EndocrinologyNew Law Requires Child Care Agencies To Post Consumer Safety Information, Kentucky USA
A new law requiring the state"s licensed child care centers to educate parents and caregivers about the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has taken effect, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) announced.
The law requires day care centers to prominently display information about the CPSC and its Web site so that parents and caregivers can stay up-to-date on the agency"s information pertaining to child safety. In addition, the law requires the cabinet to notify all child care centers of the existence of the CPSC upon licensure and at all re-licensure surveys. CHFS will also notify all certified family child-care home operators of the existence of the CPSC, but in-home providers will not be required to post information.
"The Consumer Product Safety Commission is a wonderful agency dedicated to consumer safety and is a particularly useful re for parents," said CHFS Inspector General Sadiqa N. Reynolds. "With this new law, more parents and caregivers will be made aware of the CPSC"s existence and will be able to take advantage of its regular updates and useful information."
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is responsible for licensing and regulating all child care facilities in the state, including investigating complaints against child day care programs, residential child caring facilities and child-placing agencies.
"Child safety is our number one priority in monitoring these facilities," said LaShana Harris, director of the OIG"s Division of Regulated Child Care. "The more res providers and parents have available to them, the better prepared they"ll be to care for children. Making sure they are aware of the CPSC is one more thing we can do to help ensure health, safety and welfare at these facilities."
The CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks, such as fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazards, from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency"s jurisdiction. The agency"s work deals with various products including toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals. The agency sends out updated consumer safety information, such as information on product and toy recalls, on a regular basis.
For more information about the Consumer Product Safety Commission, visit http://www.cpsc.gov. Additional information on consumer product safety can be found on the Kentucky Department for Public Health"s Web site.
Kentucky Department for Public Health