PRINTER'S NO. 580
No. 523 Session of 1991
INTRODUCED BY STAIRS, TIGUE, BUNT, BARLEY, HERMAN, NAILOR,
VROON, CAWLEY, TRELLO, FOX, MIHALICH, ANGSTADT, CARLSON,
LESCOVITZ, SERAFINI, HECKLER, CIVERA, SEMMEL, R. C. WRIGHT,
KASUNIC, GEIST, McGEEHAN, M. N. WRIGHT AND DALEY,
MARCH 11, 1991
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, MARCH 11, 1991
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), entitled "An
2 act to consolidate, editorially revise, and codify the public
3 welfare laws of the Commonwealth," providing for visitation
4 of family day-care homes.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. The act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
8 as the Public Welfare Code, is amended by adding a section to
9 read:
10 Section 1010. Home Visitation.--(a) Prior to issuance of a
11 registration certificate and regularly thereafter, visitations
12 shall be made of family day-care homes. The department shall
13 arrange for an orientation session with the prospective family
14 day-care provider. Such orientation session shall include:
15 (1) Instructions on how to complete forms and apply for
16 background checks.
17 (2) A review of the regulations and what they mean.
1 (3) Instructions on how to meet the regulations in the
2 caregiver's home.
3 (4) Support services available to caregivers through the
4 department, other State agencies, local community service
5 agencies and family day-care associations.
6 The department shall develop a manual for training personnel as
7 well as a manual or notebook for the caregiver.
8 (b) An initial home inspection visit shall be conducted by
9 the department prior to issuance of a registration certificate.
10 Such visit shall be conducted in order to:
11 (1) Ascertain that the address given is indeed a family
12 dwelling.
13 (2) Verify that minimum safety and health standards are
14 being met before implying approval.
15 (3) Confirm that the orientation session did make the
16 regulations understood to the applicant.
17 (4) Establish a healthy working relationship of department
18 staff with the caregiver in order to reduce the feeling of
19 isolation, lessen stress and reduce turnover by giving the
20 provider a sense of connectiveness.
21 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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