• Lack of Supervision Guidelines
     
     
    Many individuals have questions regarding what age children may be left unsupervised. While there are no State laws regarding supervision of children, the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) has guidelines which we follow. The State guidelines are as follows:
     
    • Children eight (8) years or younger should NOT be left alone; 
    • Children between the ages of nine (9) years and Twelve (12) years, based on level of maturity, may be left alone for brief (less than two (2) hours) periods of time; and 
    • Children thirteen (13) years and older, who are at an adequate level of maturity, may be left alone and may perform the role of babysitter, as authorized by the parent, for up to twelve hours.
     
    There are sometimes circumstances where an unsupervised older child is at risk or where a younger child has the maturity level to be left alone or to care for other children. Some examples are:
     
    1. It may not be advisable to leave an older child who has a special condition or disability alone.
    2. Consideration may be given to a child younger than 13 years, who exhibits strong maturity skills and has participated in a course on babysitting, to be alone or to care for other children. Suggested questions to ask are: 
    • Does the child know the emergency plan for the family?
    • Does the child know the parent's phone numbers (work, home, cell)?
    • Can the child demonstrate the plan and recite the numbers?
    • What is the availability of the parent during this time?
    • Are there environmental factors that add further risk to the situation?
    • Are there factors that reduce risk, i.e. supportive/available neighbors?
     
    If you have specific questions concerning supervision guidelines, please contact the DFCS Customer Contact Center at 1-877-423-4746 (Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.). If you have questions and want to speak with the local Henry County DFCS office, please call  770-954-2014