Frequently Asked Questions

• Are all Family Day Care Homes being inspected?
  Answer: No. Inspections are currently done only at those in which the Health Department has received a complaint and also at newly registered day cares.
• What is looked for in an inspection?

  Answer: New Family Day Care Homes require both a pre-opening inspection and a new facility opening inspection. Inspections cover the provider (and helper) registration requirements which include the following:

  • Certification of CPR and First Aid
  • Felony background checks
  • Screenings against the Central Registry of Abuse and Neglect (required of all persons 15 years of age or older who are living at or frequenting the home)
  • Sex offender registry screening (required of all persons 15 years of age or older who are living at or frequenting the home)
  • Negative test for tuberculosis

  Other items addressed in the inspection include:

  • Compliance with number of children in care (maximum of 12 including providers own children under six years of age)
  • Compliance with adult-to-child ratios for children under the age of 2 (allowed four children less than 2 years of age, with only two being under 1 years of age, or include a registered helper to maintain the 1:4 adult-to-child ratio)
  • Making sure any fire arms, archery equipment and kitchen sharps are inaccessible to children
  • Hazardous cleaning supplies are locked up or out of reach
  • Hot surfaces or open flames are partitioned or screened
  • Premises are clear of all animal waste and potentially hazardous situations

  Complaint based inspections include all of the above mentioned criteria as well as covering the specific complaint.
  

• Are the inspections scored?
  Answer: No. There is not a score applied to an inspection of a Family Day Care Home.
• Does the provider know when they will be inspected?
  Answer: That depends on what type of inspection is being conducted. Complaint based inspections and new facility opening inspections are unannounced. Pre-opening inspections are coordinated with the provider.
• Does the provider have to post the results of any inspections?
  Answer: Yes. Inspection reports are required to be posted in plain view so that parents have access to them.
• What if my provider's name does not come up when entered?
  Answer: The name may have been misspelled or your provider is not registered with the City of Sioux Falls. Please contact our office at 367-8760 if this happens so we can look into the situation.