Program: AL 93.575 and 93.596 – CCDF Cluster – Special Tests and Provisions
Corrective Action Plan: An inspection of the Family Child Care Home I license was completed for 2024 on December 13, 2024. The following procedure will be followed in cases in which Children’s Services Licensing inspecto...
Program: AL 93.575 and 93.596 – CCDF Cluster – Special Tests and Provisions
Corrective Action Plan: An inspection of the Family Child Care Home I license was completed for 2024 on December 13, 2024. The following procedure will be followed in cases in which Children’s Services Licensing inspectors are unable to conduct an inspection of a licensed provider.
Whenever a Child Care Inspection Specialist (CCIS) attempts to conduct a Provisional to Operating, annual, or semi-annual inspection to a Family Child Care Home I or II, Child Care Center, School Age Only Center, or Preschool and the child care/preschool facility is not open, the CCIS must follow this procedure.
CCIS will:
• Leave his/her business card in/on/under the door of the child care program
• Before leaving the child care facility, call the licensee and leave a message asking the licensee to contact the CCIS within five (5) working days
• If no contact from the licensee within five working days, send a letter or email giving the licensee fifteen calendar days from date of letter/email before further action is initiated. Copy Child Care Licensing Supervisor (CCLS) on letter.
• Inform CCL Supervisor if no contact from licensee after fifteen calendar days from date of letter.
• If licensee contacts CCIS within five working days of attempt to conduct inspection, or within fifteen calendar days from date of letter, CCIS identifies days/times in the following weeks the licensee will be available to conduct an unannounced inspection and conducts the inspection.
• If the licensee does NOT contact CCIS within fifteen calendar days of the date of the letter, Children’s Services Licensing will pursue a Disciplinary Notice of Suspension of the license. The licensee will have fifteen business days to respond to the Notice of Suspension prior to the Suspension becoming effective.
The Notice of Suspension will be withdrawn if the licensee:
1. Contacts the Department prior to the effective date of the Suspension;
2. Explains why s/he did not respond to the phone call and letter;
3. Agrees to an unannounced inspection; and
4. Is available when the CCIS conducts the inspection.
When the licensee does not contact the Department in time for an inspection to be conducted prior to the effective date of the suspension, the licensee should be advised to appeal the Notice of Suspension. When the licensee does not contact the Department until after the effective date of the suspension and does not appeal, the license will be suspended.
Through the SFM, DHHS will have further communication with the delegated authorities to clarify the expectations and timeframes for fire inspections in child care programs. Through the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) Agency, DHHS will have further communication with the delegated authorities to clarify the expectations and timeframes for sanitation inspections in child care programs. DHHS will continue to implement policies and procedures for file reviews by CCSL and fire and sanitation inspection referrals. DHHS will continue to complete the statutory child care inspection requirements. DHHS continue to explore statutory, regulatory and/or contract options to place more accountability on the licensee and referred agencies for maintaining current fire and sanitation approvals.
In 2025, DHHS will continue to communicate with SFM, NDEE, and delegated authorities regarding expectations and timeframes for fire and sanitation inspections. DHHS Child Care Inspection Specialists conduct inspections that occur annually at a minimum and which address regulatory requirements that address a healthy and safe child care environment. If serious fire and sanitation concerns are observed at any inspection that may endanger the health and safety of children in care, DHHS will work with the appropriate authority to request an immediate inspection. SFM, NDEE, or delegated authorities always respond timely to these requests. DHHS is establishing quarterly meetings with SFM, NDEE, and delegated authorities to review overdue routine inspections, address issues, and collaborate on best practices. Quarterly meetings have been established with NDEE as of January 2025. DHHS will have a Program Specialist create a report specifically for tracking overdue fire and sanitation inspections by the months they have been overdue, which will allow SFM, NDEE, and delegated authorities to prioritize those outstanding routine inspections. DHHS will explore entering into a contract with SFM, NDEE and delegated authorities to pay for timely fire and sanitation inspections and services contingent on available funding.
Contact: Matthew Hayden; Lindsy Braddock
Anticipated Completion Date: 7/1/2025