Caring for Our Children (CFOC)

Chapter 10: Licensing and Community Action

10.3 Licensing Agency

10.3.3 Licensing Role with Staff Credentials, Child Abuse Prevention, and ADA Compliance

10.3.3.4: Licensing Agency Provision of Child Abuse Prevention Materials

Content in the STANDARD was modified on 10/16/2018.

The state licensing and accreditation agency should be a resource on child abuse and neglect prevention for child care facilities as well as parents/guardians. Additional guidance and technical assistance should be provided related to the state’s child abuse/neglect statute and procedures; this includes the facility’s responsibilities of reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.

RATIONALE

Licensing and accreditation agencies have a strong influence on improving the overall quality of child care centers to help prevent child abuse and neglect (1). State child welfare agencies can provide information and materials on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Some staff members may be designated to provide training in the community, as well as for fellow early care and education program staff and parents/guardians. Centers as well as family child care homes are good locations to distribute materials and host community trainings on the prevention of child abuse and neglect (1-3).

COMMENTS

Additional resources for licensing agencies can be found at www.childwelfare.gov/preventing and https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/guide_2018.pdf

REFERENCES

  1. Fortson BL, Klevens J, Merrick MT, Gilbert LK, Alexander SP. Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Violence Prevention; 2016. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/38864. Accessed September 25, 2017

  2. Center for the Study of Social Policy. Strengthening Families implementation in child abuse and neglect prevention. https://www.cssp.org/reform/strengtheningfamilies/
    about/body/SF_in_CANP_2015.pdf    . Updated September 2015. Accessed June 26, 2018

  3. Child Welfare Information Gateway. Training on identification of child abuse and neglect. https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/can/identifying/training. Accessed June 26, 2018

NOTES

Content in the STANDARD was modified on 10/16/2018.