What does this information mean?
Our goal is to keep children safe. The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Division of Licensing oversees licensing programs for over 4,000 child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and youth camps in Connecticut. The Licensing Division has regulations in place for these child care settings, regularly inspect them, and provide training and support to help programs and providers understand and meet these regulations. However, children are naturally curious explorers and sometimes get hurt, even under ideal conditions. In addition, child care providers sometimes make mistakes and unknowingly or knowingly violate the rules, which may result in a child’s injury. The following tables show the annual number of serious injuries, deaths, and instances of substantiated child abuse that occurred in child care settings throughout Connecticut. The term “substantiated” means the OEC Division of Licensing investigated a report of child abuse or neglect, and the investigation team determined there was enough evidence to indicate that the claim of abuse occurred.
Where does this information come from?
Connecticut requires child care providers to report to the Division of Licensing when a child is seriously injured or has died in care, regardless of the cause. Child care providers also must report to the Department of Children and Families (DCF) when there is suspected child abuse or neglect in child care. The Licensing Division also receives complaints from parents or others relating to potential violations of the regulations, concerns about children’s safety and they investigate those claims. They work closely with the DCF to determine whether an allegation of abuse or neglect in a child care setting has occurred. They use this information to put these reports together.
You can report a child care concern or make a complaint online or by calling the Licensing Division‘s Complaint Desk at 800-282-6063 or 860-500-4450.
What types of child care does this information apply to?
- Licensed child care center and group child care home: These programs are licensed by the OEC to provide regular care to more than twelve related or unrelated children outside of their homes. Group child care homes fall under one of the following definitions: provides regular care for not less than seven or more than twelve related or unrelated children, or meets the definition of a family child care home but operates in a facility other than a private home.
- Licensed family child care home: These providers are licensed by the OEC and are private homes that meet the following criteria: provides care for up to six children, including the provider’s children, who are not in school full-time. During the school year, providers may take up to three additional children who are in school full-time. If the provider has more than three children in school full-time, all of them are permitted. Care is provided for no less than three and no more than twelve hours within a 24-hour period on a regular basis. More than twelve hours of care is allowed on an intermittent basis, but may not exceed 72 consecutive hours.
- Licensed youth camps: These youth camps are licensed by the OEC and are programs or organized activities that operate during school vacations or on weekends. Camps may accommodate five or more children who are between the ages of three and under age sixteen for three or more days per week.
- License-exempt child care center or youth camps: These are center based child care programs or youth camps that operated and administered by public schools, private schools or municipalities. They are legally exempt from licensing, however, because they accept federal funding (Care 4 Kids), they must adhere to basic health and safety requirements that are monitored by the OEC.
What do serious injury, death, and substantiated child abuse or neglect in child care mean?
- Serious injury: Any injury to a child that occurs while the child is receiving care which results in a diagnosed fracture, diagnosed second or third degree burn or diagnosed concussion.
- Death in child care: This refers to the death of a child that occurred in a child care program or at a child care program sponsored event.
- Substantiated child abuse or neglect: This includes physical or sexual abuse, neglect, or maltreatment that was investigated and found to be true.
Visit the CT Office of Early Childhood’s website for more information.