Child health policy
In an effort to keep our staff and other children healthy, please reference our child health policy.
Care you can trust. Play, learn and grow at the YWCA.
Keeping Our Children Healthy
The YWCA Child Enrichment Programs have developed the following child health policy to keep children and staff as healthy as possible.
Children over the age of 2 years will be encouraged to wear masks when entering the building.
If a child displays signs and/or symptoms of an illness that prevents them from participating in daily activities, the parents or guardians will be required to pick up their child. Conditions and/or symptoms that would require the parents or guardians to pick their child up and keep their child out of the center are:
- Fever of 101 or greater (armpit) with signs and/or symptoms of illness or behavior change
- Repeated vomiting accompanied with a fever and/or signs or symptoms of illness or behavior change
- Repeated diarrhea accompanied with a fever and/or signs or symptoms of illness or behavior change. Diarrhea not contained in the toilet. (All infants and children in diapers with diarrhea must be excluded.) Uncontrolled diarrhea (stool runs out of the diaper or the child can’t get to the toilet in time).
- Suspicious rash with fever and/or signs or symptoms of illness or behavior change
- Signs and/or symptoms of illness or behavior change
Signs and/or symptoms of illness or behavior of illness include, but are not limited to:
- Unusual drowsiness
- Persistent fussiness
- Inexplicable irritability
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
- Inability to participate in the classroom daily activities
Now Accepting Pre-K Scholarship Applications
Applications are accepted from Dec 1-15 for the January through June session and from June 1-15 for July through December.
Parent Handbook
Our Parent Handbook provides information regarding our policies, procedures, annual closings, and other important materials regarding our programs.
In Case of Illness
We follow the Managing Infectious Diseases in Child Care and Schools reference guide written and published by the American Academy of Pediatrics to determine exclusion for illnesses and/or communicable diseases such as, but not limited to measles, rubella, mumps, etc.
An ill child will be given appropriate care away from general play until the parent, guardian, or designated individual arrives. We will notify the parent/guardian of any suspected exposure to a communicable disease. Parents must sign the sick policy form and fill in the time when they pick their child up.
Children may return to their classroom once they have been symptom and/or fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication, or have a written release from a licensed physician stating that their illness is not contagious and they may return to the classroom.
Medication Policy
Pennsylvania regulations dictate that child care staff is not required to administer children’s medication. Therefore, administration of medication is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
- Whenever possible, prescribed medication must be administered in the mornings and evenings by the parents or guardians.
- Medication may not be stored in cubbies, diaper bags, backpacks, or other carry bags.
- Medicine must be kept in the original container and taken daily to a specified place in your child’s classroom.
- Tylenol (acetaminophen) may be administered by staff for fever or pain with written instructions from a licensed physician. Notes from physicians for Tylenol should be updated regularly.
- All medications must be signed in on the medication log daily. If the medication log is not signed, the medication will not be administered. If your child needs a medication log, please ask your child’s teacher.
- Children with chronic illnesses that require daily medication should have a written plan provided by a licensed physician giving detailed instructions and guidelines.
COVID-19 Policy
- Children over the age of 2 years will be encouraged to wear a mask when entering the building.
- Child care space occupancy allows for 6 feet of separation among children and staff throughout the day.
- Classrooms will not be permitted to combine in common areas such as gyms, playgrounds, and multi-purpose rooms. Meals will continue to be served in classrooms (family-style will be discontinued until further notice).
- Everyone entering the building will be asked to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer. Proper handwashing for anyone entering a classroom must be completed at the following times: entering the classroom, before and after meals, before and after diaper changes or going to the bathroom, after any contact with bodily fluids (wiping noses, coughing, sneezing, etc.), re-entering after outdoor play or using the gym area, before and after art and sensory activities, and before leaving for the day.
- A playground schedule is completed to limit the number of children / classrooms playing together.
- Materials have been limited in classrooms and will be rotated to allow for maintaining cleaning and sanitizing.
- Each classroom will have an opener and closer assigned. We will utilize the floating staff as needed to limit the number of people the children are exposed to during the day.
- The multi-purpose room may be utilized for social distancing during nap time, if needed.
- Anyone entering the building will have their temperature taken (must be below 100.4). A health screening will be completed for all children when signed in by a parent.
- Any staff, children, or visitors who show signs of illness during the day will be taken to the staff room until they can be picked up. The staff room will then be cleaned and disinfected before any other use.
- After quarantining, staff and children must be cleared by a doctor or have a negative COVID-19 test to return to the center.
- The Administrative Director will notify the ED of the YWCA, the DOH, and DHS of any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the facilities.
- Family disclosures will be determined by the YWCA ED and CEP staff. Families will be notified via memo or phone call as needed and a sign will be posted on the front door and on the YWCA website and Facebook page.
- Children and staff who are at higher risk for severe illness will be asked to consult with their healthcare provider for guidance as to if they should return to the child care program.