By Pamela Filler
The purpose of Childcare Matters is to provide education to parents and guardians who utilize childcare services on whats right and whats not concerning childcare issues. As a parent utilizing childcare services in the past, I was uneducated about what should and should not be happening in my selected facility. I was not aware of the childcare licensor, therefore did not acquire rule information nor understand there was someone to report concerns to. I want to change this question mark in the minds of the Havre area parents who use childcare services.
How can parents/guardians benefit from communication with the childcare licensor?
Upon selection of a childcare facility for your child(ren), you may call me and inquire about past actions on any registered provider. Upon inquiry, I can:
confirm whether or not an individual is registered by DPHHS-Quality Assurance Division, and inform you the length of time a person has been licensed/registered;
inform you of any citation and/or deficiencies (as a result of routine inspections) the providers have received and whether or not the corrections have taken place;
inform you of substantial violations as a result of past reports/referrals on the facility. I cannot give details of the report, but I can state the basic concerns;
confirm whether a caregiver (the person in addition to the owner/primary caregiver) is approved by DPHHS-Quality Assurance Division.
If you observe something in your selected childcare that you find questionable, you may call me for further information and/or to make a referral. I do follow up on referrals made. Anonymity of all reporters is respected and maintained.
If there is an area of childcare you would like to be addressed in Childcare Matters, please call me at 265-1233. If you would like more information on the rules and regulations regarding day care facilities in Montana, please call me and I can mail you more materials on childcare regulations.
Helping you make smart and healthy childcare choices.
Pamela Filler is the child care licensor for Hill, Blaine, Phillips, Valley, Roosevelt, Daniels and Sheridan counties.
