Part VIII. Special Services
8VAC20-780-560. Nutrition and food services.
A. Centers shall schedule appropriate times for snacks or meals, or both, based on the hours of operation and time of the day (e.g., a center open only for after school care shall schedule an afternoon snack; a center open from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. shall schedule a morning snack and midday meal).
B. The center shall ensure that children arriving from a half-day, morning program who have not yet eaten lunch receive a lunch.
C. The center shall schedule snacks or meals so that there is a period of at least 1-1/2 hours but no more than three hours between each meal or snack unless there is a scheduled rest or sleep period for children between the meals and snacks.
D. Drinking water or other beverage not containing caffeine shall be offered at regular intervals to nonverbal children.
E. In environments of 80°F or above, attention shall be given to the fluid needs of children at regular intervals. Children in such environments shall be encouraged to drink fluids as outlined in subsection D of this section.
F. When centers choose to provide meals or snacks, the following shall apply:
1. Centers shall follow the most recent, age-appropriate nutritional requirements of the Child and Adult Care Food Program of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
2. Children shall be allowed second helpings of food listed in the USDA's child and adult care meal patterns.
3. Centers offering both meals and snacks shall serve a variety of nutritious foods and shall serve at least three sources of vitamin A and at least three sources of vitamin C on various days each week.
4. Children three years of age or younger may not be offered foods that are considered to be potential choking hazards.
5. A menu listing foods to be served for meals and snacks during the current one-week period shall:
a. Be dated;
b. Be posted in a location conspicuous to parents or given to parents;
c. List any substituted food; and
d. Be kept on file for one week at the center.
6. Powdered milk shall not be used except for cooking.
G. When food is brought from home, the following shall apply:
1. The food container shall be sealed and clearly dated and labeled in a way that identifies the owner;
2. The center shall have extra food or shall have provisions to obtain food to serve to children so they can have an appropriate snack or meal if they forget to bring food from home, bring an inadequate meal or snack, or bring perishable food; and
3. Unused portions of opened food shall be discarded by the end of the day or returned to the parent.
H. If a catering service is used, it shall be approved by the local health department.
I. Contaminated or spoiled food shall not be served to children.
J. Tables and high chair trays shall be:
1. Sanitized before and after each use for feeding; and
2. Cleaned at least daily.
K. Children shall be encouraged to feed themselves.
L. Staff shall sit with children during meal times.
M. No child shall be allowed to drink or eat while walking around.
N. Food shall be prepared, stored, and transported in a clean and sanitary manner.
O. When food is prepared to which a child in care is allergic, staff shall take steps to avoid cross contamination to prevent an allergic reaction.
P. A child with a diagnosed food allergy shall not be served any food identified in the written care plan required in 8VAC20-780-60 A 8.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-620 derived from VR175-08-01 § 8.1, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-560, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021; Volume 38, Issue 2, eff. October 13, 2021.
8VAC20-780-570. Special feeding needs.
A. High chairs, infant carrier seats, or feeding tables shall be used for children under 12 months who are not held while being fed.
1. Children using infant seats or high chairs shall be supervised during snacks and meals.
2. When a child is placed in an infant seat or high chair, the protective belt shall be fastened securely.
B. Bottle fed infants who cannot hold their own bottles shall be held when fed. Bottles shall not be propped or used while the child is in his designated sleeping location.
C. The record of each child on formula shall contain:
1. The brand of formula; and
2. The child's feeding schedule.
D. Infants shall be fed on demand or in accordance with parental instructions.
E. Prepared infant formula shall be refrigerated, dated and labeled with the child's name.
F. Heated formula and baby food shall be stirred or shaken and tested for temperature before serving to children.
G. Milk, formula or breast milk shall not be heated or warmed directly in a microwave. Note: Water for warming milk, formula, or breast milk may be heated in a microwave.
H. Prepared baby food not consumed during that feeding by an infant may be used by that same infant later in the same day, provided that the food is not served out of the baby jar and is dated and stored in the refrigerator; otherwise, it shall be discarded or returned to the parent at the end of the day. Formula or breast milk shall not remain unrefrigerated for more than two hours and may not be reheated.
I. A one-day's emergency supply of disposable bottles, nipples, and commercial formulas appropriate for the children in care shall be maintained at the center.
J. Breastfeeding shall be permitted.
K. Staff shall feed semisolid food with a spoon unless written instructions from a physician or physician's designee state differently.
L. For therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, the consistency of food shall be appropriate to a child's special feeding needs. Necessary and adaptive feeding equipment and feeding techniques shall be used for children with special feeding needs.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-630 derived from VR175-08-01 § 8.2, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-570, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-780-580. Transportation and field trips.
A. If the center provides transportation, the center shall be responsible from the time the child boards the vehicle until returned to the parents or person designated by the parent.
B. Any vehicle used by the center for the transportation of children shall meet the following requirements:
1. The vehicle shall be manufactured for the purpose of transporting people seated in an enclosed area;
2. The vehicle's seats shall be attached to the floor;
3. The vehicle shall be insured with at least the minimum limits established by Virginia state statutes;
4. The vehicle shall meet the safety standards set by the Department of Motor Vehicles and shall be kept in satisfactory condition to assure the safety of children; and
5. If volunteers supply personal vehicles, the center is responsible for ensuring that the requirements of this subsection are met.
C. The center shall ensure that during transportation of children:
1. Virginia state statutes about safety belts and child restraints are followed as required by §§ 46.2-1095 through 46.2-1100 of the Code of Virginia, and stated maximum number of passengers in a given vehicle is not exceeded;
2. The children remain seated and each child's arms, legs, and head remain inside the vehicle;
3. Doors are closed properly and locked unless locks were not installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle;
4. At least one staff member or the driver always remains in the vehicle when children are present;
5. The following information is in transportation vehicles:
a. Emergency numbers as specified in 8VAC20-780-550 I and K;
b. The center's name, address, and phone number;
c. A list of the names of the children being transported; and
d. Allergy care plan and information as specified in 8VAC20-780-60 A 7 and A 8; and
6. Staff who transport children shall be 18 years of age or older.
D. When entering and leaving vehicles, children shall enter and leave the vehicle from the curb side of the vehicle or in a protected parking area or driveway.
E. Children shall cross streets at corners or crosswalks or other designated safe crossing point if no corner or crosswalk is available.
F. The staff-to-children ratios of 8VAC20-780-350 B and 8VAC20-780-355 shall be followed on all field trips. The staff-to-children ratios need not be followed during transportation of school age children to and from the center. One staff member or adult is necessary in addition to the driver when 16 or more preschool or younger children are being transported in the vehicle.
G. The center shall make provisions for providing children on field trips with adequate food and water.
H. If perishable food is taken on field trips, the food shall be stored in insulated containers with ice packs to keep the food cold.
I. Before leaving on a field trip, a schedule of the trip's events and locations shall be posted and visible at the center site.
J. There shall be a communication plan between center staff and staff who are transporting children or on a field trip.
K. Staff shall verify that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion of any trip.
L. Parental permission for transportation and field trips shall be secured before the scheduled activity.
M. If a blanket permission is used instead of a separate written permission, the following shall apply:
1. Parents shall be notified of the field trip; and
2. Parents shall be given the opportunity to withdraw their children from the field trip.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-640 derived from VR175-08-01 § 8.3, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-580, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; amended and renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021; Volume 38, Issue 2, eff. October 13, 2021.
8VAC20-780-590. Transportation for nonambulatory children.
A. For therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs providing transportation, nonambulatory children shall be transported in a vehicle which is equipped with a ramp or hydraulic lift to allow entry and exit.
B. Wheelchairs shall be equipped with restraining devices and shall be securely fastened to the floor when used to seat children in a vehicle.
C. Arrangements of wheelchairs in a vehicle shall not impede access to exits.
D. For therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, when the center is responsible for providing transportation, the center shall develop a plan based on the needs of the children in care to assure their safe supervision during on-loading, off-loading and transporting.
E. When 16 or more children are being transported, there shall be at least one center aide or adult besides the driver, for each group of 16.
F. For therapeutic child day programs and special needs child day programs, if a child has a known seizure disorder or neurological, genetic or physiological disability causing increased medical risk and that child is being transported, one center aide or adult who is not the driver and who is trained in CPR shall be present in the vehicle.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-650 derived from VR175-08-01 § 8.4, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998;Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-590, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.
8VAC20-780-600. Animals and pets.
A. Animals that are kept on the premises of the center shall be vaccinated, if applicable, against diseases which present a hazard to the health or safety of children.
B. Animals which are, or are suspected of being, ill or infested with external lice, fleas and ticks or internal worms shall be removed from contact with children.
C. If a child is bitten by an animal, an attempt shall be made to confine the animal for observation or laboratory analysis for evidence of rabies.
D. The site of the bite shall be washed with soap and water immediately, and the child's physician or local health department shall be contacted as soon as possible for medical advice.
E. The center shall report the animal bite incident to the local health department.
F. Manure shall be removed from barns, stables and corrals at least once a day and stored and disposed of in a manner to prevent the breeding of flies.
Statutory Authority
§§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-289.046 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Former 22VAC15-30-660 derived from VR175-08-01 § 8.5, eff. November 1, 1993; amended, Virginia Register Volume 12, Issue 4, eff. March 1, 1996; Volume 14, Issue 21, eff. September 1, 1998; Volume 21, Issue 12, eff. June 1, 2005; amended and renumbered as 22VAC40-185-600, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 1, eff. November 1, 2012; renumbered Volume 37, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2021.