Security Services for Childcare Facilities

No. Each of my services is available individually or as part of a Security Director on Demand contract.

I do all of the work myself. I do not hand your project to subcontractors.

No. I do not sell security guards, alarms, cameras, or any other products or equipment, so my advice for your childcare facilities is independent.

The cost depends on the services you choose and the size and needs of your facility. As an example, a medium-sized, single-location childcare facility would pay approximately $800 per month over the course of the year under a Security Director on Demand contract and would receive: a full review and updates to all emergency plans, monthly meetings and updates, monthly drills and/or training as needed, reviews of operations to ensure compliance with security plans, unlimited consultations on investigative matters, up to two initial threat assessments every month, and the ability to contact me on an as-needed basis during typical business hours.

The services listed above are just one example of what the Security Director on Demand contract covers. During our initial consultations, I can work to tailor the contract to your specific needs. For example, I can add 15 Level 2 background investigations to use over the 12 months.

Yes. My physical security audit evaluates pick-up and drop-off areas and visitor and parent check-in and access procedures, and my threat assessment work covers custody disputes and unauthorized pickup attempts.

Yes. I conduct independent, confidential investigations of allegations involving staff, volunteers, and others, and I report my findings to you in writing. Serious allegations involving a child should be reported to law enforcement or child protective services right away, and I coordinate with them as appropriate.

Yes. I review your pick-up and check-in procedures, train your staff to handle custody disputes and unauthorized pickup attempts calmly, and develop plans for the situations that follow. Virginia requires licensed centers to keep an authorized pick-up list for each child and to keep legal paperwork on file when a custodial parent asks that a child not be released to the other parent, and I help you build procedures and train your staff to apply them consistently. When a parent or another person becomes a threat, I assess and investigate the threat, then develop threat mitigation plans. I do not give legal advice, so I recommend that you consult your attorney about custody orders.

Yes. I can conduct background investigations of teachers, administrative staff, contractors, and recurring volunteers. I can also screen staff and volunteers under 18 with parental or guardian consent.

Virginia requires licensed child day centers to complete a sworn statement, a national fingerprint check, a Virginia Central Registry search, and out-of-state searches before staff work alone with children and every five years afterward. Those checks go through the Virginia Department of Education, so my background investigations add to them and do not replace them. Depending on the level, I add 50-state criminal history checks, employment verification, civil court record checks, open-source and social media research, and interviews of the subject and witnesses. Source: Code of Virginia § 22.1-289.035

During our initial consultation, I can recommend what level of background investigation is needed for your staff based on their access to children and their position.

Licensed child day centers in Virginia must have a written emergency preparedness plan, developed with local or state authorities, that covers evacuation, shelter-in-place, and lockdown, including reunification with parents. Centers must hold an evacuation drill every month, shelter-in-place drills at least twice a year, and a lockdown drill at least once a year, and they must document each drill. Source: Virginia Administrative Code, 8VAC20-780-550

I help you write, test, and drill your plans and train your staff to carry them out. Requirements differ for family day homes, religiously exempt centers, and some other program types, and Virginia's licensing rules can change, so please confirm your current requirements with the Virginia Department of Education.

Yes. I audit, test, and update your plans for missing children and parent reunification, and I train and run drills with your staff.

No. I do not provide security guards, classroom aides, or other childcare staff, and I do not sell products. Instead, I provide services such as Security Director on Demand, threat assessment and management, and emergency procedures to help you prevent and respond to problems. I can also audit your facilities, investigate incidents, and train your staff to carry out your plans.

Yes. I work with single facilities and operators with multiple locations throughout Northern Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. I can audit each location and build consistent plans, training, and procedures across all of them.