BILL NUMBER: S4990

SPONSOR: BIAGGI
 
TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the social services law, in relation
to standards and training for child day care

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::

To ensure that child care providers receive training in Adverse Child-
hood Experiences (ACES), focused on understanding trauma and nurturing
resiliency.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::

Section 1 of this bill adds a new subparagraph (x) to paragraph (b) of
subdivision 3 of section 39o-a of the social services law to add train-
ing in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focused on understanding
trauma and nurturing resiliency, to the list of training topics current-
ly required for operators, program directors, employees and assistants
of family day care homes, group family day care homes, school-age child
care programs and child day care centers.
              

Section 2 requires the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to
issue regulations establishing that training with respect to ACEs be
included within the minimum health and safety training requirements for
child day care providers, including those that are otherwise legally
exempt from the provisions of section 390 of the social services law,
other than parents and other family members who provide care only for
child relatives.

Section 3 is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) harm children's developing brains
and bodies so profoundly that the effects show up decades later.  Nearly
20 years ago, the CDC-Kaiser Fermanente ACEs study showed that most
people have at least one ACE and that people with four or more are like-
ly to experience longterm and chronic health conditions. The CDS-Kaiser
study defined ACEs as: physical, emotional, and sexual abuse; physical
and emotional neglect; parental mental illness, substance abuse, or
incarceration; parental separation or divorce; and domestic violence.
More recent research confirms a strong correlation between a high ACES
score and various behavioral problems, as well as numerous health prob-
lems, including chronic diseases, mental health disorders, and substance
abuse disorders*.  Moreover, recent work by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris** is
further connecting the dots between those traumatic experiences and
physical ailments that are all too common among children, such as ADHO,
diabetes, and asthma.

In addition to long-term effects, e child exposed to, severe, chronic,
or prolonged adversity is likely to experience it immediate symptoms
that significantly impact learning and behavior during childhood,
including jumpiness, interrupted sleep, intrusive thoughts, inability to
focus, difficulty organizing or processing information, and trouble
problem-solving or planning. Also, many children who experience ACEs
demonstrate feelings of frustration, worry, and anxiety. In a. day care
setting, these symptoms can be misinterpreted as poor behavior. Training
in ACEs, focused on understanding childhood trauma and on nurturing
resilience, will not only make a positive difference for these children
in the short-term, it may make a profound difference in their quality of
life as adults.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::

2017-18: A.11081- Referred to Children & Families

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE::

180 days after it shall have become law; authorization provided for
agency to add, amend or repeal any rule or regulation necessary for the
implementation of the act on or before the effective date.

*The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the
nation, with emphasis on reducing the impact of mental illness and
substance abuse on America's communities.

**Pediatrician, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, founder and CEO of the Center
for Youth Wellness in San Francisco and author of The Deepest Well:
Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity