Publications
MACCP provides its members with the latest publications, informational articles, sample documents, and reports that address the important issues facing providers. Please fill out the publication request form to receive them electronically via email.
- #100 Sample Personnel Policy Manual
Association attorneys recommend that all providers, regardless of the size of their workforce, develop a comprehensive personnel policy manual which defines the nature of the employment relationship and establishes all other employment policies and practices of the provider in writing. This 24 page Sample Personnel Policy Manual was developed by association attorneys to serve a model which providers may use in developing their own personnel policy manual. Request Publication >> - #101 Reduce the Risk of Employment Discrimination Claims
All employers, regardless of the size or composition of their workforce, should be keenly aware of the risk of a discrimination allegation. This publication provides a general overview of written policies and procedures which may help to minimize the risk of employment discrimination claims. Request Publication >> - #102 Sample Job Application
Child care providers must assume the responsibility for the assessment and selection of suitable staff and volunteers. Job applications are an important tool which can assist providers in gathering information pertaining to a prospective employee's suitability to work in the child care setting. However, too often, child care professionals unintentionally pose unlawful pre-employment inquiries in an effort to learn more about a prospective employee's qualifications. This Sample Job Application was developed by Association attorneys to comply with relevant civil rights legislation including the Americans with Disabilities Act, which applies to employers with 15 or more employees. This Sample is intended to serve as a model which providers may use in drafting their own job application. Request Publication >> - #103 Complying with Wage and Hour Rules
This publication was developed by Association attorneys to serve as a guide to the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Regulations. Providers should utilize this document in an effort to assess compliance with these regulations. Member providers are urged to conduct a self-audit of their internal operations and contact an association attorney regarding any questions. Request Publication >> - #104 Notices to be Posted by Michigan Employers
Many child care professionals are unaware of the various state and federal laws which require specific notices to be posted in the workplace. Failure to comply with these laws can result in substantial monetary fines. This special report was prepared by Association attorneys to provide an overview of the various employment notices that are relevant to licensed child care facilities. Request Publication >> - #105 The Americans with Disabilities Act: Caring for Children with Special Needs
This publication provides a general overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Act protects disabled individuals, including disabled children, from discrimination and ensures their right to equal participation in the community. Child care providers should have a solid understanding of this law, which imposes a legal obligation upon child care providers to provide a reasonable accommodation to children with special needs. Request Publication >> - #106 Transporting Children: Are you at Risk?
With the continued growth of the child care profession, providers continue to expand the array of services developed for the convenience of families utilizing child care services. Transportation, for example, is no longer limited to the occasional field trip. Many providers offer enhanced transportation services which may include transporting children to and from home or another site such as the local preschool or kindergarten program. Providers should be keenly aware of the risk of personal and professional liability associated with transportation services. This purpose of this publication is to identify the various risks involved in transporting children, discuss the various risk management tools and practices which minimize risk and limit liability and to introduce the enhanced MACCP auto insurance program which was developed in response to providers' need for comprehensive insurance coverages. Request Publication >> - #107 Sample Child Care Contract
Child care agreements are legally enforceable documents. Poorly written contracts pose a substantial risk to a provider's business. All child care programs, regardless of size, should use a professionally developed and comprehensive child care contract. This Sample Child Care Contract and accompanying annotations are intended to serve as a guide which providers may use in drafting their own contract. Request Publication >> - #108 Recommendations for Handling Questionable Child Releases
Child care professionals and parents are keenly interested in the development and enforcement of child release policies and procedures which minimize, if not eliminate, the risk of a child being released to an unauthorized person. The potentially substantial risk of a child being released to an unauthorized person warrants comprehensive policies and procedures for routine releases as well as releases arising in difficult situations. This publication establishes several guiding principles which assist child care providers in developing and enforcing written child release policies which protect children from potentially dangerous situations, minimize professional liability and respect parental rights. Request Publication >> - #109 New Hire Reporting Requirements
In 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliatory Act was enacted, requiring employers to report certain information about their newly hired employees to a designated state agency. This publication provides a general overview of the new hire reporting requirements. Request Publication >> - #110 Assessing Good Moral Character in Prospective Employees and Volunteers
The selection of qualified individuals to work in a licensed child care organization is a challenging process. Employers must make professional judgments relating to the prospective employee's education, professional experience, references, good moral character and other related issues. This publication addresses the importance of assessing good moral character in employees and volunteers in the child care setting, and methods which providers can use in making such assessment. Request Publication >> - #111 Employee Bonuses
The U.S. Department of Labor has strict wage and hour regulations which govern the treatment of gifts and bonuses of all types which are given to employees. This publication provides a general overview of the wage and hour regulation pertaining to employee bonuses and gifts. Request Publication >> - #112 Playground Safety in Your Child Care Facility
As a child care provider, you want to provide the children in your care with a stimulating but safe environment in which to learn and play. However, the use of play equipment as well as the grounds themselves can lead to injuries. This publication, developed for MACCP by Star Insurance Company's Loss Prevention Department, discusses how providers can manage both present and potential dangers on the playground. Request Publication >> - #113 Insurance Recommendations for Child Care Providers
Without question, child care is a high risk profession. Thus, a comprehensive risk management plan must be developed in order to manage risk. A critical component of any risk management program is the selective purchase of numerous types of insurance. This purpose of this publication is to simplify complex insurance issues and identify those areas in which your child care program needs additional consultation. Request Publication >> - #114 Business Interruptions: Key Child Care Contract Provisions, Personnel Policies and Insurance Considerations
This publication was developed by Association attorneys to provide a general overview of issues which arise when a provider must temporarily close the program due to lack of electricity, disrupted telephone service, severe weather, outbreak of communicable disease, fire damage, and other similar situations which temporarily interrupt business operations. Request Publication >> - #115 Late Payments and Debt Collection
May child care providers encounter parents who fail to pay child care fees or who do not submit payment on a timely basis. While there are no guarantees that providers will receive 100% of their fees on time, there are a few sound measures that can help minimize loss. This publication provides recommendations as to what steps can be taken by providers in order to minimize unpaid or late child care fees. Request Publication >> - #116 The Importance of Workers' Compensation Coverage
This publication provides a brief overview of the workers' compensation law in Michigan and reiterates the importance to all child care providers of having workers' compensation coverage regardless if they are required by law to have such coverage in place. Request Publication >> - #117 Risk Management, Loss Control and Insurance
Loss control and safety are important elements of quality assurance for child care providers. This publication addresses a number of risk management, loss control and insurance topics of importance to child care providers. Request Publication >> - #118 Employment Related Matters
This publication addresses a number of employment related legal issues of importance to child care providers, including how to deal with unacceptable employee behavior and recommendations as to how to reduce the risk of wrongful discharge claims. Request Publication >> - #119 Recognizing Risk: An Update on Child Sexual Abuse
Although providers and their staff always strive to ensure the safety of the children in their care, incidents involving abuse and subsequent lawsuits do occur. This Confidential Special Report addresses a number of issues including recommendations as to how providers can minimize the risk and how they can protect themselves from allegations of abuse. Request Publication >> - #120 Caring for Severely Food Allergic Children: Some Key Legal Issues
Many providers have, at some time, struggled with the question of whether they should agree to care for a child with severe food allergies. Some providers feel the responsibility of caring for a child with a life-threatening food allergy is too great and will decline to accept or will disenroll the child. Providers must be keenly aware that a child with a severe allergy could be considered disabled under federal and/or state law. The purpose of this report is to share with providers some general information pertaining to severe food allergies in children, identify some key legal issues relating to the care of children with severe allergies, offer some recommendations as to how risk may be minimized and share with providers some additional sources of information pertaining to allergies. Request Publication >> - #121 15 Things You Can Do to Limit Your Exposure to Employment Claims and Lawsuits
This publication provides you with 15 tips to help you stay out of litigation regarding Employment Practices. Any one operating a business with employees is at risk to lawsuits, claims or government investigations for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, failure to correspond to handicapper's rights, and other issues. The information found in this publication will assist you in limiting your exposure. Request Publication >> - #122 Guide to Drafting Effective Child Care Contracts & Program Handbooks & Sample Handbook
We have compiled in one publication three of the most requested documents of the association attorneys. The sample documents found in this publication will help you when drafting, interpreting, and enforcing child care contracts and program handbooks. It provides you with actual samples that have been drafted to assist you in utilizing comprehensive and professionally drafted forms. The program handbook provides a detailed explanation of the child care providers' policies and procedures. Request Publication >> - #123 Personnel Records May Be the Landmine Your Company Never Expected
The association attorneys have compiled information on what should be kept out of personnel files; when can an employee review, copy, and file a response to his or her personnel file; taking caution on releasing records; keeping separate files in some cases, and many other important recommendations. This publication is designed to help you examine certain key issues to employment records and to inform you on common pitfalls to avoid. Request Publication >>