PARENT INFORMATION,
RIGHTS, AND RESPONSIBILITIES Chapter 28, Section 10 of
the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts mandates to the
Office for Children the legal responsibility of promulgating rules and
regulations governing the operation of day care centers (including nursery
schools). The licensee (day care owner)
is required to inform all parents of specific information about their
rights and responsibilities at the time of admission of their child
to the center. Section 7.04 of 102 CMR 7.00, the regulations which govern
day care centers, contains more information.
PARENT’S RIGHTS Right
to visit- You have
the right to make unannounced visits to your child’s room while your
child is present. Parent
Input- The program
must have a procedure for allowing your input in the development of
center policy and procedure. The program must allow you to make suggestions,
but it is up to the program to decide whether or not they will be implemented. Conferences- You have a right to request an individual
conference with the program’s staff. The licensee has the responsibility
to make the staff available. Meeting
prior to admittance-The
licensee shall assure that the administrator or his designee meets with
you prior to admitting your child to the center. At the meeting the licensee,
in addition to the information contained in this fact sheet, must provide
you with: the center’s written statements of purpose; types of services
provided; referral policy; behavior management policy; termination and
suspension policy; a list of suggested nutritious foods you could send
for snacks and meals, if it your responsibility; the policy for identifying
and reporting child abuse and neglect; the transportation plan; a copy
of the health care policy (if you request it); procedure for administration
of medication; procedures for providing emergency health care and the
illness exclusion policy; and a copy of the fee schedule. All of this
information may be contained in the "Parent Handbook". You should also be given
the opportunity to visit the center’s classrooms either at the time
of the meeting or prior to the enrollment of your child. Progress
reports- at least every
six (6) months, you should either meet with the center’s staff to discuss
your child’s progress, or receive a written progress report of your
child’s activities and participation in the center. This report must
become part of your child’s center record. If your child is an infant
or is a child with disabilities, you should receive a written progress
report every three (3) months. Center staff must bring any special problems
or significant developments, particularly if they regard infants, to
your attention as soon as they arise. YOUR CHILD’S RECORDS: Information contained in
your child’s record is privileged and confidential. The center’s staff
may not distribute or release information in your child’s record to
anyone not directly related to implementing the program plan for your
child without your written consent. You must be notified if your child’s
record is subpoenaed. Access
to the record-You should
be able to have access to your child’s records. The center must provide
access within two business days, unless they have permission to take
longer. You must be allowed to view your child’s entire record, even
if it is located in more than one location. The center must have procedures
regarding access, duplication, and dissemination of children’s records.
They must maintain a written log which identifies anyone who has had
access or received any information out of the record. This log is available
only to you and the people responsible for maintaining the child’s records.
Amending
the record- You have
the right to add information, comments, data, or any other relevant
materials to your child’s record: you also have the right to request
deletion or amendments, of any information contained in your child’s
record. Such request shall be made in accordance with the procedures
described below:
record,
you have the right to a conference with the licensee to make your objections
known;
Charge
for copies-The licensee
shall not charge an unreasonable fee for copies of any information contained
in your child’s record. Transfer
of the record-Upon
your written request, when your child is no longer in care, the licensee
can give you your child’s record or transfer them to any other person
that you identify. The center should ask you to sign a form verifying
that you have received the record. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PROGRAM Providing information to the Office of Child Care Services The licensee must make available
to the Office of Child Care Services any information required to be
kept and maintained under these regulations and any other information
reasonably related to the requirements of these regulations. This includes
information in your child’s records. Authorized employees of the Office
are not to remove identifying case materials from the center premises
and are required to maintain the confidentiality of individual records. Reporting
abuse or neglect-All
center staff are mandated reporters. They are required by law to report
suspected abuse and neglect to either the Department of Social Services
or to the licensee’s program administrator. The licensee must have written
policies and procedures for reporting and must provide the written policy
to you upon enrollment. Notification
of injury-The licensee
must notify you immediately of any injury which requires emergency care.
They must also notify you, in writing, withing 24 hours, if any first
aid is administered to your child. Availability
of regulations-The
center must have a copy of CMR 102 7.00, Standards for the Licensure
or Approval of Group Day Care and School Age Child Care Programs, on
the premises, available to any person upon request. If you have questions
about any of the regulations, ask your center to show them to you. |
