Understanding and Improving Pest Management in Child Care Centers in New York

Abstract

Good quality child care is extremely important for working families and NY has over a ½ million children enrolled in a child care program. Two laws have been put into place in NY with the intent of safeguarding for young children enrolled in child care centers, the Child Safe Playing Fields Act and the Neighbor Notification Law, yet the status of pests and pest management is unclear. In addition, pests and pest management are a minute part of what child care personnel think about each day in a child care business; however, when pest activity occurs (such as ants in food, mouse droppings in toy bins, head lice on children, or a wasp sting), pests can become the #1 top priority of the day. Efforts to evaluate the pest management needs will help the NYS IPM Program develop tools to help child care staff prevent or handle pest issues while also protecting the health and safety of children and staff, assuring parents, and avoiding legal and financial liability for the business.