ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, July 2, 1996 TAG: 9607020040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NORFOLK
SOURCE: Associated Press
The number of children an unlicensed day-care provider in Virginia can keep dropped from eight to five under new rules that took effect Monday.
The change may bring thousands more children into regulated care, which advocates say will improve quality.
``Parents want the state to establish a level of quality,'' said Ben Greenberg, executive director of Action Alliance for Virginia's Youth and Children. ``Most parents assume that's the case already.''
But Sen. Stephen Martin, who had tried to kill the rules, said the cost of day care could increase as providers try to comply with a slew of regulations.
Martin, R-Chesterfield, also said the amount of care available could be reduced. Some providers may try to avoid getting a license by cutting back on the number of children they keep, he said.
So far, the state is reporting an increase in the number of home day-care providers applying for licenses.
From January to June this year, the number of licensed home day-care centers rose 33 percent - from 965 to 1,283 - after going up 15 percent in all of 1995.
However, the state has no immediate plans to add to the 48 licensing specialists it has to inspect the day-care centers. Some areas, such as northern Virginia, may receive more specialists if the caseload becomes too great, said Alfreda Redd, human services program coordinator for the Department of Social Services.
The new rules are part of the last phase of a 1993 law that tightened day-care licensing requirements. In January, Martin introduced a bill to kill that last phase, but the bill was defeated.
``I did it at the request of the department,'' he said. ``They don't have the resources to handle the increase. When inspectors are spread so thin, they can't do as effective a job.''
Jan Nielsen, a Chesapeake parent, said she believes the process of applying for a license can lead to improvements in child care.
``I think it opens your eyes to all the issues involved in children's safety,'' said Nielsen, whose day-care provider, Marie McFadden, is applying for a license.
Donna Hartman, who provides care for eight children in her Chesapeake home, said she already was complying with most state licensing requirements.
But she's made a few changes. She posted a fire exit plan and emergency numbers, and she'll have to take six hours of training annually to keep up her license.
``If you have the compassion to care for children, then you want what's best for them anyway,'' Hartman said.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 linesby CNB