Each child may be released only to the child’s parent or person(s) authorized by the parent to take the child from the center and to assume responsibility for the child in an emergency if the parent cannot be reached.
If a non-custodial parent has been denied access or granted limited access to a child by court order, the center shall secure documentation to the effect, maintain a copy on file, and comply with the terms of the court order.
If the parent or person authorized by the parent fails to pick up a child at the time of the center’s daily closing, the center shall ensure that:
- The child is supervised at all time
- Staff members attempt to contact the parent or person authorized by the parent.
- An hour or more after closing time and provided that other arrangements for releasing the child to his/her parent or person authorized by the parent have failed and the staff member cannot continue to supervise the child at the center. The staff member shall call the 24-hour State Central Registry Hotline 877-NJ-Abuse to seek assistance in caring for the child until the parent or persons authorized by the child’s parent is able to pick up the child.
If the parent or persons authorized by the parent appears to be physically and or emotionally impaired to the extent that in the judgment of the staff member, the child would be placed at risk of harm if released to such an individual the center shall ensure that the following:
- The child may not be released to such an impaired individual
- Staff members attempt to contact the child’s other parent or alternative persons.
- If the center is unable to make alternative arrangements, a staff member shall call the 24-hour State Central Registry Hotline @ 877-NJ-Abuse to seek assistance in caring for the child.
For school-aged child care programs, no child shall be released for the program unsupervised except upon written instructions for the child’s parent.