Loading...
Any enrollment application forms and/or enrollment contract forms mailed or delivered to a person for purposes of enrollment of a child for any children's overnight camp, children's summer day camp and traveling summer day camp shall contain or be accompanied by a written statement which declares:
(a) That such camp is required to be licensed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene;
(b) That such camp is required to be inspected twice yearly; and
(c) The address where inspection reports concerning such camp are filed.
A year-round after-school center or youth center means a recreational, educational or cultural program meeting on a daily basis for less than 24 hours a day and providing care for five or more enrolled children between the ages of six (6) and eighteen (18) years on a year-round or perennial basis. Such centers shall include but not be limited to such programs operated by settlement house, community, church or religious school, and other similar public and private organizations, firms, groups and associations.
No person shall operate or hold himself out as operating a year-round after-school center or youth center without a permit issued by the Commissioner, except that a permit shall not be required for such center operated by the government of the United States, the State of New York or the City or any agency thereof. A center operated by such government or agency shall, however, comply with all other provisions of this Article. The fee for and the expiration date of a permit issued pursuant to this section shall be prescribed by 24 RCNY Health Code § 5.07.
(a) An application for a permit to conduct or operate a year-round after-school center or youth center shall be made by the person proposing to operate the center and on a form furnished by the Department.
(b) A permit shall not be issued unless the center is operated in a building or structure having the space, equipment and supplies suitable for its program including nearby outdoor facilities.
(c) A permit shall not be issued unless the center's program has been observed in operation by the Department and unless the Department is satisfied, upon inspection, that all applicable requirements of this Code have been met.
(a) A director shall be in charge of the staff and program at a year-round after-school or youth center who shall have a degree from a four year college or university or its equivalent as determined by the Department, shall be twenty-one (21) years of age or older, and shall have satisfactory experience in recreational, educational, cultural, child development or community organization programs for children or youth or equivalent experience acceptable to the Department.
(b) Group leaders in year-round after-school or youth centers shall be at least nineteen (19) years of age, shall have at least one year of college or university education, and shall have at least six months satisfactory experience in recreational, educational, cultural, child development or community organization programs for children or youths or equivalent experience acceptable to the Department.
(c) Satisfactory experience for the purposes of this section shall include at least 24 months of satisfactory experience in an area related to the kinds of programs operated by year-round after-school or youth centers and shall include experience in leadership, supervision or administration of children or youths in a group setting.
(d) An auxiliary assistant shall be at least sixteen (16) years of age, shall assist the director and group leaders, and shall not function in a group leader's role.
(e) There shall be at least one group leader for every 10 children 6 to 10 years of age, 1 group leader for every 15 children or youths 11 to 14 years of age and 1 group leader for every 20 youths 15 to 18 years.
(f) Centers with swimming pools or other waterfront facilities shall have a water safety instructor in charge for each group of not more than twenty-five (25) children bathing at any given time. The water safety instructor shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, hold a current American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor's Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by another organization with equivalent standards, and shall have at least one year of previous experience as a lifeguard or water safety instructor. The water safety instructor shall be assisted by a senior lifeguard who shall be at least seventeen (17) years of age and hold a current American Red Cross Senior Lifesaving Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by another organization with equivalent standards. A senior lifeguard may supervise the pool or waterfront activity provided there are not more than ten (10) children or youths bathing at the time. However, there shall also be a combined staff-child or youth ratio of 1:4 at the pool or other waterfront facility at all times while the children or youths are bathing.
(g) Centers providing gymnastic activities shall have a gymnastic instructor who shall be twenty-one (21) years of age, with a degree in physical education from a four year college or university or its equivalent as determined by the Department. He shall be proficient in every phase of gymnastic activities and shall be responsible for the health and safety of the children and youths in the use of gymnastic equipment.
(h) Each staff member's application shall be kept on file by the center's director which shall contain information including character references, ages, education, experience, relevant physical and mental conditions and handicaps, abilities and certifications. Proof of educational qualifications and experiences shall be maintained in the center's file for verification by the Department.
(a) The director or owner shall develop in writing and implement a safety training program and other relevant information in programmatics for the staff of the center. Topics covered in the staff training program shall include program planning and development, site hazards, first aid and health, policies for handling emergencies and fire safety, safety in transportation, and means of implementing a "buddy system" for swimming, field trips and other group activities.
(b) No enrolled child or youth or group of children or youths shall be allowed to be unsupervised at any time.
(c) Program operation shall reflect an on-going process of parent-staff cooperation in the development and implementation of program goals and should provide for experiences in harmony with the life style and cultural background of the community served by the center.
(d) The director shall keep on file statements indicating that the safety programs were properly conducted as well as reports on parent-staff conferences.
(a) Arts and crafts, electronics, gymnastics, sports, swimming and other activities of the center's program shall be supervised by qualified and certified specialists where applicable and necessary for safeguarding the children and youths participating in the program.
(b) The areas, equipment and supplies used in the program's activities shall be inspected daily to ensure their safety for use by the children and youths.
(c) Swimming or other waterfront activities.
(1) All swimming or waterfront areas, facilities and equipment shall be maintained in a clean and safe condition, free from hazards and in compliance with related provisions of this Code. Any known nearby hazards shall be properly safeguarded and posted.
(2) Swimming and waterfront procedures, practices and equipment shall comply with American Red Cross standards or those of another organization with equivalent standards. Appropriate life saving equipment shall be available at all times at the swimming or waterfront areas.
(3) A water safety instructor shall be in attendance and supervise the swimming and waterfront activities when they are in progress. Entrance doors shall be kept locked except during periods when a water safety instructor or senior lifeguard is on duty.
(4) At the first swimming or waterfront session, swimming proficiency tests shall be given to determine each child's or youth's swimming ability. The standards used shall be of the American Red Cross or those of another organization with equivalent standards.
(5) Children and youths shall be confined to swimming areas requiring abilities consistent with the limits of their swimming skills or to swimming areas requiring lesser skills for which they have been classified.
(6) A method of supervising and checking bathers shall be established and enforced. Recommended methods are the "check" or "buddy board", the "buddy system", the "colored" system or any combination of these systems. The system used shall be supervised during swimming or waterfront activities by the water safety instructor or senior lifeguard and checks shall be conducted at least once every 15 minutes.
(7) A written "lost swimmer" plan shall be established and all staff shall know exactly what their duties are in case of an emergency at the pool or waterfront.
(8) There shall be no swimming or waterfront activity without prior approval of the center's director. Swimming or other waterfront activities shall be prohibited at sites other than the center's swimming or waterfront facilities without the prior approval of the center's director and water safety instructor.
(d) Arts and crafts.
(1) All safety regulations peculiar to the needs of the arts and crafts programs shall be well formulated and carefully enforced and supervised.
(2) Equipment used for arts and crafts shall be in good repair, of safe design and properly installed and maintained.
(e) Gymnastic and sports activities.
(1) The gymnastic instructor shall determine the gymnastic experience and level of skills of the children or youths at their first gymnastic session.
(2) The gymnastic instructor shall supervise the activities of a gymnastics activity group not exceeding fifteen (15) children or youths and shall be responsible for their safety and well-being. If the group enrolled for the gymnastics activity exceeds fifteen (15) children or youths, an auxiliary assistant shall be provided to assist the gymnastic instructor.
(3) Sufficient facilities and equipment appropriate to each sports activity and designed to protect the participants in such activity, such as masks, guards for eye glasses, shin-guards, chest-protectors and nonhazardous playing fields shall be available and supplied.
(4) Basketball, volleyball and other strenuous competitive sports shall be properly refereed and supervised.
(f) Fire protection.
(1) The director shall be responsible for the regular inspection of all fire protection facilities and equipment of the center.
(2) Emergency procedures for fire drill or any other potential disaster shall be practiced at least once a month.
(3) Fire extinguishers and other suitable fire-fighting equipment, as required by the Fire Commissioner's regulations, shall be provided at strategic and accessible points.
(4) All electric wiring and lighting fixtures shall be installed in accordance with the City's Electrical Code and by a licensed electrician.
(5) Containers of gasoline, kerosene and other inflammable materials shall be properly marked or labelled and stored in a properly vented, locked and fire-proof building or facility not occupied by the center's children or youths and staff at a safe distance from program buildings or facilities. Such materials shall be used only under qualified supervision.
(g) If the center includes other activities regulated under 24 RCNY Health Code Article 48 in its program, such activities shall comply with the requirements and safety standards applicable thereto in such Article.
Loading...