OCDEL Provides Safety Tips to Consider When Choosing Child’s Before- or After-School Program

Pennsylvania’s Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) provided tips in its latest PA Promise for Children newsletter on what to look for regarding safety when choosing a before- or after-school program for a child.

Child care programs in Pennsylvania must meet state health and safety regulations. These cover such areas as safety standards for the building and classrooms; staff requirements, such as age and education level; staff-to-child ratios; classroom and playground equipment; supervision of children; and nutrition and adult and child health.

As caregivers are looking for a before- or after-school program, OCDEL notes, they should visit potential programs and look for the following safety signs:

• A state Department of Human Services Child Care Certificate is posted.

• Check child care programs’ inspection and violation history before visiting on the COMPASS Find Child Care website.

• Look around to see if the facility looks orderly and clean.

• Check to make sure hazardous materials are locked away.

• See if the program has an emergency plan - and whether it is posted - and make sure that security measures are in place.

• Find out if there is a policy for sick children and other circumstances.

For more information on how to find a safe and secure location for children to learn, visit PA Promise for Children’s website.