Environmental Health (Sanitation)

Child Care

• Annual sanitation inspections have been conducted in all regulated child care facilities since October of 1997. County and City health agency personnel are contracted to conduct the sanitation inspections.

• Annual sanitation inspections are conducted to protect children in and out of home care from environmental hazards such as exposure to disease, harmful chemicals and lead hazards.

• Approximately 7500 inspections (initial, annual, re-inspection, complaint, lead) are conducted each year.

• On average 58% of family homes required a re-inspection. 2% of the family homes have 10 or more non-compliances

• On average 41% of centers, group homes, and license-exempt facilities require a re-inspection, 10% of larger facilities have 10 or more non-compliances.

• Approximately 458 lead assessments have been conducted in child care facilities since the inception of the program. Approximately 10,200 children have been protected from exposure to lead hazards.

•  The most common non-compliance cited in sanitation inspections is improper storage of food, toxic chemicals, and medicines, which increase the risk of children ingesting harmful substances.

See publications for the link to Sanitation Inspection Guidelines for Family Child Care Homes and for the Sanitation Inspection Guidelines for Group Child Care Homes, Child Care Centers and License-Exempt Child Care Facilities.