All too often we see stories in the news about injuries children sustain while under the supervision of a caregiver. In some tragic cases, these injuries lead to the death of a child. This is a parent’s absolute worst nightmare. In the legal profession, we unfortunately see these cases all too often.
Parents want to protect their children to the best of their ability. This can be an overwhelming task if you are a working parent trying to find the best care for your child while you are at work. Should you be considering daycares or an in-home daycare? What questions need to be asked? What qualifications, certifications, or licenses do you need to ask about? One question that may not be first in your mind is: “What type of insurance should my caregiver carry?”
Here are some facts to consider and questions to ask.
Helpful Tips and Questions for ALL Care Providers
Do a regular and thorough check of the house or facility that your child will be watched at. Be sure that the cleanliness is up to your standards and there are no safety concerns (such as an unfenced pool, etc.). Make sure that it is an environment your child will thrive in by knowing all of the details of where your child will be spending their time while in the daycare facility or house.
Ask what the care provider to child ratio is. You want to ensure that your child will receive the best care and not be “overlooked” by an overly-busy care provider.
Ask what their plan is in case of an emergency, such as a child being injured or fire. Are they CPR certified?
What type of education and qualifications do they have? If your child has any special care requirements, for example a peanut allergy, you will need to be sure they have training and the experience needed to accommodate your child’s need.
What type of insurance policy do they carry in case a child is injured while under their care? This is a very important question which often goes unasked. Surprisingly, many parents are under the assumption that child care providers carry insurance coverage, which, unfortunately, is not always the case. In case of an accident or injury to your child, you will need your care provider to carry liability coverage.
Helpful Tips and Questions for a Nanny or Babysitter
An in-home daycare with fewer than four children does not require a license in the State of Arizona. If they have over four children, check to see if they have a license at AZCareCheck.com. If they have fewer than four children, do a background check on the in-home care providers and make sure there is no criminal history on their record.
Arizona has limited information on unlicensed daycares so you will want to request a “calls for service log” from the local police and fire department. This is public information in a report of the times and frequencies that the address has called for police or fire department assistance. If you see too many red flags in the report, you may want to consider another option.
Recently the State of Arizona increased the general liability insurance requirements to a $1,000,000 liability limit per occurrence with a $2,000,000 aggregate for in-home licensed daycare operating with more than four children. If they have fewer than four children, you will still want the care provider to carry liability insurance, although it is not required by the State of Arizona.
Helpful Tips and Questions for Daycare Facilities
Look up the daycare’s inspection reports at AZCareCheck.com to look for any violations prior to touring the daycare facility. The inspections are done by Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and are public information. Certain violations may cause concern, which means it is time to reevaluate that daycare.
Are they licensed?
Do they have a high staff turnover rate?
Ask for their policies and procedures. You will want to know what their reactions will be to out-of-the-ordinary circumstances.
Contact the Husband and Wife Law Team
Whether you choose an in-home daycare or a daycare facility, if an accident occurs, the first vital action you take as a parent is making sure that your child is receiving the recommended medical treatment for a healthy recovery. You may find yourself in a whirlwind of emotions following an injury to your child. Additionally, dealing with insurance companies can be extremely confusing, frustrating, and intimidating. If your child or a loved one’s child was injured at a daycare facility, the Husband and Wife Law Team is here to help. We guide you through the entire process to make sure that you can focus on caring for your child. Please contact Breyer Law Offices, P.C. any time that we can be of assistance or if you have questions.