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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPIN_20-01-CCP January 10, 2020 PIN 20-01-CCP TO: ALL CHILD CARE FACILITY LICENSEES Original signed by Pamela Dickfoss FROM: PAMELA DICKFOSS Deputy Director Community Care Licensing Division SUBJECT: REQUIRED LEAD TESTING FOR DRINKING WATER IN LICENSED CHILD CARE CENTERS AND THE PROVISION OF LEAD EXPOSURE INFORMATION TO PARENTS AND GUARDIANS BY ALL LICENSED CHILD CARE FACILITIES AUTHORITY: Health and Safety Code 1596.7996, 1597.16 Provider Information Notice (PIN) Summary PIN 20-01-CCP provides information regarding compliance with the requirement for lead testing of drinking water in child care centers as mandated in AB 2370, Chapter 676, Statutes of 2018, and a summary of the information that licensed child care facilities must provide to parents and guardians of new enrollees and re-enrollees regarding the dangers of lead exposure. Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal that has been used in many products. It is found throughout the environment including air, soil, and water. Drinking and cooking water must be tested for lead because it is impossible to see, taste, or smell it. Boiling water does not reduce lead content. Even small amounts of lead exposure can make it difficult for children to learn, pay attention, and succeed in school. Higher amounts of lead exposure can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and other major organs. Very high exposure to lead can cause seizures or death. Children under 6 years old are most at risk, particularly infants. Lead can slow down growth and development, harm a child’s nervous system and impact brain development. PIN 20-01-CCP Page Two Child Care Center Lead Testing of Drinking Water Requirement Assembly Bill (AB) 2370, Chapter 676, Statutes of 2018 requires: Health and Safety Code section 1597.16 requires that all licensed Child Care Centers (CCCs) that were constructed before January 1, 2010, must test their water for lead within a three-year window, between January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2023, with subsequent testing every 5 years after the date of the first test. Only CCCs are required to test drinking and cooking water for lead. The requirement does not apply to Family Child Care Homes (FCCHs). CCC Directives Prior to January 1, 2023, all licensed CCCs must test all cold-water drinking water outlets used for drinking or cooking. Child Care Program Office will soon publish and post written directives setting forth the procedures by which CCCs are required to test their facility’s water for lead, including detailed water sampling instructions. The program will publish and post the directives in a forthcoming Provider Information Notice (PIN) distributed and posted on the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) website. The written directives will provide specific steps for the collection and testing of water samples, and the communication of test results to parents, guardians, and CDSS. The directives will also outline the requirements for corrective action plans if an exceedance of lead is discovered. The Department has followed guidance from the US Environmental Protection Agency’s 3Ts (Training, Testing and Taking Action) program for reducing lead in drinking water in schools and child care facilities, along with recommendations from the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water (DDW), in developing these testing procedures. Grant Funding Senate Bill (SB) 862, Chapter 449, Statutes of 2018 allocated $5 Million to the State Water Resource Control Board for testing and remediation of lead in CCCs. Funding for CCCs will be prioritized by the following: 1. Those that serve children zero to five years of age, with the highest priority for centers that provide care for children zero to three years of age. 2. Those that have 50 percent or more of their registered children who receive subsidized care. 3. Those that operate only one facility. Grant funding will soon be available to qualifying CCCs. In early 2020, potentially eligible CCCs will receive instructions for completing an electronic survey. Information provided via the survey will be used to determine which CCCs qualify for grant funding. PIN 20-01-CCP Page Three Lead Flyer Requirement Health and Safety Code 1596.7996, mandated that, effective January 1, 2019, CCCs and FCCHs are required to provide parents and guardians of children enrolling or reenrolling in care with written information on the risks and effects of lead exposure, blood lead testing requirements and recommendations, and options for locations of affordable blood lead tests as specified. A Lead Poisoning Facts Flyer was created, in partnership with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), to satisfy this requirement. This flyer must be provided to parents and guardians upon enrolling or reenrolling any child in care. Additional Resources • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) infographic that illustrates sources of water that may contain lead. • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) link to Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention. • California Department of Public Health (CDPH) link to Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch . • President’s Task Force on Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks to Children. • EPA 3Ts for Reducing Lead is Drinking Water Toolkit. • Horsley Witten Group’s Managing Lead in Drinking Water at Schools and Early Childhood Education Facilities. • American Academy of Pediatrics - Prevention of Childhood Lead Toxicity. If you have any questions, please contact your Local Regional Office.