Caring for Our Children, (CFOC) is a collection of national standards that represent the best practices, based on evidence, expertise, and experience, for quality health and safety policies and practices for today's early care and education settings.
(Most up-to-date source)
Search the CFOC Online Standards Database by health and safety topic, search term, chapter, or standard number.
COVID-19 Modifications:
COVID-19 modifications to CFOC standards are based on current evidence and guidelines. Some COVID-19 modifications may not be adequate for individual programs based on local community transmission levels. COVID-19 modifications are meant to supplement local, tribal, and/or territorial requirements for decreasing transmission and exposure to COVID-19. Programs are encouraged to check with their local public health departments for additional guidance.
Suggested Citation for CFOC Standards Online Database:
American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education. CFOC Standards Online Database. Aurora, CO; National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education; 2020. [URL of Standard/Chapter]. Accessed [date].
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*NEW! Updates to CFOC Appendices!*
APPENDIX W: Sample Food Service Cleaning Schedule
APPENDIX J: Selection and Use of a Cleaning, Sanitizing or Disinfecting Product
APPENDIX K: Routine Schedule for Cleaning, Sanitizing or Disinfecting
COVID-19 Modifications to CFOC Standards
Standard 1.6.0.1 Child Care Health Consultants (Last Updated May 21, 2021)
Standard 1.6.0.3 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants (Last Updated October 10, 2022)
Standard 1.7.0.2 Daily Staff Health Check (Last Updated October 10, 2022)
Standard 2.3.1.2 Parent/Guardian Visits (Last Updated October 10, 2022)
Standard 3.1.1.1: Conduct of Daily Health Check (Last Updated October 10, 2022)
Standard 3.2.2.1: Situations that Require Hand Hygiene (Last Updated August 10, 2022)
Standard 3.6.1.1: Inclusion/Exclusion/Dismissal of Children (Last Updated March 20, 2023)
Standard 3.6.1.2 Staff Exclusion for Illness (Last Updated March 20, 2023)
Standard 4.5.0.4 Socialization During Meals (Last Updated October 10, 2022)
Standard 5.2.1.1: Ensuring Access to Fresh Air Indoors (Last Updated March 20, 2023)
Standard 5.2.1.3: Heating and Ventilation Equipment Inspection and Maintenance (Last Updated August 10,2022)
Standard 5.5.0.1: Storage and Labeling of Personal Articles (Last Updated Sept. 20, 2021)
Standard 6.5.2.1 Drop-Off and Pick-Up (Last Updated October 10, 2022)
Standard 6.5.2.3 Child Behavior During Transportation (Last Updated March 20, 2023)
Chapter 7.1 Introduction: How Infections Spread (Last Updated March 20, 2023)
Complete Standard Revisions
April 12, 2023
Standard 5.2.6.10: Drinking Fountains
March 30, 2023
Standard 4.9.0.9: Cleaning Food Areas and Equipment
Standard 4.9.0.10: Cutting Boards
Standard 7.3.8.1: Attendance of Children with Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)
March 20, 2023
Standard 3.3.0.2: Cleaning and Sanitizing Toys
Standard 3.3.0.3: Cleaning and Sanitizing Objects Intended for the Mouth
Standard 3.3.0.4: Cleaning Individual Bedding
Standard 3.3.0.5: Cleaning Crib and Other Sleep Surfaces
February 9, 2023
Standard 4.3.1.2: Responsive Feeding of Infants by a Consistent Caregiver/Teacher
Standard 4.3.1.11: Introduction of Age-Appropriate Solid Foods to Infants
Standard 4.3.2.3: Encouraging Self-Feeding by Older Infants and Toddlers
January 31, 2023
Standard 5.2.9.1: Use and Storage of Toxic Substances
Standard 5.4.5.1: Sleeping Equipment and Supplies
Standard 6.2.4.2: Water Play Tables
January 3, 2023
Standard 5.6.0.4: Microfiber Cloths and Mops Used for Cleaning
December 20, 2022
Standard 2.3.1.2: Parent and Guardian Visits
Standard 5.4.1.7: Toilet Learning and Training Equipment
Standard 5.4.2.1: Diaper Changing Tables
Standard 5.2.7.5: Labeling, Cleaning, and Disposal of Waste and Diaper Containers
September 27, 2022
Standard 1.7.0.5: Stress Management for Staff
Standard 3.3.0.1: Routine Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
Standard 5.2.9.15: Construction and Remodeling
Standard 5.7.0.1: Maintenance of Exterior Surfaces
Standard 5.7.0.7: Structure Maintenance
Standard 7.2.0.2: Unimmunized/Underimmunized Children
Standard 9.4.1.13: Maintenance and Display of Inspection Reports
September 13, 2022
Standard 1.6.0.3: Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultants
Standard 3.6.1.3: Guidelines for Taking Children’s Temperatures
Standard 5.3.1.1: Indoor and Outdoor Equipment, Materials, and Furnishing
Standard 7.4.0.3: Reporting Requirements for Diarrheal Infections
Standard 9.4.1.2: Maintenance of Records
July 05, 2022
CFOC Subchapter 7.1: Infections in Early Care and Education Programs
Standard 7.3.1.1: Exclusion for Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Infections
Standard 7.3.1.2: Informing Caregivers/Teachers of Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Infection
Standard 7.3.2.3: Reporting Requirements for Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Infections
Standard 7.3.7.2: Prophylactic Treatment for Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Standard 7.3.7.3: Exclusion for Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Standard 7.7.4.2: Exclusion of Children with Varicella-Zoster (Chickenpox) Virus
March 22, 2022
Standard 9.2.4.1: Written Plan and Training for Handling Urgent Medical or Threatening Incidents
Standard 9.2.4.5: Emergency and Evacuation Drills Policy
February 25, 2022
Standard 2.4.2.1: Health and Safety Education Topics for Staff
Standard 7.2.0.3: Immunization of Staff
Standard 7.3.3.1: Influenza Immunizations for Children and Staff
Standard 7.3.3.2: Influenza Control
Standard 7.3.3.3: Influenza Prevention Education
Standard 9.2.3.2: Policy Development for Care of Children and Staff Who Are Ill
Appendix B: Major Occupational Health Hazards
February 4, 2022
Standard 1.7.0.3: Staff Health Guidelines for Return to Work
Standard 1.7.0.4: On-Site Occupational Hazards
Standard 1.8.1.1: Basic Benefits for Staff
Standard 1.8.2.3: Staff Corrective Improvement Plan
Standard 1.8.2.5: Handling Official Complaints About Early Care and Education Staff
Standard 9.3.0.2: Written Human Resource Management Policies for Small Family Child Care Homes
April 27, 2021
Standard 5.1.1.2 Inspection of Buildings
Standard 5.1.1.6 Structurally Sound Facility
Standard 5.2.9.13 Testing for and Remediating Lead Hazards
Other NRC Resources
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