The Perry County Health Department (PCHD) is contracted with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) to inspect Child Care Facilities. For more information, log on to MO DHSS here. Inspections are conducted at each site to assure that safe sanitation measures are being implemented.

Facilities inspected by the PCHD include, Family Home Child Care, Group Child Care Facilities (total capacity limit 20) and Child Care Centers (capacity greater than 20). A list of Perry County Child Care facilities can be obtained by calling the PCHD at 573-547-6564 or logging onto the MDHSS Web at Show Me Child Care in Missouri.

Child care may be provided in a family child care home, a group home, a child care center, or a licensed-exempt facility (nursery school or a facility run by a religious organization). Licenses are issued to family child care homes, group homes and child care centers based on compliance with state regulations. Nursery schools and child care programs operated by religious organizations (called license-exempt facilities) are not required to be licensed. Child care is regulated through various aspects such as staffing and education, the ratio of children to adults and the ages of the children. Sanitation rules apply as well as childhood injury prevention and fire safety. Background screenings are required in addition to staff training and education, environmental health issues, physical plant requirements, space requirements and equipment requirements, all designed to make the child care setting a safe place.

A Child Care Health Consultation Program is available here at the Perry County Health Department.

What services are offered?

• Consultation at child care homes, group homes, or centers regarding child health and safety concerns
• Training for child care providers to improve their knowledge of healthy and safe practices, (Training clock hours are awarded to child care staff.)
• Education and consultation for family members of children enrolled in a child care facility, and
• Health Promotion presentations for children in child care settings

Topics may include:

• Communicable Disease
• Immunization
• Sanitation
• Children with Special Needs
• Dental Health
• Handwashing
• Emergency Preparedness
• First Aid/CPR
• Nutrition
• Injury Prevention and Safety
• Head Lice
• and many others