JEFFERSON COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) - Childcare facilities in Jefferson County will all have to meet a new set of minimum standards starting next year.

It's an effort to ensure that children are getting proper instruction and nutrition.

Tax exempt facilities have been exempt from federal child nutrition requirements.

But these new regulations will ensure that those facilities will not only be inspected... But will also meet the same standards as independent childcare centers.

Rene Sinsky is an Environmental Health Supervisor with the Jefferson County Department of Health.
 
She says, "We are attempting to bring all of the day care facilities in Jefferson County up to minimum standards... It's not heavy handed, It's very basic such as being clean, in good repair, and serving a well balanced meal."

It may sound simple, but in the past there have been cases where childcare facilities were operating with just one teacher to dozens if not scores of kids.

Joan Wright with Childcare Resources helped write the new regulations that ensure a more balanced ratio in the classroom.

"So what this does it allows a greater opportunity for regular ongoing inspection and oversight in programs that may not have that. They may not have someone mandating requirements as to ratios of teachers to students, of background checks, exposure to screen time as to videos and watching TV all the time." 

And the new laws will also ensure that kids are getting balanced meals and nutritious snacks in an effort to reduce childhood obesity.

"I'd say most of the children that are in these daycares eat breakfast and lunch and have several snacks during the day at the daycare... Five days a week they are getting a major part of their calories at the daycare."