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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Rosita Youngblood |
  
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Youngblood offers proposal to better protect children in day care
Phila. lawmaker says measure would improve inspections of family day-care homes
HARRISBURG, May 15 – To better protect children from potential injury and death, state Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Phila., introduced a bill this week that would improve the state's inspection process for family day-care homes.
Youngblood said her legislation (H.B. 2485), to be known as the Family Day-Care Home Inspection Act, would require the state Department of Public Welfare to inspect family day-care homes at least once every two years. She said existing law limits the inspection process by only permitting DPW to inspect these facilities on a random sample basis, when there is a complaint issued, or at the request of the day-care home.
"The weak inspection process for family day-care homes has contributed to unnecessary injuries and fatalities of young children living in Pennsylvania," Youngblood said. "Only around 15 percent of the 4,200 registered family day-care homes are inspected each year, leaving more than two-thirds unchecked.
"Current law has limited the ability for state officials to adequately protect children from potentially dangerous situations," she added. "Family day-care facilities are required to hold a two-year registration certificate, so it would be logical to require all of these facilities to be inspected at least once during that two-year period. The health and safety of our children demand this oversight be rectified."
More information about the issue is available by contacting Youngblood's constituent service office at 215-849-6426, or visiting her Web site at www.pahouse.com/youngblood.
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