Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Early Care Regulation
Child Care Certification Policy Manual
Certification workers may talk with children about their child care experience during routine monitoring visits. Occasionally, the certification worker may talk with a group of children collectively and generally during the course of an investigation. This informal conversation is not the structured interview of a particular child(ren) described below.
Typically, certification workers would not interview child care children during a complaint investigation. However, the certification worker will attempt to obtain information from people with knowledge about the allegations in the complaint, and, in unusual situations, this may include a particular child or children. For example, the certification worker may find that only an involved child can provide information regarding a complaint about safety concerns when the county CPS agency is not investigating. The certification worker should always try to obtain all necessary information from the most knowledgeable source other than a child first. If the certification worker believes a child must be interviewed, s/he is encouraged to consult with his / her supervisor and receive approval and guidance and / or follow agency protocol before proceeding.
If it is necessary to conduct a formal interview of a child, the certification worker should follow agency protocol, which may include any or all of the following:
Obtain parental permission. This applies to operators / providers regarding their own children as well as parents of child care children.
Request the parent to be present during the interview. Parents may be instructed to let the child talk freely and not contribute unless specifically asked for information. Older, articulate children may be interviewed without a parent present with the parent’s permission.
Conduct the interview in the least stressful setting for the child. Strive to make the interview as non-threatening as possible. Begin with rapport setting questions, for example, asking the child what s/he likes about the certified program.
This page last updated 07/29/2015.