Virginia Law

A. Staff shall complete annually a minimum of 16 hours of training appropriate to the age of children in care.

B. Training completed to meet the requirements of this section shall be in addition to completing orientation requirements in 8VAC20-780-240.

C. Staff who do not work with a group of children at the center shall only be required to complete annual training on emergency preparedness and response, child abuse and neglect, and mandated reporter requirements.

D. Staff who work with a group of children at the center and are employed at a short-term program shall only be required to obtain a minimum of 10 hours of staff training per year.

E. In a cooperative preschool center that is organized, administered, and maintained by parents of children in care, parent volunteers, or other persons who participate and volunteer in a cooperative preschool center on behalf of a child attending such cooperative preschool center, including such volunteers who are counted in the staff-to-child ratios required in 8VAC20-780-340, shall complete four hours of training per year and shall be exempt from training requirements applicable to staff of child day programs. This training exemption shall not apply to any parent volunteer or other person as referred to in this subsection if the cooperative preschool center has entered into a contract with the department or a local department to provide child care services funded by the Child Care and Development Block Grant.

F. Volunteers who work more than six hours per week shall be required to complete annual training on the center's emergency procedures.

G. For therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, staff who work directly with children shall annually complete four additional hours of training. At least eight hours of annual training shall be on topics related to the care of children with special needs.

H. Annual training shall be relevant to staff's job responsibilities and the care of children, and include topics such as:

1. Child development including physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development;

2. Behavior management and positive guidance techniques;

3. Prevention and control of infectious diseases;

4. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleep practices;

5. Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and other allergic reactions including:

a. Recognizing the symptoms of an allergic reaction;

b. Responding to allergic reactions;

c. Preventing exposure to the specific food and other substances to which the child is allergic; and

d. Preventing cross contamination;

6. The center's policies and procedures on the administration of medication;

7. Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic;

8. Prevention of shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma including procedures to cope with crying babies or distraught children;

9. Signs and symptoms of child abuse and neglect and requirements for mandated reporters;

10. Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a human-caused event such as violence at a child care facility and the center's specific emergency preparedness plan as required 8VAC20-780-550 A through K;

11. Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of diapers and other items contaminated by body fluids;

12. CPR and first aid;

13. Precautions in transporting children if applicable; and

14. If applicable, the recommended care requirements related to the care and development of children with special needs.

I. Training on the center's emergency preparedness plan shall be completed annually and each time the plan is updated.

J. Medication administration:

1. To safely perform medication administration practices listed in 8VAC20-780-510, whenever the center has agreed to administer prescribed medications, the administration shall be performed by a staff member or independent contractor who has satisfactorily completed a training program for this purpose approved by the Board of Nursing and taught by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or pharmacist pursuant to § 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia; or administration shall be performed by a staff member or independent contractor who is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to administer medications.

a. The approved training curriculum and materials shall be reviewed by the department at least every three years and revised as necessary.

b. Staff required to have the training shall be retrained at three-year intervals.

2. To safely perform medication administration practices listed in 8VAC20-780-510, whenever the center has agreed to administer over-the-counter medications other than topical skin gel, cream, or ointment, the administration must be performed by a staff member or independent contractor who has satisfactorily completed a training course developed or approved by the Department of Education in consultation with the Department of Health and the Board of Nursing and taught by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or pharmacist; or administration shall be performed by a staff member or independent contractor who is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to administer medications.

a. The course, which shall include competency guidelines, shall reflect currently accepted safe medication administration practices, including instruction and practice in topics such as reading and following manufacturer's instructions; observing relevant laws, policies, and regulations; and demonstrating knowledge of safe practices for medication storage and disposal, recording and reporting responsibilities, and side effects and emergency recognition and response.

b. The approved training curriculum and materials shall be reviewed by the department at least every three years and revised as necessary.

c. Staff required to have the training shall be retrained at three-year intervals.

3. Any child for whom emergency medications (such as albuterol, glucagon, and epinephrine auto injector) have been prescribed shall always be in the care of a staff member or independent contractor who meets the requirements in subdivision 1 of this subsection.

K. Daily health observation training shall include the following:

1. Components of daily health check for children;

2. Inclusion and exclusion of the child from the class when the child is exhibiting physical symptoms that indicate possible illness;

3. Descriptions of how diseases are spread and the procedures or methods for reducing the spread of disease;

4. Information concerning the Virginia Department of Health Notification of Reportable Diseases pursuant to 12VAC5-90-80 and 12VAC5-90-90, also available from the local health department and the website of the Virginia Department of Health; and

5. Staff occupational health and safety practices in accordance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration's bloodborne pathogens regulation (29 CFR 1910.1030).

L. There shall always be at least one staff member on duty who has obtained within the last three years instruction in performing the daily health observation of children.

M. Documentation of training shall be kept by the center in a manner that allows for identification by individual staff member, is considered part of the staff member's record, and shall include:

1. Name of staff;

2. Training topic;

3. Evidence that training on each topic required in this section has been completed;

4. Training delivery method;

5. The entity or individual providing training;

6. The number of training hours or credit hours received; and

7. The date of training.

N. Medication administration training required in subsection J of this section and daily health observation training required in subsection K of this section may count toward the annual training hours required in this section.