Ask The Expert

Staff turnover and especially termination of an employee is a difficult situation that all child care programs are challenged with.  We understand the importance of trust in the child care field, as it is critical to relationships between children, caregivers and their families. We know that continuity of care is the goal when caring for young children.

When a provider has been terminated or is leaving a program, it is important for your facility to be honest with families. However, they also need to maintain confidentiality of the former employee. Your provider may give you basic information such as when the staff person’s last day will be or was. You may ask your provider how they plan to tell the children that their caregiver will not be coming back to the program and who will be working with them. You may also ask how the staff will be taking extra care in their interactions with the children to ease this transition time, until a new caregiver is in place and knows the children.

Even with the best communication regarding a provider leaving your program, some families will want to ask program leaders and/or other caregivers why the staff person left or is leaving. Keep in mind, your child care program will also be interested in maintaining the former employee’s confidentiality.

We know that reciprocal relationships with children, families, and providers are paramount to the child care field. The more that child care providers are transparent about difficult situations, such as staff turnover, the stronger your relationships will be and the stronger your child’s experience will be. To learn more about the specific laws and regulations in your area contact your state licensing agency: http://childcareaware.org/parents-and-guardians/parent-information/licensing.

Rose Segreti, Child Care Aware of America - Chief of Quality Initiatives

Rose Segreti has over 21 years of experience in the field of child care. Currently she is responsible for assisting in the implementation of quality initiatives and programs that include Respite Care programs with the Army, Marines, and Navy and oversight of the Army Child Care in Your Neighborhood program.She worked in a variety of settings including a large, multi-site child care center. She has facilitated quality improvements such as NAEYC accreditation of infant through 5 year old child care programs. She also worked at an educational publishing company, where she designed and provided training and technical assistance. She holds Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Wheelock College.