New Federal Standards Apply to Local Daycare Centers

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In 2016, American Samoa received $3,611,209 in federal funding through the US Dept of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, (CCDF) program.

Each month the local program serves 500 children.

Today  new quality and safety standards were announced  aimed at providing for higher quality care and safer environments for millions of children, including our youngest learners.

The new rule protects the health and safety of children, helps parents make more informed consumer choices, supports early child development for our youngest learners, and enhances the quality of child care for all children.

All children in the 370,000 child care settings across the country including American Samoa that participates in the federal child care program – not just those receiving direct child care assistance from CCDF – will benefit from new health and safety requirements, staff training requirements, and criminal background checks for staff.

In addition, CCDF quality investments can benefit all children in child care regardless of whether or not they receive federal funding.

The new standards:

  • require all staff in child care facilities to have mandatory criminal background checks;
  • require initial and ongoing training and professional development on 10 key topics (e.g. First Aid/CPR, and medication administration, for the early childhood workforce);
  • disseminate information to help parents choose child care, including through an accessible website;
  • devote  more funding to improve quality across all child care settings;
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