The health and safety of children are very important to the Caldwell County Health Department. Child care facilities are inspected in accordance with 15A NCAC 18A.2800 "Rules Governing the Sanitation of Child Day Care Facilities". Registered Environmental Health Specialists inspect child care facilities at least once every six months to ensure that basic sanitation standards are met. These standards include:
- Proper handwashing and techniques
- Approved water supply and wastewater disposal
- Proper food-handling
- Diaper changing
- Approved storage of chemicals, medicines, and supplies
- Safe and clean facilities
At the end of each inspection, the facility receives a sanitation classification of superior, approved, provisional, or disapproved. If a facility receives a provisional or disapproved classification, the operator and the Registered Environmental Health Specialist will discuss a corrective action plan to correct the violations within a specific time frame before re-inspection.
Schools are inspected by Registered Environmental Health Specialist at least once per year to ensure that basic sanitation standards are met in accordance with 15A NCAC 18A.2400 "Rules Governing the Sanitation of Public, Private, and Religious Schools."