Header:
WISCONSIN ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
CHAPTER DCF 252 DAY CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AND DAY CARE PROGRAMS ESTABLISHED BY SCHOOL BOARDS
SUBCHAPTER I -- DAY CAMPS FOR CHILDREN
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
Wis. Adm. Code DCF 252.42 (2011)
DCF 252.42 Personnel.
(1) STAFF: PAID AND VOLUNTEER. (a) Each day camp shall have a person designated as camp director on the premises at all times. If the camp director is not on the premises, a similarly qualified adult shall be present. The camp director shall be responsible for the administration of the camp, including program operations, staff supervision, business operations, food service, health service, and other supportive services.
(b) The camp director shall be at least 21 years of age and shall meet one of the following criteria:
1. Have at least 2 years of supervisory or administrative experience in an organized camp or children's program; or
2. Have a bachelor's degree in outdoor education, recreation, social work, psychology, child development or education or in another camp--related field.
(c) Counselors, whether paid or unpaid, who are counted in determining the counselor--to--child ratio shall be at least 18 years of age and have completed high school or the equivalent as determined by the department of public instruction.
(d) Counselors who are considered in determining counselor--to--child ratio may not provide care to children more than 10 hours in any 24--hour period. Camps providing an occasional overnight activity for children enrolled in the camp may allow a counselor to exceed the maximum 10--hour per day work schedule to permit the counselor to remain with the children during the overnight session.
(e) In the absence of a regular staff member, there shall be a similarly qualified substitute.
(2) STAFF TRAINING. (a) Each day camp shall develop a written pre--camp training plan. A copy of the plan shall be submitted to the department for approval and implemented as approved. The plan shall include all of the following:
1. A review of the applicable parts of this chapter.
2. A review of camp policies and procedures are required under s. DCF 252.41 (1) (f) and (g).
3. Job responsibilities in relation to job descriptions.
4. Training in the recognition of childhood illnesses and infectious disease control, including handwashing procedures and universal precautions for handling body fluids.
Note: A copy of the universal precautions may be obtained from the Child Care Information Center by calling 800-362-7353 or from the Occupational Health Section, Bureau of Public Health, Department of Health Services, I W. Wilson St. Madison, WI 53703.
5. Daily activity plans and schedules.
6. Emergency first aid.
7. Review of plans required under ss. DCF 252.41 (1) (g) and 252.43 (2) including the plan for what happens if a child is missing, fire and tornado plans and the supervised swim plan if applicable.
8. The procedure for ensuring that camp counselors know the children assigned to their care and their whereabouts at all times.
9. Training in the use of fire extinguishers and recognition of local poisonous plants, snakes and other potential hazards on the premises, and procedures to be followed to protect the children from these hazards.
10. Review of child abuse and neglect laws, and the camp reporting procedures.
11. Information on the care of children with disabilities enrolled in the camp and the procedure for sharing information related to a child's special health care needs including any physical, emotional, social or cognitive disabilities with any person who may be assigned to care for that child throughout the day.
12. Child management techniques.
13. Department--approved training in shaken baby syndrome prevention and appropriate ways to manage crying, fussing or distraught children for any person who will be providing care and supervision to children under 5 years of age.
(b) All counselors, whether paid or unpaid, who are counted in determining the counselor--to--child ratio shall have pre--camp training. The pre--camp training shall be for a minimum of 24 hours and shall include orientation at the base camp.
(c) Campers' parents serving as counselors and volunteers who are not used to meet the counselor--to--child ratio, may be exempted from the 24 hour pre--camp training if the following conditions are met:
1. The parent or volunteer receives at least 4 hours of training in day camp programming required under par. (a), including orientation at the base camp.
2. The parent or volunteer works under the supervision of a counselor who has met the training requirements specified in par. (b).
(d) The camp director shall plan and implement monthly staff meetings which will provide ongoing supervision and in--service training for the staff.
(e) All camp staff in regular contact with the children, including the camp director and counselors shall obtain and maintain a current certificate of completion for child and adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) including department--approved training in the use of an automatic external defibrillator prior to working with children. The CPR training may be included in pre--camp training.
(f) The camp director shall coordinate the volunteer program and keep on file documentation of the hours worked for volunteers who are included in determining the counselor--to--child ratio.
(g) Camp staff, including the camp director, camp counselors, and volunteers counted in the counselor--to--child ratio shall be physically, mentally and emotionally able to provide responsible care for children.
(3) STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. (a) Each child shall be closely supervised at all times to guide the child's behavior and activities, prevent harm and assure safety.
(b) The ratio of counselors to children may not be less than the minimum number of counselors to children specified in Table DCF 252.42. When there is a mixed--age group, the counselor--to--child ratio shall be adjusted on a prorata basis, according to age.
Note: The department's form, Counselor--to--Child Ratio Worksheet may be used to prorate the staff--to--child ratio for mixed age groups. The department form is available from any of the regional licensing offices in Appendix A or from the department's website. http://dcf.wisconsin.gov.
TABLE DCF 252.42
COUNSELOR--TO--CHILD RATIO
FOR CHILDREN IN A DAY CAMP
Age of Children Minimum Number of
Counselors to Children
3 Years to 4 Years 1:4
4 Years to 5 Years 1:6
5 Years and 6 Years 1:12
7 Years and Over 1:18
(c) Support staff, such as maintenance, clerical, housekeeping and food service staff, may only be considered in determining counselor--to--child ratios under the following circumstances:
1. During those hours when the support staff give full attention to the care and supervision of children.
2. If the support staff meet the qualifications of a camp counselor.
(d) The camp director shall be at the camp during the hours of operation, unless the children are on a field trip in which case the camp director shall accompany the children. When some of the children are on a field trip and others are at the base camp, the camp director may accompany the children on the field trip if there is a reliable method of communicating easily with the camp. If the camp director is not present either at the base camp or on a field trip, another qualified person shall be identified in a written delegation of administrative authority, present at the camp and authorized to make decisions for the camp.
(e) When 9 or more children are present at the camp, there shall he at least 2 adults available at all times and at least one of the adults shall be a counselor.
(f) When children 7 years of age and older are served in the same group with children ages 3 and 4, the ratio of counselors to children in the group shall be consistent with the requirements for the youngest children in the group as specified in Table DCF 252.42.
(g) All children in care shall be assigned to a counselor. The camp shall implement a procedure to ensure that the number, names, and whereabouts of children in care are known to the assigned camp counselor at all times.
(h) A child may not be released to any person who has not been previously authorized by the parent.
(i) Camp counselors shall not engage in any duties that are not related to caring for children when they are counted in meeting the counselor--to--child ratios.
(j) Children of staff who attend the camp and who are on the premises for supervision and care shall be included in determining counselor--to--child ratios.
(k) When 9 or more children are on a field trip at least 2 adults shall accompany the children. The counselor--to--child ratios in Table DCF 252.42 shall be met on field trips.
(4) HEALTH. (a) No licensee, employee, volunteer, visitor or parent with symptoms of communicable disease, reportable under ch. DHS 145, or serious illness, which presents a safety or health risk to children may be in contact with the children in care.
(b) 1. No licensee, employee, volunteer, visitor, or parent whose behavior gives reasonable concern for the safety of the children may be in contact with the children in care.
2. The department may require a licensee, employee or other person in contact with the children in care, whose behavior gives reasonable concern for the safety of children, to submit to an examination by a licensed mental health professional as a condition of licensure or employment.
(c) No person with a health history of typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery or other diarrheal disease may work in a camp until it is determined by appropriate tests that the person is not a carrier of t
|