Home Alone Guideline

Reports alleging inadequate supervision or childcare arrangements may be screened in for a child protection response, including children ages:

  • 7 and under left alone for any period of time
  • 8-10 left alone for more than three hours
  • 11-13 left alone for more than 12 hours
  • 14-15 left alone for more than 24 hours
  • 16-17 may be left alone for more than 24 hours with a plan in place concerning how to respond to an emergency.

Reports alleging inadequate childcare arrangements may be screened in for a child protection response according to the following guidelines, children:

  • Under age 11 should not provide childcare
  • Ages 11-15 placed in a childcare role are subject to the same time restrictions of being left alone as listed above
  • Ages 16-17 may be left alone for more than 24 hours with adequate adult backup supervision.