(a) Education director/shelter child supervision liaison responsibility. The education director of a child care program and the shelter child supervision liaison of a family shelter-based drop-off child supervision program shall arrange for and verify all required training of all teaching staff and shelter child supervision staff. The education director or the shelter child supervision liaison may be certified to conduct such training or may designate other teaching staff or shelter child supervision staff to obtain such certification and conduct such training. The education director or shelter child supervision liaison shall maintain copies of certificates verifying completion of all required training; shall document written safety plan training, including dates and times that emergency response drills were conducted, evaluation of staff performance, and recommendations for improvements in training or amendments to the safety plan. All documents relevant to compliance with this section shall be kept on site and made available to the Department upon request.
(b) Employees.
(1) Child abuse, maltreatment and neglect. All staff must receive at least 2 hours of training every 24 months in preventing, identifying, and reporting child abuse, maltreatment and neglect, and requirements of applicable statutes and regulations. Such training must be provided by a New York State Office of Children and Family Services-certified trainer. New teaching and shelter child supervision staff must receive such training within 3 months of hire or of the effective date of this rule, whichever is later. Training completed while employed at a different program holding a permit under this Article shall count for purposes of compliance with this subsection. Certificates of completion of all training required pursuant to this subsection must be kept on site and made available to the Department upon request.
(2) Infection control, administration of medication, protection from hazards, and additional safety topics. Within three months of hire or of the effective date of this rule, whichever is later, all teaching staff and shelter child supervision staff shall receive training in infection control, reporting infectious diseases; administration of medication; protection from hazards; handling and storage of hazardous materials; appropriate disposal of biocontaminants; building and physical premises safety; including protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; and, if applicable, safe transportation of children. Training completed while employed at a different program holding a permit under this Article shall count for purposes of compliance with this subsection. Certificates of completion of all training required pursuant to this subsection shall be kept on site and made available to the Department upon request.
(3) Emergency procedures.
(A) Except as provided in 24 RCNY Health Code § 47.37(b)(3)(A)(ii)(aa), all new teaching staff and shelter child supervision staff shall receive, within three months of hire or of the effective date of this rule, whichever is later, and, all staff, volunteers, and other individuals regularly providing services shall receive on an annual basis, training in the emergency procedures contained in the approved written safety plan, including:
(i) In-depth review of the provisions of the plan;
(ii) Announced and unannounced real-time drills demonstrating competency of all staff members in:
(aa) Emergency medical response, including:
(1) Pediatric CPR and pediatric first aid training approved by the Department. Such training is required only for staff and must be completed before staff begin providing services or within three months of the effective date of this rule, whichever is later, and every two years thereafter. Upon application for a new permit or for renewal of an existing permit, for those staff whose presence will be used for compliance with 24 RCNY Health Code § 47.23, such training must include successful completion of hands-on skill tests and certification; and
(2) Administration of epinephrine auto-injector. Such training is required only for those staff selected by the permittee for compliance with 24 RCNY Health Code § 47.29(c); and
(bb) Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from natural disasters or a human-caused events, including procedures for evacuation other than the monthly fire drills required by 24 RCNY Health Code § 47.59(d), relocation, shelter-in-place and lockdown, staff and volunteer emergency preparedness training and practice drills, communication and reunification with families, continuity of operations, and accommodation of infants, toddlers, and children with disabilities or chronic medical conditions. This training shall include response to critical incidents such as:
(1) Loss of a child;
(2) Situation requiring lockdown;
(3) Gas, sewer, or water main break; and
(4) Extreme weather event; and
(B) Training completed while employed at a different program holding a permit under this Article shall count for purposes of compliance with this subsection. Certificates of completion of all training required by this subsection shall be kept on site and made available to the Department upon request.
(4) SIDS, safe sleep practices, and abusive head trauma ("shaken baby syndrome"). All child care program staff and shelter child supervision staff shall complete sudden infant death syndrome ("SIDS"), safe sleep practices, and "shaken baby syndrome" identification and prevention training before beginning to provide services or within three months of the effective date of this rule, whichever is later. Certificates of completion of such training shall be kept on site and made available to the Department upon request.
(5) Allergic reactions. All teaching staff and child supervision staff shall receive training in prevention and control of allergic reactions.
(6) Additional topics.
(A) All teaching staff and shelter-based child supervision staff shall receive training every 24 months on the following topics:
(i) Cognitive social, emotional, and physical development;
(ii) Family engagement; and
(iii) Mental health first aid for children.
(B) All teaching staff shall complete at least 15 hours of training every 24 months, at least five hours of which shall be completed in each 12-month period, including the mandatory child abuse prevention and identification training in paragraph (1), and other subjects related to child health and safety, and early childhood development. The educational director shall develop a training curriculum based on assessment of the professional development needs of individual assistant teachers. The curriculum shall include, but not be limited to, the following topics:
(i) Preventing, recognizing signs of, and reporting injuries, infectious diseases, lead poisoning, asthma, and other illnesses and medical conditions;
(ii) Providing first aid and CPR;
(iii) Scheduling and conducting guided and structured physical activity;
(iv) Setting up and maintaining staff and child health records including records of immunizations;
(v) Growth and child development; including:
(aa) Early intervention;
(bb) Early childhood education curriculum development and appropriate activity planning;
(cc) Appropriate supervision of children;
(dd) Meeting the needs of children with physical or emotional challenges;
(ee) Behavior management;
(ff) Meeting nutritional needs of young children;
(gg) Parent, staff, and volunteer, communication and orientation regarding roles and responsibilities;
(hh) The selection of appropriate equipment and classroom arrangement; and
(ii) Safety and security procedures for fire safety, emergency evacuation, playgrounds, trips, and transportation.
(C) Certificates of completion of such training shall be kept on site and made available to the Department upon request.
(c) The Department may provide the training required by this section, or any part thereof, or accept training provided by others found satisfactory to the Department. All trainers' qualifications must be submitted for review to an agency designated by the Department. Persons who enroll in workshops conducted by the Department may be charged a reasonable fee to defray all or part of the costs incurred by the Department for workshop registration materials, training, testing, and certificate issuance.
(d) The Department may promulgate rules to specify how permittees shall comply with this section.
(Amended City Record 9/20/2016, eff. 10/20/2016; amended City Record 9/20/2017, eff. 10/10/2017; amended City Record 6/12/2018, eff. 7/12/2018; amended City Record 12/26/2019, eff. 1/25/2020)