HEALTH

The health of the children and staff is of major importance to the Child Development Lab. Each child in the Lab is required to have a file, which contains the necessary enrollment, medical, and additional forms requested by local health and state licensing regulation.

The Director refers to the Enrollment Retention section for information on the required enrollment forms. The CDL cannot accept children without proper medical records.

The Director is responsible for ensuring that staff provide a model of good health and follow health regulations for the Lab. The Director provides training to staff.

To reduce and/or minimize the spread of infection in the Lab, the Director is responsible for implementing health practices, including but not limited to, illness, dispensing of medication, laundry procedures, handwashing procedures and appropriate naptime procedures related to the health and safety of the children.

Illness

The following guidelines, in addition to local health and licensing regulations, are used in determining if a child should be kept out of the Lab.

• If the child shows signs of a communicable disease (temperature, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.) he/she should not be brought the CDL, as this may expose the other children and the CDL staff. We are not able to make special arrangements for isolation of children who are brought to school sick. In the event a child becomes ill while at the CDL, the parent/guardian will be contacted to make immediate arranges for picking the child up. If the child is running a temperature, the parent should keep him/her home until the temperature has been normal for 48 hours. The parent should keep the child home if he/she has vomited during the night or on the morning of school. Parents should read the Communicable Disease Chart.
• The CDL will not administer medications, topically or orally, to any child. If a child requires medication during the school day a parent or other authorized adult (in writing) must administer the medication.
• The parent/guardian must provide valid emergency telephone numbers to the CDL and must pay for any emergency services rendered by a medical facility.
• The CDL will not withhold any food components of our meals or snacks from any child without a written statement from a doctor indicating that it is medically necessary due to allergies or other medical reasons.

Children with Major Health Problems/Disabilities

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits the CDL from discriminating against any individual on the basis of a disability in the full and equal use of the Lab's services. This means that the CDL, along with other child care providers, is required to provide service to children with a variety of disabilities, sensory impairments (hearing/sight), and other health impairments, including AIDS. The CDL is required to make reasonable accommodations and modifications in order to offer child care services to disabled child, unless the fundamental nature of the child care service will be altered in so doing.

When a parent inquires about enrolling a child with a major health problem or disability, the Director takes the following steps:

1. The Director informs the parent that the Lab looks at each admission individually.
2. The Director informs the parent that in the case of a child with a disability or major health problem, additional information needed, including:
   • Health history information
   • Statement from child's physician
3. The Director informs the parent that the staff will be consulted with to review the request for admission of the child. The Director tells the parent that the review is made to ensure that the CDL can meet the child's needs.
4. An interview will be set up with the child to assess whether the program will be beneficial.
5. The Director refrains from making any other statements or promises about enrollment.

The Lab's goal is to serve as many children as possible; however, because each child and disability varies so greatly in terms of what can be done in a way of accommodation, modification etc., the Lab must carefully review each request for enrollment.

Health Practices

Proper handwashing by all staff and children is critical to reducing the spread of infection in the Lab. The Director posts the Handwashing Procedure at all sinks. Staff and children wash their hands:

• Upon arrival at the Lab
• Before preparing food or eating
• After toileting, assisting in bathroom
• After handling body fluids, secretions, demonstrating nose wiping
• After handling soiled clothing or other contaminated items
• After handling animals
• Before and after applying first aid
• After coming in from outdoors
• After any cleaning duty

The Director is responsible for monitoring handwashing procedures of the staff and children to ensure compliance with this policy. The Director provides feedback, praise and/or counseling where necessary.

Sanitizing

Laundry Procedure

Proper laundry procedures are necessary for preventing the spread of infectious diseases in the Lab. The Director implements the following procedures:

1. Sheets, towels and other laundry that is known to be contaminated shall be placed in a red safety container until laundered.
2. Sheets and blankets are taken home weekly to be washed.
3. All employees handling laundry are required to wear latex gloves.
4. Every load of laundry is washed in hot water using laundry soap and chlorine bleach or other mean of decontamination.
5. Children's soiled clothing is not rinsed or washed at the Lab but placed in a plastic bag and sent home with the child.

Sanitizing Equipment

Regular sanitizing of work surfaces, tables and chairs is critical. A 10% bleach solution or other decontaminate is used. When using bleach solution, it is prepared daily as the bleach loses its effectiveness. Proper sanitizing is done by first washing the surface with a detergent solution, rinsing with clean water then sanitizing with bleach solution. Equipment is sanitized daily.

The Director refers to local health and state licensing regulation for requirements for sanitizing.

Toothbrushing is encouraged as a health practice and is sometimes required by the state. Individual toothbrushes and toothpaste are used and they are rinsed and stored in a manner that prevents contamination.

Food Service and Meal Preparation

The staff is responsible for ensuring that all meals and snacks are stored, prepared and served in a manner that is safe and meets all local health and licensing regulations. Most states require that employees handling food in the child care center take a specified course in food handling. These courses offer instruction on the proper handling and storage of food. The Director monitors this closely in the Lab and reminds staff that food is kept at temperatures either warm enough or cold enough to prevent the growth of bacteria. Extreme precautions are taken to ensure that children are not served food hot enough to cause burns.

Snack time and mealtime are to take place in a relaxed unpressured atmosphere. Staff take special efforts to avoid the likelihood that children have to wait for long periods of time before being served. Staff join children at the table and role model proper table manners and nutrition habits.

Food served at the Lab is to be nutritious, pleasing in taste and appearance and appropriate for the age of the children. Child-sized portions are served with additional portions available. All meals and snacks must meet the nutritional requirements for children and meet local health and licensing regulations.

The Staff:

1. Posts the weekly snack menu in a place where parents can readily see it.
2. Monitors all meals and snacks to ensure that the menu is followed, and in the rare occurrence that the menu is changed, the change is posted.

Meals and snacks are not withheld or threatened to be withheld as a form of discipline. Children are encouraged, never forced, to try each food item (with the exception of allergies). Based on the information the parents provided on enrollment forms, the Director prepares and posts an allergy list in the kitchen. The list includes the child's name, allergy and any other information required by state licensing.

Naptime

The following guidelines are used to ensure that a naptime is provided that is safe, secure and comforting:

1. Staff provide a quiet time before nap to allow children to being to relax (quiet naptime songs work well).
2. Each child provides a mat to help the child feel more comfortable and secure. The mats are arranged in a manner that provides room for staff to walk between and so as not to block paths or doorways in the event of an emergency.
3. The Director develops and implements a system for making sure each child sleeps on the same mat and that the mats are sanitized once a week (more often if necessary).
4. Each child brings a clean sheet on a weekly basis. The staff develops and implements a system to make sure that children sleep on the same sheet every day and that the sheets are taken home to be washed on a weekly basis (more often if necessary).
5. Children are allowed to bring a small blanket to use at naptime. The items are stored in the child's cubby which keeps individual children's items separated. The blanket is taken home to be laundered weekly.
6. Soft relaxing music is used to create an appropriate atmosphere and help block out noises that disturb the children.
7. The lights in the nap area are dimmed.
8. Children's heads are never covered.
9. Staff move close and use a soft voice when it is necessary to talk to a child.
10. All state regulations pertaining to naptime are followed.

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