Questions To Ask Day Care Centers | Dallas, Texas Personal Injury Attorney Blog

If you are a parent or a guardian of a child, and you need to locate a suitable day care facility, be sure to ask questions to make sure that the facility as properly managed, staffed and focus on the health and safety of the children that are entrusted to it.

Questions To Ask Day Care Providers:

1. Is the day care center licensed to provide day care services by the State of Texas?

2. If the facility claims to be licensed, ask for a copy of the license.

3. Ask for copies of all publicly available information, including any complaints or actions filed against the program, site visit evaluations, violations, and corrective actions.

4. Does the facility provide an academic curriculum?

5. Does the day care facility require that there is always a teacher present who is certified or licensed by the state?

6. What is the minimum number of employees or staff that will be present with the children at any time?

7. What are the credentials of the staff, especially the counselors and therapists, who will be working with my child at the day care facility?

8. Does the day care facility conduct background checks on its employees to ensure that they are fit for the job and verify that the employees are not registered sex offenders, or have any convictions that would make them unfit for the job?

9. Is the day care facility accredited by organizations such as the Joint Commission (JACHO), the Council on Accreditation (COA), and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF)?

10. Does the day care facility have a clinical director?

11. What is the procedure for handling medical emergencies?

12. What are the policies for permitting children who are ill to attend the day care facility?

13. What policies does the day care facility have for discipline?

14. How well maintained is the facility?

If you are not comfortable with the response to these basic questions, it is likely that the facility is not going to be able to meet your expectations and to properly protect your child. In addition, be sure to make unannounced visits to the facility and to pay attention to signs of trouble such as unreported bruises and changes in your child’s behavior.

If you suspect that your son or daughter has been injured, abused or neglected by a day care facility or a day care worker, contact Montes Herald Law Group, LLP to discuss your case. If you have proof that your child has been abused by a day care worker, you should also contact the police and immediately report the incident to protect your child and the other children at the facility.