§ 48-A.09 — Personnel; Qualifications; Ratios; Records

§ 48-A.09 Personnel; Qualifications; Ratios; Records.

(a) A director shall be in charge of the staff and program at a year-round after-school or youth center who shall have a degree from a four year college or university or its equivalent as determined by the Department, shall be twenty-one (21) years of age or older, and shall have satisfactory experience in recreational, educational, cultural, child development or community organization programs for children or youth or equivalent experience acceptable to the Department. (b) Group leaders in year-round after-school or youth centers shall be at least nineteen (19) years of age, shall have at least one year of college or university education, and shall have at least six months satisfactory experience in recreational, educational, cultural, child development or community organization programs for children or youths or equivalent experience acceptable to the Department. (c) Satisfactory experience for the purposes of this section shall include at least 24 months of satisfactory experience in an area related to the kinds of programs operated by year-round after-school or youth centers and shall include experience in leadership, supervision or administration of children or youths in a group setting. (d) An auxiliary assistant shall be at least sixteen (16) years of age, shall assist the director and group leaders, and shall not function in a group leader's role. (e) There shall be at least one group leader for every 10 children 6 to 10 years of age, 1 group leader for every 15 children or youths 11 to 14 years of age and 1 group leader for every 20 youths 15 to 18 years. (f) Centers with swimming pools or other waterfront facilities shall have a water safety instructor in charge for each group of not more than twenty-five (25) children bathing at any given time. The water safety instructor shall be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, hold a current American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor's Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by another organization with equivalent standards, and shall have at least one year of previous experience as a lifeguard or water safety instructor. The water safety instructor shall be assisted by a senior lifeguard who shall be at least seventeen (17) years of age and hold a current American Red Cross Senior Lifesaving Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by another organization with equivalent standards. A senior lifeguard may supervise the pool or waterfront activity provided there are not more than ten (10) children or youths bathing at the time. However, there shall also be a combined staff-child or youth ratio of 1:4 at the pool or other waterfront facility at all times while the children or youths are bathing. (g) Centers providing gymnastic activities shall have a gymnastic instructor who shall be twenty-one (21) years of age, with a degree in physical education from a four year college or university or its equivalent as determined by the Department. He shall be proficient in every phase of gymnastic activities and shall be responsible for the health and safety of the children and youths in the use of gymnastic equipment. (h) Each staff member's application shall be kept on file by the center's director which shall contain information including character references, ages, education, experience, relevant physical and mental conditions and handicaps, abilities and certifications. Proof of educational qualifications and experiences shall be maintained in the center's file for verification by the Department.