Healthy Kids, Healthy Care:
Parents' Rights and Responsibilities

PARENTS HAVE THE RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT:

• Caregivers provide safe and healthy care in the child care setting.



• Caregivers provide activities that promote all aspects of children's development.



• Caregivers promote the health of all children including those with special health care needs by careful planning and monitoring. Health education and healthy habit development are cornerstones of every caregiver's daily program.



• Caregivers model healthy and safe behavior so that children can practice good habits both at their child care program and at home.



• Caregivers customize care and activities to meet the needs of every individual child to the extent possible.



• Programs include all families who can agree to the program's schedule, tuition fees and other policies. Diverse races, cultures, languages, family composition (single mom, custodial grandparent, etc.), special needs and other unique child and family characteristics are welcomed and encouraged.



• Caregivers recognize the importance of the parent / child relationship, and honor the parent's role as primary decision maker.



• Caregivers help families access community services if they are needed.



• Caregivers respond promptly to problems noticed and reported by parents (examples: broken equipment, inadequate child: staff ratios, TV used as primary activity).



• Caregivers maintain the confidentiality of written and verbal information, including health records, about the child, family and caregivers.



• Caregivers know they have a mandated legal responsibility to report suspected child abuse.



• Caregivers give parents regular feedback about the problems and successes specific to each child.



• Caregivers are clear about their policies and expectations. They provide written policies (may take the form of a contract) at the time of enrollment and in the event that the program's policies or procedures change.



• Caregivers pre-plan for emergencies through training (CPR, first aid), practice with children (fire drills, etc.), up to date records and storage of extra supplies.

• Parents model healthy and safe behavior so that children can practice good habits both at home and at their child care program. (Examples: Eating healthy foods, buckling up in the car; positive discipline)



• Parents share with the caregiver health information that is critical for the caregiver to know in order to provide care for their child.



• Parents understand that relationships between parents and caregivers impact the care of their children - if they notice a problem, they approach their caregiver with ideas for potential solutions and resources.



• Parents are considerate of the health of others in the child care program. Back up care plans are developed ahead of time in case their child gets sick.



• Parents honor their caregiver's personal time - they always pick up their children on time and call when they are legitimately delayed.



• Parents share new health and safety information with their caregivers (examples: recalls on children's products, research on growth and development, ideas for fun activities, etc.)



• Parents honor their financial obligations to the caregiver on time. Caregivers must pay their bills on time in order for the program to operate efficiently.

• Let your caregivers know how much you appreciate them!



• Share with other parents in your child's program - encourage them to praise the caregiver when good things happen.



• Report consumer satisfaction to the child care licensing agency in your state. You can find their contact information at http://nrckids.org/STATES/states.htm and clicking on your state.