Some South Carolina Childcare Centers Did Not Always Comply With State Health and Safety Licensing Requirements

Although the South Carolina Department of Social Services (State agency) had conducted the required monitoring at all four of the childcare providers that we reviewed, this monitoring did not always ensure that providers that received funds from the Child Care and Development Fund complied with State licensing requirements related to the health and safety of children. Specifically, all four of the childcare providers that we visited did not comply with the childcare center physical condition requirements, which had previously been cited by the State agency. Nor did the four childcare providers comply with caregiver documentation requirements such as training and discipline statements. One provider did not comply with children's immunization record requirements. The instances of noncompliance occurred because the State agency did not conduct followup monitoring to ensure that the providers rectified previous instances of noncompliance or took proactive steps to remain compliant with all State regulations.

We recommended that the State agency (1) ensure that childcare providers adhere to all requirements for the health and safety of children, (2) ensure that childcare providers obtain all required training and discipline statements for all employees who provide direct services to children, and (3) ensure that required immunization documentation is included in the children's records. The State agency generally concurred with our recommendations and provided information on actions that it has taken or plans to take to address our recommendations.