Health and Safety

When operating a facility that cares for young children, it is important to ensure the health and safety of the children, families, and staff you work with. Below are some resources that may come in handy to ensure your child care program is meeting health and safety standards.

Caring for Our Children: The Basics—Health and safety foundations for early care and education

Child Care Regulation Minimum Standards—Texas child care standards for centers, homes, and school-age providers

HealthyChildren.org (American Academy of Pediatrics)—Educational resources and tools about a variety of child health and wellness topics, including nutrition, fitness, oral health, sleep, media plans, immunizations, child development and more.

Information for Child Care Providers —Find additional support on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Child Care Regulation Licensing website, including forms, regulations, and resources.

Keeping Children Safe—Wherever You Go! poster to provide additional reminders and resources for keeping children safe in your care

Look Before You Lock—Informative resource about heatstroke in cars

National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education—Resources for state regulations and databases about health and safety standards across the nation

Out-of-State Resource Guide for Child Care Employees and Foster and Adoptive Parents– This resource guide contains contact information and instructions for obtaining background check information from other states and U.S. territories.

Reporting Child Abuse—Reporting can be difficult, but as mandated reporters, it is your duty to do so.

Safe to Sleep—Public education campaign providing additional resources about SIDS and safe infant sleep

Texas Child Care Regulation Background Information– Background check information for licensed homes, centers and school-age child care programs.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission—Recalls, safety education, and alerts