Library: Policy

340:110-1-8.9. Family partnership criteria

Revised 6-1-22

(a) Two-, three-, four-, and five-star center criteria. Family partnership criteria in (1) through (7) of this subsection are required for all star levels.

(1) A system is established and maintained for sharing and communicating with families any confidential information specific to the child's physical and emotional state.

(2) A system is established and maintained for sharing and communicating program information to families. Programs inform families using at least two methods in (A) through (E) of this paragraph. Methods are:

(A) a bulletin board;

(B) a newsletter;

(D) a website, specific to each program location; or

(E) email, social media, or other electronic communication.

(3) Families are welcomed in the program at all times, such as mealtimes and classroom observation or volunteering.

(4) Individual family conferences are offered and encouraged, at least annually, discussing children's progress, challenges, and accomplishments, and establishing goals. Documentation is maintained with the child's records. Out-of-school time programs offer conferences when needed or requested.

(5) Programs provide a family resource area with books, pamphlets, or parenting articles and community resources and, provide referral information, when indicated. When provided electronically, resources are easily accessible and printable. Resources are available in languages representing the program's families.

(6) At least two family events with guest speakers or special activities are conducted annually, such as open houses, brown bag lunches, family pot-luck dinners, and children's programs. These events may be held in conjunction with individual family conferences.

(7) Children and families' home languages and cultures are respected by adapting communication methods.

(b) Four- and five-star center criteria. Family partnership criteria in (a) of this Section are required. In addition:

(1) individual family conferences are offered and encouraged at least twice annually. Programs operating only part-year offer and encourage at least one individual parent conference annually. A written report regarding the child is provided to families and maintained in the child's file. Out-of-school time programs offer conferences when needed or requested; and

(2) at least four family events with guest speakers or special activities are conducted annually, such as open houses, brown bag lunches, family pot-luck dinners, and children's programs. These events may be held in conjunction with individual family conferences.

(c) Two-, three-, four-, and five-star home criteria. Family partnership criteria in (1) through (7) of this subsection are required. The primary caregiver:

(1) maintains a signed contract on file for each family including, but not limited to, policy concerning hours, fees, payment schedules, vacations, and terminations;

(2) encourages family visitation when children are present and provides access to all child care areas;

(3) offers and encourages individual family conferences at least annually, discussing children's progress, accomplishments, and challenges, and establishing children's goals. Documentation is maintained with the child's records;

(4) provides at least two family involvement opportunities annually;

(5) has information available regarding common childhood issues including health care, education, nutrition, and family counseling services, and provides referral information when indicated; and

(6) ensures applicable Licensing requirements are available to families; and

(7) respects children's and families' home languages and cultures by adapting communication methods.

(d) Four- and five-star home criteria. Family partnership criteria in (c) of this Section and (1) and (2) of this subsection are required. The primary caregiver:

(1) provides families at least two non-relative references, including contact information;

(2) establishes and maintains a system for sharing and communicating with families information specific to the child's physical and emotional state; and

(3) provides at least three family involvement opportunities annually.