Lead Information For Child Care Providers

Lead Safe Child Care in Connecticut

Connecticut laws protect children from lead paint hazards in family child care homes, group child care homes and child care centers. The laws apply to all child care facilities built before 1978 due to lead paint hazards.

Lead paint which was banned in the United States in 1978 continues to be the main cause of lead poisoning in children. Lead harms children's nervous systems and is associated with learning disabilities, reduced IQ, slow growth and behavioral problems. Lead paint that is chipping, flaking, peeling or cracking poses a hazard for children because lead paint chips and lead dust on the floor, window sill and window well may be swallowed by children crawling or playing in these areas.

For information on child care licensing click here. 

Family Child Care Homes

For Family Child Care Homes built before 1978, a interior and exterior visual inspection for lead paint is conducted by the day care licensing specialist. If peeling and chipping paint is observed during the inspection, a sample will be taken and sent to the state lab to determine if lead is present in the paint. If lead paint is found to present a hazard to children, it must be corrected.

Please be aware that for all family child care homes, if the water is not from a public water system, the provider will need to have the water tested for lead by a lab certified by the state. All child care homes that use a private well will have to have a water test that includes testing for lead. Water tests are required every two years. For a list of certified labs, click here.

For more information, please visit the OEC's Family Child Care Homes webpage.

Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers

For Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers, a full comprehensive lead inspection is required for buildings constructed prior to 1978. Any new centers must have the comprehensive lead inspection completed prior to opening. All existing centers should have copies of any previous comprehensive lead inspections on file and have inspections completed for any new room(s) or missed areas as soon as possible.

When a comprehensive lead inspection is required, a copy of the Lead Inspection Report, completed by the CT DPH licensed lead consultant, must be submitted to the OEC's Licensing Division. Please refer to the resources section below on how to locate a CT DPH licensed lead consultant.

If lead-based paint or lead hazards are not identified, no additional documents are required to be submitted.

If lead-based paint or lead hazards are identified, then the hazards must be corrected. Click here for more details.

Please note that Group Child Care Homes and Child Care Centers must submit a copy of their first draw water test for lead every 2 years for all water supplies regardless if the facility is on a public water supply or a private well to the OEC Licensing Division.

Steps to correct lead hazards will differ based on the type of license you have.

• Child Care Center  are required to remediate the identified lead hazards using an EPA-certified contractor trained in lead safe work practices. To find a certified contractor, see resources below

• Group Child Care operators:

  A. For those operating within a private family home, with a child under 6 years of age in residence it will be required to abate the identified lead hazards. 

B. For those operating within a facility or within a private family home with NO children under the age of 6 in residence it will be required to remediate the identified lead hazards, see resources below

• Family Child Care Homes providers (homes owned or rented with NO CHILDREN UNDER 6 IN RESIDENCE) are required to remediate lead hazards using an EPA-certified contractor trained in lead safe work practices.  To find a certified contractor, see resources below.

• Family Child Care Homes providers (homes owned or rented WITH CHILDREN UNDER 6 IN RESIDENCE) are required to abate the lead hazards identified during the lead inspection.  Per the CGS 19a-111-2, when lead hazards are identified in the home of a child under the age of 6 all hazards must be abated using a CT DPH licensed lead abatement professional.

When abatement is required, a Lead Abatement Plan (see resources below) must be developed and submitted to your Local Health Department District for review and approval prior to the start of abatement work. To find a CT DPH licensed lead consultant, see resources below. 

Contact a lead consultant or your Local Health Department for additional assistance and guidance.

   
Model Lead Hazard Remediation Plan for Child Day Care Facilities

• If lead hazards are found in your child care center or group child care home during the lead inspection you will be required to remediate those hazards using an EPA-certified contractor trained in lead safe work practices.

• Before work can begin, a Lead Hazard Remediation Plan is then required and must be submitted to your local health department or district for approval. This plan can be written by you (as the daycare operator) or a CT DPH licensed lead consultant. Click here for the model Lead Hazard Remediation Plan.

• Lead remediation work must be done using an EPA-certified contractor. The area(s) where the lead remediation work is being done must be closed off to children. To find an EPA-certified contractor, see resources below

Model Lead Management Plan

Child care providers must maintain painted surfaces that they know or suspect may contain lead-based paint to protect children from future exposure. Any intact surfaces and/or soil areas that were identified during the comprehensive lead inspection as containing lead-based paint are required to be monitored to ensure that they do not pose a hazards to the children in your care. This plan can be written by yourself or by the CT DPH licensed lead consultant. A model Lead Management Plan template can be found in the resources section below. 

Office of Early Childhood (OEC) Main Page

OEC Statutes & Regulations

CT DPH Lead Poisoning Prevention and Control Regulations

• EPA's RRP Pamphlet for Child Care Providers
• Lead Paint Safety – A Field Guide
• Steps to Lead Safe Renovation, Repair, and Painting
• Model Lead Hazard Remediation Plan for Child Care Facilities
• Model Lead Management Plan
• Model Lead Abatement Plan
• EPA-certified RRP lead contractors for remediation
• DPH Licensed Lead Consultants for lead inspections, clearance sampling and abatement plans.

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