Can a parent volunteer be counted in ratio?
Ratio is determined by considering caregiver to child numbers. A caregiver is considered an adult who provides direct care, supervision and guidance of children. If the parent meets these criteria, he or she may be counted in the ratio. However, the parent volunteer may not have unsupervised contact with in care if: 1. He or she has been convicted of either child abuse or neglect, or a felony involving harm or threatened harm to an individual within the 10 years immediately preceding the date of offering to volunteer at the child care center. 2. He or she has not provided the child care center with documentation from the Department of Human Services that he or she has not been named in a central registry case as the perpetrator of child abuse or neglect. Additionally, if the parent volunteers for at least four hours per week, for more than two consecutive weeks, the requirements of R 400.5104b (health appraisal and negative tuberculosis test) must be met.
