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Protecting children from child abuse at home or in the community

• I know each child and family by name.
• I talk to families regularly about their lives at home (stressors, routines, jobs, deployment, child-care arrangements, etc.).
• I build trusting positive relationships with each child and family.
• I know the signs of stress in families.
• I model positive guidance techniques.
• I provide parent education or community resources.
• I encourage families to spend time at the program.
• I talk to children regularly about their friends and experiences at home.
• If I notice a strange bruise, mark, or injury, I ask the child and family about it.
• I provide information to families about child development & parenting.
• I help build connections between the families in our program by promoting social events & making introductions.
• I know how to help families find resources they need like food, shelter, financial support, etc.

• I make sure the appropriate ratio for my family child care home is followed at all times.
• I use active supervision strategies; I can see and hear children at all times.
• I complete written incident reports whenever an injury or potential injury occurs.
• I conduct a daily health screening when children arrive. I write down any illnesses, marks, or bruises. If I notice anything unusual, I ask the child and the parent what happened.
• I do not allow children to go into closets, sheds, or workrooms where they cannot be seen.
• I monitor restrooms, for children, and the amount of time they have been gone.
• I never use or threaten to use corporal punishment, such as paddling.
• I never hit a child even in play.
• I never force a child to be touched (hold my hand, hug, be carried, have his back rubbed, etc.)
• I make sure children never leave the program with another adult without written permission from the child's parent(s) or guardian(s).
• I use the buddy system when on field trips or outside the program. I insist children never use the restroom by themselves or go off by themselves.
• I do not transport children in my vehicle without permission.
• I know and use positive guidance strategies.
• My program has a written guidance and discipline policy that I follow and share with families.