisconsin.gov, or from any regional licensing office in Appendix A. Wisconsin has an information and referral service for persons with questions or concerns about a child’s development called Well Badger Resource Center that is available to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When a call is placed to Well Badger Resource Center at 1-800-642-7837, the caller will learn about early intervention services as well as other related services in the area. When a provider or parent has concerns about a child’s growth or development a referral to a Birth-to-Three agency should be considered to determine if the child is eligible for special services. With parental consent and consultation, it is recommended that centers who care for children who have an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) coordinate programming activities with the local Birth-to-Three agency.
2. Cribs and playpens shall contain a tight-fitting mattress and a mattress covering that fits snugly over the mattress.
3. Sheets or blankets used to cover a child one year of age or older shall be kept away from the child’s mouth and nose, and if sleeping in a crib or playpen shall be tucked tightly under the mattress.
4. A child under one year of age may not sleep in a crib or playpen that contains soft or loose materials, such as sheepskins, pillows, blankets, flat sheets, bumper pads, bibs, pacifiers with attached soft objects, or stuffed animals. No blankets or other items may be hung on the sides of a crib or playpen.
4g. An audio monitoring device shall be used in any area or room where children under the age of one year are placed to sleep.
4r. Waterbeds may not be used by children under 2 years of age.
5. Safety gates shall be used at open stairways when children are awake.
(2)Daily program.
(a) Child care providers shall respond promptly to a crying child’s needs.
(b) Each infant and toddler shall be allowed to form and follow his or her own patterns of sleeping and waking.
(c) Each child under one year of age shall be placed to sleep on his or her back in a crib unless otherwise specified in writing by the child’s physician. The child shall be allowed to assume the position most comfortable to him or her when able to roll over unassisted.
(d) Emphasis in activities shall be given to play as a learning and growth experience.
(e) Throughout the day, each infant and toddler shall receive physical contact and attention such as being held, rocked, talked to, sung to and taken on walks inside and outside the center.
(f) Routines related to activities such as taking a nap, eating, diapering and toileting shall be used as occasions for language development and other learning experiences.
(g) When a non-mobile child is awake, a provider shall change the child’s body position and location in the room periodically. Non-mobile awake children shall be placed on their stomach occasionally throughout the day.
(h) Each non-walking child who can creep or crawl shall be given opportunities each day to move freely in a safe, clean, open, warm and uncluttered area.
(i) A provider shall encourage infants and toddlers to play with a wide variety of safe toys and objects.
(3)Feeding. A provider shall do all of the following:
(a) Feed each infant and toddler on the child’s own feeding schedule.
(b) Ensure that food, breastmilk, and formula brought from home are labeled with the child’s name, dated, and refrigerated, if required.
(bm) Ensure each infant and toddler is correctly fed the food, breastmilk, or formula labeled with the infant’s or toddler’s name.
(c) Ensure that the food, breastmilk, or formula offered to infants and toddlers is consistent with the requirements of the U.S. department of agriculture child and adult care food program.
Note: Information on the meal program requirements of the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program may be found on the website, http://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks.
(d) Provide formula or breast milk to all children under 12 months of age.
(e) Provide another type of milk or milk substitute only on the written direction of the child’s physician.
(f) Discard leftover milk or formula within 2 hours after each feeding and rinse bottles after use.
(g) Refrain from heating breast milk or formula in a microwave oven.
(h) Offer drinking water to infants over 6 months of age and toddlers several times daily.
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Published under s. 35.93, Stats. Updated on the first day of each month. Entire code is always current. The Register date on each page is the date the chapter was last published.