Dear Parent,

We work with parents/guardians of children in our Childcare and Preschool to determine the cause of miss behavior and deal with the behavior positively.

We use strategies that allow the children to take responsibility for his/her actions. In addition, we focus on teaching children appropriate behavior. We do not use threats or bribes. We focus on teaching children how to interact socially and continually reinforce the limits in our facility.

Hitting, kicking, spitting, biting, hostile verbal behavior and other behaviors, which may cause harm to another child will not be permitted or tolerated. We DO NOT practice timeout as a form of discipline in our facility. We believe in giving the child the opportunity to calm down and to think about the misbehaving that has occurred. This also gives us the opportunity to incorporate a way the child can cope with whatever hostile behavior took place and procure a solution that works for everyone.

Each child will be dealt with individually. Consequences will occur immediately after the behavior. As a parent, we ask you to not punish your child at home for misbehavior shown while in our facility. Please trust that we will handle the matter in a timely fashion.

If your child continually misbehaves we will call you and discuss the difficulty by telephone or make an appointment to discuss the difficulty with you. We will not discuss problems in front of your child or other children.

We will keep you posted on our happenings that we are involved in at the facility. If we are experiencing behavior difficulties with your child we will let you know as soon as possible. We hope that together we can create a behavior management strategy, which will control the behavior.

In those instances when a behavior is very disruptive or harmful to the child or other children, we will discuss the issue with you. If an intervention can't be made and will warrant success, the child can't remain enrolled. If you will not seek appropriate assistance or we cannot effectively meet the needs of your child, you will be asked to make other arrangements. We will assist you to the best of our ability to help you find other arrangements. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Physical punishment will not be used, even if requested by the parent.

 

CPR/First Aid:

A staff member with CPR and first aid certification will be on-site at all times the children and staff are present. All staff members are required to complete these trainings.

In Case of Medical Emergency (Child):

Parents will immediately be notified in the case of a medical emergency. A copy of each child's record is kept on hand in the ministry office. Every effort will be made to contact the child's parent or guardian before calling the emergency contact listed in the application. These alternate contacts will be called if the child's parent or guardian cannot be reached. If necessary we will transport the child to the hospital of choice via ambulance.

Caregiver Illness or Death:

In the event of a serious illness, serious injury or death of a provider, the ministry director or board will notify the parents.

Fire Drills:

In an attempt to prepare ourselves for the worst, we schedule monthly fire drills. These drills keep the ministry up to code with the local fire marshal and train the children how to best escape from a fire.

Evacuation Plan:

If our building must be evacuated due to fire or other hazard, we will exit the building using the nearest accessible door and will meet on the playground area or in the rear of the building. Once our children have been accounted for and we are cleared to re-enter, we will notify parents of the situation via telephone. 

If our building catches fire or is otherwise damaged during operating hours, we will contact a parent, guardian or emergency contact. If a family member cannot be reached, children will be moved to a safe location and a notice will be posted. In the case of a temporary evacuation, the preschool program will be moved to Douglas Park Family Center; 1616 E. 25th St.; 317-327-7174

My signature below certifies that I have read and understand the emergency plan for the childcare.

Furthermore, my signature certifies that I agreed to abide by all of emergency policies adopted by the childcare I also understand that failure to abide by these policies to result in the termination of care for my child/children.

The following steps will be taken to ensure that their child is safe while at our childcare program.

• Children will be actively supervised with the required number of qualified adults (adults who have completed a comprehensive criminal history check, drug screen and negative TB test and have completed all required trainings) such as, but not limited to Child Abuse Detection, First Aid, Universal Precaution and CPR.
• Our Childcare will not care for children in areas that are being remodeled, repair, or painted. The administrator or Director will be responsible for maintaining all interior and exterior surfaces, including walls, floors, ceilings, equipment, toys, furnishings, and cribs, and a safe condition, free of sharp points or jagged edges, splinters, protruding nails or wires, loose parts, rusty parts, or materials containing poisonous substances.
• Facility doors will remain locked at all times and all who enters must ring the doorbell to gain entrance. Authorized person must show a state or agency issue picture identification up on picking up children for their first time or at any time a staff person requests it.

The childcare will take the following steps to maintain the childcare:

1. Clean the childcare daily.
2. Keep the child care in a sanitary condition at all times.
3. Sanitize toys, furniture and other equipment used by children, weekly or sometimes daily, and when they become soil or contaminated.
4. Wash all soiled items prior to sanitization.
5. Infant sheets will be laundered daily.
6. Children will wash their hands after using the restroom, blowing their noses, before our meals and snacks, answering from outside and all other times deemed and necessary.
7. All outlets will be covered with safety covers when not in use.
8. How harmful and hazardous chemicals will be stored away from children's reach.
9. All staff purses and personal items will be stored away from children's reach.
10. Children will remain in sight and sound of an adult at all times.
11. The outside play area equipment will be maintained and kept clean at all times.
12. The outside play area will be enclosed by fencing and gated
13. outside clay area will be free from standing water and during inclement weather children will remain inside.

 

Procedures and practices, including responsible person(s):

• A consent for childcare program activities form will be filled out for each child being transported.
• smoking is prohibited in vehicles used to transport children.
• children will be transported properly in a seatbelt, car seat, or booster seat according to current Indiana regulations.

Age Groups of Transported Children

Children ages infants to 12 years old will be transported.

Parents may be required to supply a booster or car seat as needed for their child if field trips involving use of transportation are part of the program. Staff will be sure that car seats, booster seats, and seatbelts are used properly and each child is properly secured before setting the vehicle in motion. Staff will assist with releasing children from their transportation safety restraints, when needed. All adults in the vehicle will use proper restraining devices according to the vehicle as manufacturers recommendations. 

• The number of passengers in the vehicle will not exceed the manufacturers stated capacity for the vehicle.
• Children will be prohibited from eating, drinking, standing, or other dangerous or distractive activities during transportation.
• Children will never be left unattended in a vehicle, even for brief period. I'll children will be a accompanying find adults 2/from the vehicle to ensure safety.
• All children will be accounted for before leaving the facility and again before returning.
• Children with special needs will have their transportation plans addressed in the special care plan. A staff member who is familiar with a child special-needs will accompany the child during transportation.
• All travel routes will be planned in advance.
• Parent contact information and children emergency contact information will be on the vehicle and accessible to the driver. Children must be signed in at pick up and signed out and drop off by the parent or authorized person. Only authorized individuals will be able to accompany or receive children at pick up and drop off. In the event that no one is home at the time of drop off, the driver will make efforts to contact the parent and/or emergency contact. If an authorized person is not present in a timely manner the children will be returned to the childcare facility and the parents or authorized individual will be responsible for pick up.  If pick up is after closing hours, a late charge may be assessed to the parent. If the child is not picked up by an authorized person within one hour after closing the child care may contact child protective services. 

Vehicle Requirements

• Only insured, licensed, well maintained vehicles will be used to transport children. 18 passenger vans are not permitted.
• A back up vehicle will be available if needed and can be dispatched immediately in case of an emergency.
• A first aid kit in list of emergency contacts for our children and adults will be in the vehicle during transportation of children.
• A cell phone will be available in case of emergency.

Driver qualifications

• Drivers will be legally licensed and shall not be under the influence of any chemical substance that may alter their ability to drive safely.
• Drivers will meet staff qualifications including a criminal history check.
• Drivers will be first aid and CPR certified whether another staff member present or not.
• Drivers and all staff assisting with transportation will obey all traffic regulations in Indiana state laws.
• The driver may be included in the child: staff ratio when all caregiver requirements are met.
• The driver will be familiar with the plan route ahead of time.
• To prevent distractions the driver is not permitted to talk on a cell phone or play loud music.
• In the event of an emergency and at the discretion of the childcare Director a qualified staff member may take a child to the hospital or emergency room in their own vehicle. There may be other instances when the directors discretion a qualified staff member may transport a child.

The childcare director is responsible for collecting background checks, driving history and updating this information yearly for those who are transporting children.

The childcare directors is responsible for ensuring the safety of the vehicle and proof of insurance for the vehicle.

When the policy applies:

This policy is enforced anytime children are transported by the childcare program. Staff will adhere to the policy guidelines even if no children are present when using a vehicle on by the child care facility. Communication plan for staff and parents:

• The Director will cover policies, plans, and procedures with all new staff paid and volunteer during orientation training. They were saying that they have read, and understand and agree to abide by the concent of the policies.
• During enrollment, this policy will be reviewed by the Director or assistant Director with the parents. Parents will sign that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by the contents of the policies.
• A copy of all policies will be available during all hours of operation staff and parents on the parents board, the parents handbook and in the policy handbook located in the directors office.
• Parents may receive a copy of the policy at any time upon request. A summary of this policy will be included in the parents handbook.
• Parents and staff will receive written notification of any updates.
• Parents will sign a consent for a child care program activities form for all outings where transportation is required.

Reviewed by: Teresa Robinson, Director

Parents and staff will be notified of any upcoming policy review.

 

 

I authorize helping hands childcare and preschool to transport my minor child in a company bus or van, dragon by an individual authorized by helping hands Childcare and Preschool.

I understand my child is expected to follow all applicable laws regarding riding in a motor vehicle and is expected to follow the directions provided by the driver and/or staff or volunteer.

I understand participation in the identified event is not a requirement for participation in the program.

I have read, understand, and discussed with my child:

I have read this entire waiver and authorization form, I fully understand its terms and conditions, and I agree to be legally bound by its terms.

Child and adult food program administer by the Indiana Department of Education

I understand that this program reimburses helping hands childcare and preschool for serving nutritious well balanced meals to childcare children.

I also understand that my children will receive meals at no extra charge to me when they are in attendance during any of the scheduled meal services.

I understand that this Daycare ministry is not licensed under the laws of Indiana. However, I understand that this Daycare ministry complies with the state rules concerning sanitation and fire safety for the primary use of the structure in which it is conducted. I understand that it is my responsibility to ensure that the nutritional and health needs of my child are met while my child is at the Daycare ministry.

This notice does not absolve a daycare ministry from liability for injury to a child while the child is at the daycare ministry if the cause of the injury is negligence or intentional wrongdoing on the part of the daycare ministry or an employee of the daycare ministry.

State law requires that we have written authorization from a child's legal guardian to seek medical help in the event of a medical emergency. Signing the statement at the bottom of this page will provide us with authorization.

Our policy, in the event of a medical emergency is to contact you first. If we cannot contact you, we will try to contact any others that you have made designated. In the event that we are in unable to contact you or your designated representatives, or if a medical emergency warrants immediate response, we will act, on your behalf and in the best interest of the child.