Child Care

The Statewide Training and Resource System (STARS):

STARS approves all training and trainers for licensed child care providers. STARS also awards training credits to the provider after he/she has completed an approved training and maintains a record of completed training for all individuals working in licensed child care facilities.
STARS is able to assist child care providers, directors, and staff with accessing training, printing certificates, and training questions.

Please visit STARS for available on-line training to meet the training requirements listed in Chapter 4, Section 9.

The Department of Family Services contracts with Align to administer these programs. For more information contact the STARS program at 1-800-400-3999 or visit their web site at: http://www.wyregistry.org

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

1. Safety and health of Children (emergency preparedness and disaster planning).
2. Fire safety (building and physical premises safety).
3. Sanitation procedures(handling and storage of hazardous materials).
4. First Aid and pediatric & Child and Adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (including in-person skills demonstration from a certified instructor).
5. Medication administration (this topic does not need to be completed if the program does not administer medications).
6. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (this topic does not need to be completed if a program does not provide care to infants). 
7. Safe sleep practices (this topic does not need to be completed if a program does not provide care to infants).
8. Infectious Disease Control (Blood borne pathogens).
9. Mandatory reporting ( recognition and reporting of suspected child abuse or neglece).
10. Shaken Baby Syndrome (this topic does not need to be completed if a program does not provide care to infants).
11. Food allergies (nutrition).
12. Transportation safety (this topic does not need to be completed if the program does not transport children for any purpose).

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.

To meet the 32 training credit requirement in the two (2) year period a combination of the following training shall be completed. 

Eight  (8) core  credits of  total training  shall include all  of the following areas:

• Infectious disease control;
• Fire safety;
• Sanitation;
• Mandatory reporting;
• Safety and health of children;

The following components do not need to be completed if the program does not provide care for infants and/or transport children:

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS);
• Safe Sleep;
• Shaken Baby Syndrome;
• Transportation

Twenty four (24) 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.

Infant/Toddler training:

• All staff working with infants or toddlers shall complete a minimum of four (4) hours of specialized infant or toddler training every two years.
• Whenever four (4) or more infants are present:
  • One (1) staff shall have the Infant/Toddler Director Credential.
  •  At least one (1) staff person working directly with infants or toddlers shall have a minimum of eight (8) training credits of specialized training in the care of infants or toddlers every two years.

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.

Please see our Professional Development page.

wyregistry.org