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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Introduction: "Can My Child Care Program Be Sued?" | |
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| The Limits of This Book | |
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| Knowing the Right Thing to Do: Guidance from Legal History, Legal Theory, and Brain Research | |
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| Are Your Decisions "Fair Enough" or "No Fair!"? | |
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| Is One Decision-Making Process Fairer Than the Other? | |
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| Due Process Model of Fairness | |
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| How Rational Are Our Decisions? | |
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| Codes of Ethics | |
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| Case Study: Reporting Suspected Abuse | |
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| Acting Ethically While Reducing the Risks of a Lawsuit | |
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| A Theoretical Framework to Reduce the Risks of a Lawsuit | |
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| Case Study: Handling Different Religious Beliefs | |
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| Self-Protection Checklist | |
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| Reducing Conflicts with Parents: Using Contracts and Policies Effectively | |
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| Setting Your Own Rules | |
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| Restrictions on Your Contract and Policies | |
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| Payment Schedules | |
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| Case Study: Offering Customized Payment Plans | |
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| Rate Structures | |
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| Case Study: Handling the Loss of Funding | |
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| Making Your Contract and Policies Work for Everyone | |
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| Building Partnerships with Families: Preventing Sticky Situations and Promoting Clear Expectations | |
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| When Teachers Babysit for Program Families | |
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| Case Study: Pros and Cons of Babysitting | |
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| Authorized Lists for Pickup | |
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| Case Study: Documenting Custody Rights | |
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| Instituting a Safe-Departure Policy | |
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| Case Study: Safety Concerns at Release Time | |
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| Introducing New Policies to Families | |
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| Keeping Your Child Care Center Safe for Everyone: Prevention Strategies | |
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| Your Legal Duty | |
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| An Ounce of Prevention | |
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| Caring for Sick and Injured Children | |
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| Keeping Children Safe When Outside and Away | |
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| Child Abuse | |
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| Sex Offenders | |
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| Minority Rights: Whose Differences Are Protected? | |
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| Balancing Minority and Majority Needs | |
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| Immigrants in America | |
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| Case Study: Immigrant Family Rights | |
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| English-Language Learners | |
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| Case Study: Helping English-Language Learners | |
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| LGBT Children and Families | |
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| Case Study: Addressing Concerns | |
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| Children with Disabilities | |
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| Case Study: Working with Parents | |
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| Privacy and Confidentiality in the Internet Age | |
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| Ethical and Legal Issues | |
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| Common Privacy Concerns | |
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| Internet Challenges | |
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| When Your Center's Reputation Is Attacked on the Internet | |
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| Licensing Records | |
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| Staff Issues | |
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| Employee Hiring Process: Ethical and Legal Policies | |
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| Obtaining References of Substance | |
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| Case Study: Contacting References | |
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| Drafting Job Descriptions | |
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| Writing Job-Interview Questions | |
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| Asking Appropriate Interview Questions | |
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| Changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) | |
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| Case Study: Disabilities and Reasonable Accommodations | |
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| Awareness of Cultural Differences in the Hiring Process | |
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| Case Study: Being Culturally Aware | |
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| Supervision Challenges: Stepping Up to the Plate | |
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| Facing the Discomfort of Confrontation | |
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| Case Study: Managing a Resistant Employee | |
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| The Probationary Period | |
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| Employment "At Will" | |
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| Progressive Discipline Steps | |
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| Returning to Employment "At Will" | |
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| Grounds for Immediate Termination | |
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| Confronting Difficult-to-Document Behavior | |
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| Complying with ADAAA Requirements on Disciplinary Action | |
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| Case Study: Disciplinary Action and Disability | |
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| Case Study: Addressing Highly Sensitive Issues | |
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| Confidentiality Requirements | |
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| Insurance: Are You Fully Covered? | |
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| What Does Insurance Protect? | |
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| Vehicle Insurance | |
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| Visitors and Workers on Your Premises | |
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| Directors' and Officers' Insurance | |
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| Shopping for Insurance and an Insurance Agent | |
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| Insurance Coverage Limits | |
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| Liability Waivers | |
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| Appendix: Helpful Websites | |
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| References | |
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| Index | |
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| About the Authors | |