A GUIDE TO CHILD CARE SAFETY

Our mission is to protect the health of the public. This website offers an opportunity to share information which may assist you in being well-informed about safe Child Care facility practices.

All facilities that provide Child Care are required by law to first obtain a permit from the Cabell Huntington Health Department. These facilities are required to be compliant with West Virginia’s Child Care Center Rule. Routine inspections during the operation of the child care center assess the operator's success in assuring that routine practices are conducted in a safe and sanitary manner.

Keep in mind that any inspection report is a "snapshot" of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, a child care center could have fewer or more violations than noted in the report. An inspection may not be representative of the overall compliance of the facility.

INSPECTION PROCESS

• Inspection Frequency: · Inspections are conducted at least two times per year. These inspections are not scheduled. Re-inspections are conducted if a child care center has critical violations that cannot be corrected during the inspection.

• Violations (Two types of violations may be cited):
  
  • Critical Violations: Violations of the Child Care Center Rule which, if left uncorrected, are more likely than other violations to directly contribute to illness or injury. Examples include: improper supervision of the children; direct connections of potable and non-potable water, improper chemical storage, and safety hazards.
    
  • Non-Critical Violations: Violations not directly related to the cause of illness or injury, however if uncorrected, could affect the operation of the facility and lead to critical violations. Examples include a lack of facility cleanliness, inadequate restroom facilities, improper cleaning of rooms, improper signage, and inadequate safety equipment.

For information about Child Care Safety, please visit our website.