Child Care

All new staff members and directors need a pre-service training that includes:

(A) Emergency preparedness and disaster planning in response to a natural disaster or a human-caused event, including violence at a facility;

(B) Building and physical premises safety, including fire safety, identification and protection from hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic (also see Chapter 10, Section 16 on Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans);

(C) Sanitation procedures including handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials;

(D) Pediatric and adult first aid and pediatric and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (including in-person skills demonstration from a certified instructor); 

(E) Medication administration;

(F) Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the use of safe sleeping practices;

(G) Infectious disease control;

(H) Recognition and mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect;

(I) Prevention of shaken baby syndrome;

(J) Prevention of abusive head trauma and child maltreatment;

(K) Prevention and response to food and other allergic reactions;

(L) Transportation safety (this topic does not need to be completed if a program does not transport children for any purpose); and

(M) Wyoming Early Learning Standards (Child Development).

*All staff shall participate in facility orientation training that includes a review of all program policies, procedures, and Child Care Licensing rules and sign a statement that they have read each of them.

Facility staff orientation to include:

• Facility policies and procedures
• Child Care Licensing Rules

Staff Pre-Service Training and Facility Orientation: All staff prior to assuming responsibility for unsupervised direct care of children or within 3 months of the staff’s start date shall complete the pre-service training and the facility staff orientation.

Any person, who for more than 24 hours in any month in the licensing year, either provides direct care to children or is counted in the staff:child ratio shall complete ongoing training of a minimum of 12 training training credits annually, in the area of early learning, early childhood and/or child development.

To meet the 12 training credit requirement in the year a combination of the following training shall be completed. Total training shall include all of the following areas:

• Eight (8) health and safety credits shall be taken every two (2) years, and shall include the required pre-service training topics listed above, with the exception of (M), and shall be counted towards the 12 training credits in the year they are taken.
• Elective training credits in the area of early learning, early childhood, and/or child development. 
• All staff shall have Infant Child CPR and First Aid training and certification shall be kept current.

All staff members, including substitutes and part time staff members who are qualified to work in the facility and who provide direct care to children, shall complete eight (8) health and safety credits, shall be taken every two (2) years and shall include the required pre-service training topics listed above.

All staff caring for infants shall complete a minimum of two (2) training credits each year in specialized infant training as part of their annual training requirements.

When four (4) or more infants are present: *at least one staff working directly with infants shall have a current Infant/Toddler Credential recognized by the Department and complete a minimum of four (4) training credits of specialized training in the care of infants each year.

Required infant training credits may be counted towards the 12 required annual credits.

An application may be denied if the applicant does not submit the required documentation or complete the required inspections and any compliance necessary. An application may be denied based on any disqualifying information in a Central Registry background check or in the full national fingerprint check. In addition, for reasons stated in the Wyoming Child Care Licensing Rules, Chapter 3, Section 1.

Child Care Licensing staff make a minimum of 2 visits to each facility per year. One visit is unannounced and one visit is scheduled. In addition, visits are made to investigate complaints, provide technical assistance or to conduct compliance monitoring if the facility has had a substantiated complaint.

The child care rules specify that parents or guardians shall be allowed immediate access to their child’s program during the operating hours to see the child or to evaluate the care being provided.

No, child care facilities are not required to administer medication. However, if the provider administers medication, he/or she must have competed the Medication Administration class that is required in the Child Care Licensing Rules. The Child Care Licensing Rules also address procedures that must be followed if medicine is administered which include requirements for documenting when medication is given, having written permission and instructions, and how medications must be stored.

Child Care Licensing Rules require a full national fingerprint criminal background check and Wyoming Central Registry background check revealing no disqualifying information. These checks must be completed on all child care providers, directors, staff, volunteers, substitutes, and household members over the age of 18.

Your local DFS Child Care Licenser may provide you with a copy of each form and the 2 fingerprint cards with the Child Care Application packet. If you need additional copies, you may print the forms from this website: Central Registry site or the Documents for Providers section of this site or contact your Child Care Licenser.