A: “Enrolled in” is defined as: having applied for or being on a list for an upcoming course which must be started within the quarter following the application for STAR Level 3.  ECSB will monitor the “enrolled in” staff, and if the participant(s) do not complete the course within 6 months of STAR 3 being awarded, the facility will lose their STAR Level 3 until this requirement is met, and would then have to re-apply for STAR 3.

The requirement at STAR 3 has been changed to the following:

• “If caring for infants and/or toddlers, PRIMARY caregivers are enrolled in or have completed the MT Infant Toddler Caregiver Education classes or its equivalent.”
• “If caring for preschoolers, PRIMARY caregivers are enrolled in or have completed the MT Preschool Caregiver Education classes or its equivalent.  (This can be waived if an individual is at a Level 4 or above on the Practitioner Registry, but the individual will not be eligible for a MT Preschool Caregiver Certificate and will not be eligible for incentives/stipends.)”

ECSB would encourage programs that may have long term staff which are not Primary Caregivers to build these courses into those individual’s Professional Development plan to take these courses within the next 2 years.

A:Yes. If you hold an infant license you will need to take trainings that are required for that age group. If you plan to never take a child under 24 months old you could also change your license to exclude infants.

A:  No, each STARS or QRIS program is different in every state.  We want participants to know about the MT STARS program which is covered in the required STARS Readiness Training.

A:  The age consideration for infants related to Safe Sleep is 0-24 months.

< A:  Yes, Inclusion I & II still need to be taken unless proof a college course specific to inclusive care has been successfully completed.  College courses that embed inclusive practices do not qualify for this requirement.  Please see earlier FAQ related to the preschool course & equivalents.

A:  If the ServSafe food safety is the same as provided through the MT Extension offices or your local health department it can count.  Thy syllabus would need to be reviewed to ensure that the material is the same.

A: Any staff person that administers medication, as defined by licensing, must take the Medication Administration courses.  This includes non-ingestible medication such as those listed below (as taken from the Non-Ingestible Over The Counter (OTC) Medication Authorization Form). 

• Diaper Rash Cream/Ointments
• Insect Repellent
• Sunscreen
• Cortisone/Anti-Itch Creams/Ointments
• Medicated Lip Treatments
• OTC Antibiotic Creams/Ointments
• Burn Creams/Sprays
• Other Non-Ingestible OTC’s

Coaches will be responsible for signing off that the staff administering medications have completed the Medication Administration courses.  Staff will be required to take a refresher course every 3 years once they have completed the full courses.

A:  Because the parent is acting as the parent to administer meds to their own child, this is permissible.  That said, I think it would still be necessary to follow appropriate, MCA specified procedures, i.e. have a signed authorization on file, medication in a container with the prescription label or directions for use (for OTC’s), record giving the medication on the Medication Administration Log (signed by the administering parent), and a Special Needs Health Care Plan on file for the child, if appropriate.  That documentation protects the business, not just the individual.

A:  If the program enrolled in results in achieving at least a Level 4 on the Career Path, it can be used as an equivalent to the Preschool Caregiver Course requirement.  The coursework would need to be college based.  To be considered “enrolled in” the program would have to be completed within a reasonable amount of time from the request to waive the class (no more than 2 years).

A: Programs need to consider the developmental levels of the children in their care. Developmental needs are individualized, and not all 2 year olds are alike. As a result, a program may want to consider sending some staff to the Infant Toddler course, and some staff to the Preschool course. The program would be expected to work with their coach to identify the best option for their program and then document the decision and justify why the decision was made.  For Family & Group Home providers, both courses need to be taken.  Consideration for which course is taken first could be based on the majority of the children in care currently.  Family and group home providers will have up to one (1) year to complete the other course in order to maintain a STAR Level 3.  This will need to be included in the provider’s Professional Development Plan, and turned in to ECSB with the required documents for STAR Level 3.  ECSB will be tracking this to ensure the class is completed within one (1) year.

A:  If an equivalent is accepted, this will be noted on the matrix itself with additional guidance, or will be posted on the training section of the website.

A:  This is a negotiation that can occur with individual R&R agencies.  The state, of course, is interested in R&R’s providing services in the interest of all providers, and would expect R&R’s to consider this in their decision making about this option. 

A:  According to the matrix, if an individual is at a Level 4 or higher on the Practitioner Registry, they do not have to take the preschool course.  However, the individual is not eligible to receive a certified preschool certificate either.