State debates child-care rules

• By SARAH CHACKO
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Oct 30, 2009 - Page: 13A

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Recreational programs such as karate and gymnastics, as well as summer camps and after-school programs, need some type of state oversight, a committee focused on child-care center standards debated Thursday.

Members of the Louisiana Advisory Council on Child Care and Education, who are advising state officials on policies, are looking at regulating some agencies that operate after-school and recreational programs.

The state defines a child day-care center as a place operated for the “primary purpose of providing care, supervision and guidance” to seven or more children on a regular basis for at least 12.5 hours a week.

The state exempts schools, religious groups, camps and programs.

Child-care center owners, officials from various state agencies and child welfare advocates debated over whether karate classes and the like have a “primary purpose of providing care, supervision and guidance.”

“There’s still a safety issue,” said Deidria Bolden, assistant secretary of the Department of Social Services’ Office of Family Support.

The office oversees state licensing of child day-care facilities, traditionally thought of as places families use to watch their children during work.

The governor disbanded two committees that formerly advised the state department, called DSS, on licensure and regulations for the centers. Those committees also held the authority to revoke or deny licenses, not the state agency.

State law that took affect at the end of June gave DSS the sole authority for decisions on the denial or revocation of child care licenses.

Members of the council, who informally met as a “committee of the whole,” are planning to meet again in November before the full council officially meets in December.

DSS child-care and early education director, Sherry Guarisco, said some programs, such as a church summer Bible school program, would not fall under state licensing if parents are in attendance and there is no cost for the program.

Council members discussed creating a time limit to help determine if a camp or program that oversees children for a period of weeks should be considered for licensing.

“We’re trying to be careful about the reach of this,” Guarisco said.