SF4770

Purpose

To strengthen child care safety by requiring formal training on abusive head trauma (AHT) for people who care for young children, with the goal of reducing injuries from shaking or other abuse.

Main Provisions

• Mandatory AHT training for all who care for children under school age, including directors, staff, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers.
• Training must occur at orientation and then every calendar year thereafter.
• Training length must be at least 30 minutes (one-half hour).
• Training content must cover:
  • Risk factors related to shaking infants and young children.
  • Ways to reduce the risk of abusive head trauma.
  • How license holders should communicate with parents about reducing the risk of AHT.
• Training completed during orientation can count toward inservice training requirements under subdivision 9.
• The state Department of Health (the commissioner) must provide a video presentation on the dangers of shaking infants and young children to be used with the annual training.
• License holders must post and maintain a poster (written or approved by the commissioner) that includes information on AHT risk factors and how to reduce the risk.
• The poster must be placed in a readily accessible and conspicuous location for staff, substitutes, volunteers, and visitors.

Training Details

• Before caring for children under school age, individuals must complete the required training.
• The annual training must be completed every year; orientation training can count toward annual requirements if applicable.
• The video resource is optional to use in conjunction with the annual training.

Poster and Communication Requirements

• A poster addressing AHT risk factors and prevention must be displayed.
• The poster must be approved or written by the commissioner.
• Placement must be easily accessible to staff, substitutes, and unsupervised volunteers, and clearly visible to families and visitors.

Compliance and Practical Effects

• Child care centers and license holders are responsible for implementing the training and poster requirements.
• The changes emphasize proactive education about preventing abusive head trauma and improving communication with families about prevention.

Related Legal Context

• This amendment modifies Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 142B.65, subdivision 7.

Relevant Terms abusive head trauma, AHT, shaken baby syndrome, shaking infants, infants, young children, child care centers, director, staff, substitutes, unsupervised volunteers, orientation, inservice training, subdivision 9, video presentation, poster, risk factors, means to reduce risk, license holder, commissioner, Minnesota Statutes 142B.65