DCCA acting Secretary Melvin O. Faisao said they discussed the standards of agencies that deal with protecting children placed in out-of-home care settings or child care centers, and in-home care settings, or relative care providers.
“All children, regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, or social economic status, deserve nurturing and protection and this is imperative for agencies in the CNMI,” Faisao said.
He added, “All parents value a safe and nurturing setting with appropriate regulations that provide oversight and monitoring using equal standards.”
All licensed child care providers, he said, should “recognize the value of positive and appropriate monitoring that ensure equal protection and stimulate quality child care programs.”
He said agencies should also look into the qualifications and training of child caretakers or workers, the staff-child ratio, as well as age appropriate activities, furnishings and learning opportunities.
“These factors are the essential building blocks that could help the agencies achieve high quality child care programs, and reduce long-range risks to the social, academic and economic success of the children,” Faisao said.
Faisao said the session on Sunday was made possible through the support of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and the Child Care Bureau Administration for Children and Family of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service.
Among the participating agencies were the Division of Environmental Quality, the Bureau of Environmental Health Services, the fire division, the Division of Youth Services and the Saipan Zoning Office.
