April 26, 2010

Re: State Central Registry and Risk Evaluation Panel Assessment

Dear Provider:

On January 1, 2010, a new law went into effect prohibiting any owner, operator, volunteer or current or prospective employee of a DSS-licensed care facility from working in that facility if listed on the State Central Registry (SCR) as a perpetrator of a justified (valid) finding of abuse or neglect of a child. Exemptions exist if the Risk Evaluation Panel finds or the Division of Administrative Law rules that the individual does not pose a risk to children.

As of February 1, 2010, your center should have on file a properly completed SCR-1 for all staff hired prior to January 1, 2010. If any staff file does not have this form, complete it immediately. If a staff member discloses that he/she does have a valid finding recorded on the SCR, follow the steps outlined in the January 25, 2010, letter.

Any individuals you are considering hiring must complete an SCR-1. Prospective staff cannot be hired until an SCR-1 has been properly completed documenting the individual's statement that he/she does not have a valid finding recorded on the SCR. Should anyone disclose that he/she does have a valid finding, follow the steps outlined in the January 25, 2010, letter.

The SCR-1 was revised and replaced on the DSS website on February 15. Please be sure that prospective or existing staff members complete this version of the form.

The January 25, 2010, letter, as well as revised SCR forms, can be found on the Child Care Updates and Residential Licensing Updates sections of the DSS website.

Please contact Child Care Licensing at (225) 342-9905 or Residential Licensing at (225) 342-9734 with any questions or if you need additional information.

Sincerely,

Angie Badeaux Director, Child Care Licensing

Guy Sylvester Director, Residential Licensing