Pursuant to Section
43-20-1 et seq.,
of the Mississippi Code of 1972, all operators, employees and prospective
employees of a child care facility and any individual residing in a residence
licensed as a child care facility shall have a criminal history records check
(fingerprint), child abuse registry check and a sex offender registry
check.
1. Within ten working days from
the date of employment, the child care facility shall submit the following for
processing:
a. A completed fingerprint card
and fees, as appropriate, shall be submitted to the Mississippi State
Department of Health for processing. A copy of the submitted fingerprint card,
fees paid and evidence of mailing shall be maintained in the employee's
personnel file until the facility receives notification from the Department
(MSDH) verifying the employee's suitability for employment.
If the facility is notified that the fingerprints
submitted were incomplete or of such poor quality that prevented processing,
the facility shall reprint the individual and/or resubmit the necessary
information within ten days of the dated letter on the notification.
b. A Child Abuse Registry Form
shall be submitted to the Department of Human Services for processing. A copy
of the submitted form and evidence of mailing shall be maintained in the
employee's personnel file until the facility receives notification from the
Department (MSDH) of the employee's suitability for employment.
2. Although an individual is
allowed to begin employment prior to the receiving confirmation of the
employee's status for employment suitability, at no time shall the facility
allow that individual to provide unsupervised care or be left alone with a
child until the facility receives notification from the Department (MSDH)
verifying that employee's suitability for employment. Each licensed child care
facility with internet capabilities may electronically access, monitor, and
verify the suitability status of any submitted employee through a MSDH
maintained webpage:
http://www.msdh.state.ms.us.
(Licensed providers without electronic capabilities will receive hardcopy
notification of an employee's suitability status.)
3. Upon receipt of notification, either
electronically or hardcopy, that the employee has been deemed suitable for
employment in a child care facility, the facility shall provide the employee
the original Letter of Suitability and shall maintain a copy of the suitability
letter for the facility files.
Unless otherwise voided, the letter confirming an
employee's Suitability for Employment is valid for a period of
five years. However, if there is no break in service from
the submitting licensed provider of origin and/or the same campus, as
specified on the suitability letter, the Letter of Suitability will remain
valid for as long as the individual remains employed at the licensed facility
of origin. The Letter of Suitability is not transferable to another program
licensed by the Child Care Licensure Division after the date of expiration as
specified within the suitability letter.
4. Individuals under the age of 18 are not
required to be fingerprinted. However, that individual must never be left alone
with children.
5. The facility
shall maintain the following on any individual who volunteers in a child care
facility for 120 or more hours per licensure year:
a. Letter of Suitability for Employment that
reflects the completion of the criminal records check, child abuse registry
check and sex offender check.
b.
Immunization Compliance Form 121.
