IMPORTANT NOTICE: In 2003, Maryland 's Child Passenger Safety Law changed to provide more protection for children. Under this change, all children younger than 6 years old, regardless of weight, or who weigh 40 pounds or less, regardless of age, must be secured in a federally approved child safety seat according to the safety seat and vehicle manufacturers' instructions. If you would like to learn more about this law, or would like information on selecting or using child safety seats, please call Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (Maryland KISS) at 410-767-6016 or log on to www.mdkiss.org.

PROVIDERS, PLEASE NOTE!

All family child care registration applicants and providers who wish to care for children under the age of 2 years must first complete an OCC-approved SIDS training course.

OCC-approved SIDS training is available through:

·       Colleges and universities

·       The 45 clock-hour Infant/Toddler course

·       Local health departments

·       Child Care Resource and Referral Centers

·       Abilities Network - Project ACT

·       Certain workshops and courses offered by 

       OCC-approved trainers and training agencies 

       (check with your OCC regional licensing office for a listing)

Approved training is also available online at the following websites:

• http://www.educarer.org - "SIDS Course" - The course itself is free, but the certificate of completion (which you will need in order to document compliance with the training requirement) costs $10.
• http://www.carecourses.com - "Infant Safety E-Course" - The course costs $10, but this includes the fee for a certificate. Please note that these online courses are produced in other states. However, the course contents are fully approved by OCC as meeting Maryland child care requirements.

Please note that these online courses are produced in other states.  However, the course contents are fully approved by OCC as meeting Maryland child care requirements.

OCC Regional Licensing Offices also conduct SIDS training sessions for providers. There is no cost for these sessions. Please contact your Regional Office for more information.

If you would like information about OCC's:

·       Child Care Subsidy Branch, click HERE

·       Credentialing Branch, click HERE

·       Program Development Branch, which administers the Child Care Quality Incentive Grant and the Family Day Care Provider Grant Program, click HERE

…or, if you would like to explore a variety of Internet sites containing a wide range of child care-related information of particular interest to parents and child care professionals, click HERE

OCC Region X Staff