COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan We take the health and safety of the children in our care, our staff and the families of Freedom Child Development Center very seriously. As we begin to reopen we will be implementing the following preparedness and response plan. As we begin to navigate these ever changing times, we ask for your patience and grace. We will follow the guidelines set by LARA and the State of Michigan.
Monitoring Symptoms- A check-in station will be set up at the sign-in desk where a staff member will conduct a touchless temperature check and a questionnaire before your child may enter their classroom, please allow extra time for this. Also, parents will be asked to wear a face mask while in the center and are asked to drop off/pick up children from the classroom door. We will not be allowing parents in the classrooms at this time. If they have a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, they will need to go home. Other symptoms we will be monitoring are, but not limited to: cough, diarrhea, thick green mucus or continuously runny nose. Children must be fever and symptom free withoutmedication for at least 48 hours before returning to FCDC. Staff members will also be monitored and the same policy will apply to our staff as well. You are required to report any positive COVID-19 test result in your household to FCDC directors or any symptoms or exposure of COVID-19 in your household. We would ask you to not return to FCDC for at least 2 weeks.
Illness during the day- Temperature & symptom checks will be conducted throughout the day. If your child develops a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, extreme fussiness/crying, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, green/yellow mucus, continuously runny nose, complaining of a sore throat, or other health symptoms, we will call you to pick them up. Children must be symptom/fever free without medication for at least 48 hours before returning to FCDC. You will have 30 minutes to respond to a call or text. If we do not hear from you, we will move onto your emergency contacts to pick up your child. You will have 1 hour to pick up your child. If your child is not picked up within an hour from being contacted, we will begin to call your emergency contacts. Children must be picked up within an hour of FCDC contacting you whether by voice message, text or call. Children will be in a location in the center that is separated from the class if possible. A staff member will be with your child until they are picked up.
Cleaning & Sanitizing- Toys and equipment will be cleaned throughout the day. If a child mouths a toy, it will go into a sanitizing bin and will be cleaned before returning to the child for play. At nap, toys and surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized. Toys may be limited to control spread of germs and will be rotated out. Soft toys and equipment, when practical, will be removed for the time being. At the close of the evening, toys and surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized. Teachers and children will wash hands upon arrival, before and after meals, after being outside, before and after diapering/potty and at other times throughout the day as needed.
Use of PPE- State of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) has allowed child care centers to establish their own policy whether staff and children are required to wear masks. · FCDC will require staff members to wear masks or a face shield while in the center. This may change as the COVID-19 circumstances change, we will make updates as they arise. · FCDC will not require children to wear masks. If families of children 2 years or older, want their child to wear a mask, we will honor that, however we will not require the child to wear it. If the child wants to remove it, they will be allowed. FCDC will not make a child wear a mask. If a child is removing their mask, they will be asked to put it in their bag to take home. · Gloves will be used in a manner consistent with existing licensing rules and consistent with FCDC’s rules for gloves. FCDC has always required gloves be worn for diaper changes, helping a child in the restroom, handling blood or other bodily fluids, conducting first aid, when serving food or preparing food.
Social Distancing- FCDC will provide space for social distancing to the best of our ability. We understand that children do not know how to social distance. When possible, we will maintain smaller group sizes, however we are allowed by LARA to maintain ratio and group sizes bases on current licensing rules. When possible we will have children sit further apart, stagger outside times with other classes, and when possible keep classes together and not mix groups. In child care this is not always possible because we also have teacher/child ratios to maintain. We will do our best.
Scheduling and Attendance- To maintain our staffing, to be able to financially operate and maintain our center, we will continue to require the two days minimum. This means that if you bring your child, you will be required to schedule/pay for a minimum of two days. If you only need one day, you will still be required to pay for at least two days. You are required to pay for the days that you schedule. No exceptions. Days not used for any reason cannot carry over into the next week. If your child is not in attendance, you will still be required to pay for the days scheduled. Because of the nature of this uncertain season and the complexity of scheduling staff during this time, you will not be allowed to switch days once they have been scheduled. You may be able to add days, based on available staffing, but not guaranteed.
Maintaining Staff to Child Ratios In the event that a staff member becomes ill, they will be asked to not return for at least 48 hours or until they’re fever / symptom free. We will call in substitutes to fill in for staff members if needed. We do however strive to maintain continuity of care, by establishing classroom teams. We will staff from other classrooms if need be. We’ve never had to close classrooms or the center due to not enough staff because of illness. Again, these are very different times and if it arises that we do not have the staffing due to illness, we will notify you immediately for you to make other childcare arrangements. If FCDC closes for any reason, your tuition is refunded or your account is credited.