page-57.html
0518 MAY
58 / 100
finding a quality
daycare
by kimberly blaker w e've seen it on the news: a
daycare
worker caught on video abusing a
child
in her care. it's every parent's worst nightmare. according to the national
child
ren's alliance, nearly 700,000 american
child
ren are victims of
abuse
or neglect each year with 1,670 deaths in 2015 alone. in 90 percent of cases,
child
abuse
or neglect is in the hands of a parent or family member. statistics on
abuse
and neglect by
daycare
providers alone isn't readily available. some experts estimate approximately five percent of
child
abuse
and neglect cases occur at
daycare
homes and facilities. if that percentage is accurate, it equates to about 35,000 american
child
ren
abuse
d or neglected in
daycare
homes and facilities each year. given these staggering statistics, how can parents ensure their
child
's safety when in the care of others? the first crucial step is thoroughly investigating and interviewing
daycare
facilities and providers before sending your
child
. once your
child
begins
daycare
, you should also know the signs of
abuse
to be on the lookout for. finding the right
daycare
there are several steps parents can take before sending their
child
to a new
daycare
. if possible, try to visit several so you can make comparisons. is the
daycare
licensed? the first thing to look for is whether a
daycare
facility or home is licensed. licensing is required in most states if the caregiver isn't a relative. visit your state licensing and regulatory affairs department website to look up a
daycare
to ensure its license is up to date. is the
daycare
in compliance? while you're at your state's website, find out what your state's requirements are for
daycare
homes and centers, so you know what to expect. you'll want to keep this information handy when you tour the home or facility, so you know whether the
daycare
you're considering complies. 2017-18 cover kids evelyn d., nicholas t., and por ter c . 5 8 b r p a r e n t s . c o m | m a y 2 0 1 8
children-daycare-safety-59.html