June focus groups will review state's child-care rules

The state of Missouri is reviewing all of its rules concerning child care, and area parents and care providers are being asked for their input.

The Department of Health and Senior Services has not revised its child-care rules since 1991, according to a news release. The department will hold a series of focus groups in early June, including one in Cape Girardeau, to get feedback on the current rules and suggestions for changes.

"We certainly want to stay current with the best practices and research," said Cindy Hudson, administrator for the DHSS Section for Child Care Regulation.

Hudson said no particular event prompted the revision process, and there has been no dramatic increase in complaints over the last year. The department recognized that the rules had not been updated in more than 15 years and that other states are in the process of revising their own rules, Hudson said.

DHSS is asking parents and child-care center operators to attend the focus groups and be part of the process.

"Basically, it's just opening it up for a wide variety of feedback," Hudson said.

All of the state's child-care rules are up for review, but that doesn't necessarily mean all will be revised. A work group of 25 "key stakeholders" will meet from September through December to review all the input and create a draft of proposed new rules, Hudson said. The names of the Work Group Committee members will be available at the focus group meetings.

Hudson estimated the entire process, beginning with the focus groups and ending with approval of the revisions, could take a year.

Any changes would affect about 1,993 licensed child-care centers and 188 group homes across the state. Missouri law requires anyone caring for more than four children, except family members, to be licensed by the state. Religious organizations, schools and summer camps are generally exempt from the requirement.

Hudson said the state will also be unveiling a new Web site with public information about inspections of licensed child-care providers, similar to an existing site for nursing homes.

The Cape Girardeau focus group will be from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday on the Southeast Missouri State University campus. It will be in room 124 of Dempster Hall.

Other focus groups will be in Kansas City, Mo., Springfield, Mo., Columbia, Mo., and St. Louis.

bschraum@semissourian.com

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