Georgia Child Care Facility Audit Checklist

Before any FCCLH in Georgia can obtain its Georgia childcare license, an on-site inspection must take place with a DECAL consultant to ensure it complies with state child care laws.

An FCCLH must fulfill certain criteria in order to pass inspection, such as having an emergency preparedness plan and manual hold policy in place. This checklist is intended to assist facility operators prepare for an upcoming inspection.

Preventative Maintenance

Preventative maintenance is a practice designed to avoid equipment failure and minimize downtime, making it especially vital for organizations that depend on their equipment for revenue-generating activities like fleet management, public works or any other sector. Preventative maintenance helps save both money and time.

Georgia requires that those wanting to open child care businesses meet strict licensing requirements. There is a detailed application process in order to secure either a Family Child Care Learning Home (FCCLH) or Center-Based Childcare Learning License (CCCL), starting with attending a six-hour licensing orientation course that teaches how to operate and comply with state regulations.

As part of their application for CCLC status, applicants should also make sure their planned facility complies with state child care laws by reaching out to local and state fire, zoning, building, and health agencies. In addition, CPR/first aid training should also be completed prior to seeking approval as well as 10 hours of online courses covering business management, leadership development, communication skills, professional development standards and early learning standards.

Food Preparation

Food preparation areas of childcare facilities must be separated from areas used for eating, playing, washing clothes, toilets and laundry (with the exception of family child care homes where separation may limit supervision). They should also be separate from sinks that are used for handwashing or formula/breast milk preparation – this way only food-related activities will occur within this space.

Temperature monitoring devices must be available to check that hot food reaches temperatures that will kill microorganisms and cold food stays at safe storage temperatures. Fahrenheit/Celcius thermometers should be preferred.

CCLC applicants must ascertain which local and state agencies have authority over the planned facility with regard to fire, zoning, building and health regulations; certificates from these bodies will need to be secured prior to construction commencing.

Safety

Georgia has strict licensing requirements that must be fulfilled in order to operate a child care facility, including an application process and site visit from DECAL consultant. FCCLHs must fulfill fire, zoning and building codes licensing requirements while CCLCs must fulfill educational director requirements. FCCLHs must attend mandatory six-hour licensure orientation; obtain CPR/first aid certifications; acquire 10 hours of training on topics like business management/leadership/communication/professional development/early learning standards as well as advocacy for children/families/families respectively.

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