When does my child need immunizations?

	HEPATITIS B	IPV	DTAP	HIB	MMR	VARICELLA
Birth	Hep B
1 month	Hep B
2 months		IPV	DTaP	Hib
4 months		IPV	DTaP	Hib
6 months	Hep B		DTaP	Hib
12 – 15 months		IPV		Hib	MMR	VAR
15 months			DTaP
4 – 6 years		IPV	DTaP		MMR
14 – 16 years			Tetanus every 10 years

Safety Policy

• Staff members are responsible for the children’s safety.

• At least one staff person who is trained in First Aid and Communicable Diseases shall always be available.

• No child is ever left alone or unsupervised. No exits are blocked.

• Teachers clean all indoor and outdoor areas daily and continuously check for hazardous materials and conditions.

• Authorization for emergency transportation, special health care, and releasing the child is on the bus and in the classroom.

• Spray aerosols shall not be used when children are present.

• Emergency and sick child plans are posted and followed.

• A first aid kit is in the center, on the bus, and taken on all field trips.

• Identification tags are used when children are off school premises.

• The center has a plan of safety to use on all field trips.

• Teachers have immediate access at all times to a working telephone, in the building used for childcare.

• An emergency evacuation plan is posted in each classroom showing evacuation routes, in case of emergency.

• In case of emergency, first aid will be administered, parent will be notified, and emergency medical assistance arranged, if necessary. A report is completed, and a copy is given to the parent.

• Monthly bus, fire, and disaster drills are held and a record of the drills is kept at the center and is available for review.

• Emergency transportation for the center will be provided by the local ambulance service. On field trips, the bus or local ambulance service will transport children to the nearest hospital.

• Each Head Start site, including schools where we have lunch, has detailed disaster and lock down plans that will be given to you at the beginning of each school year.

Nutrition

Meals are served daily (breakfast or snack and lunch). We provide 1/3 of the government recommended nutritional needs for children 3-5 years of age. A registered dietician approves menus.

Lunch is provided by a school, Head Start, or other facility with a food service license. The children and staff eat meals together. Children help with set-up and clean up.

Children are encouraged, but not forced, to try new foods. Food is never used as a punishment or reward.

If a child has a food allergy, or a special/modified diet, documentation from a doctor is necessary in order for us to provide a special/modified diet. If any food group is to be left out of the diet altogether, a Parent/Guardian Request for Administration of Medication Form (ODJFS form # 1217) must also be completed.

We encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom and eat lunch with their child, whenever possible. Parent volunteers must actively participate for at least two hours on a regular day to qualify for lunch. Let your teacher know in advance, so a meal can be ordered for you.

During special events such as field trips, celebrations, and end of the year events, Head Start can only provide meals for staff and Head Start children, unless it is part of a parent activity that has been voted on at your local Parent Group meetings.

Food and drinks served in the presence of Head Start children, during classroom time, will meet Child and Adult Care Food Program guidelines (CACFP). All adults will eat the same menu as the children, unless their doctor has requested a special diet due to allergy or other health issues.

For your safety and the safety of your child, no leftover food may be taken home from any Head Start classroom, meeting, or event.

You cannot send in food from home, for any reason. Teachers cannot accept money from a parent to buy food. Food must be purchased with program funds.

The Ohio Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is available to all eligible children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap. Any person who believes that he has been discriminated against in any CACFP related activity should write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250 and the HHWP CAC Equal Employment Officer, P. O. Box 179, Findlay, Ohio 45839 or call 419-423-3755.

Your child may have their vision and hearing screened to support his/her overall health and development. If the child appears to have any problems with their vision or hearing, we will notify parents and give them information on free vision or hearing clinics available in your area. You do not need insurance/medical card to receive these services. Children from birth to 21 years of age are eligible for services. It will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian to seek further evaluation by a professional.

Hearing Specialty Clinics

The diagnostic ear clinic is staffed by an otologist, audiologists, a speech-language pathologist and nurses. These specialists are available to examine your child’s ears, test his/her hearing, and evaluate speech/language functions. They will discuss whatever problems are found and what should be done to help correct the problem. These clinics are provided by the Ohio Department of Health in conjunction with local health department. Call for an appointment

Wyandot County Health Department Children’s Resource Center

Hearing Clinic             Hearing Specialty Clinic

127-A South Sandusky Avenue 1045 Klotz Road

Upper Sandusky, Ohio 43351             Bowling Green, Ohio 43402

(419) 294-3852 (419) 352-7588

Defiance County General Health District Allen County Health

1300 East Second Street, Suite 100 Department/BCMH & ODH

Defiance OH 43512 419-228-4457

419-784-3818 Hearing Clinic Site: Lima Memorial

             Hospital, Audiology Department

Vision Specialty Clinics

Diagnostic Ocular Pediatric Clinics are eye/vision clinics administered by the Ohio Department of Health. Children who have an apparent eye problem or fail a vision screening are referred to a clinic. An optometrist and ophthalmologist examine the child’s eyes; the nurse and public health vision consultant provide screening and follow-up services.

Call for an appointment

Vision Specialty Clinic Allen County Health

1045 Klotz Road Department/BCMH & ODH

Bowling Green, Ohio 43402 419-228-4457

(419) 352-7588 Vision Clinic Site: Market

or 1-888-466-KIDS (5437) Street Presbyterian Church

Communicable Disease Policy

· All staff will receive American Red Cross or ODH (Ohio Dept. of Health) training in First Aid, Communicable Diseases (covers: signs and symptoms of illness, hand washing and disinfection procedures), and Child Abuse and Neglect. These trainings will be updated every three years. Staff will have proof of training on site.

· Staff also receive CPR training yearly.

· When a staff member is ill and out of the center they will be replaced with a substitute who will meet the State of Ohio Childcare qualifications.

· The following are symptoms for which a child shall be sent home from the center:

a) Diarrhea (3 or more abnormally loose stool within 24 hours).

b) Severe coughing, causing the child to become red or blue in the face or make a whooping sound.

c) Difficult or rapid breathing

d) Yellowish skin or eyes

e) Redness, burning, itching of eye(s), obvious discharge, matted eyelashes

f) Temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit taken axillary (under the arm) when in combination with any other sign of illness.

g) Untreated infected skin patches

h) Unusually dark urine and/or grey-white stools

i) Stiff neck, with elevated temperature

j) Vomiting (2-3 times) a day or when accompanied with any other signs or symptoms.

k) Unusual spots or rashes

l) Sore throat or difficulty swallowing

m) Evidence of lice, scabies, or any other parasite infection. A “nit free” return policy is enforced.

n) Anything on the Communicable Disease Chart from ODH, posted in the classroom that says a child should be removed from the center and minimum control measures followed.

· Your child must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to the classroom. (For example, if the child has a fever until noon one day, he can not return to class until noon the following day)

· Each center shall have an isolation plan with a cot for a sick child where he can be watched by staff, until sent home from the center.

· If a child is to be sent home, the parent will be notified by phone and a form will be sent home, telling what symptoms they observed.

· The time frame for returning to the center will be determined by taking into consideration the guidelines on the ODH Communicable Disease Chart, posted in the classroom, and information provided by the child’s doctor. Depending on each situation, the Health Services Manager reserves the right to vary from this to make sure the health needs of the children and staff are being met.

· Any staff person exhibiting any signs/symptoms of a communicable disease listed on the Communicable Disease chart from the ODH will follow the minimum control measures outlined on the Communicable Disease chart.

· Upon discovery of a child with a communicable disease, all parents will be notified in writing of the presence of the communicable disease in the center.

· Medication/food supplements of any kind (prescriptive or non-prescriptive) will only be given when the parent completes the Request for Administration of Medication form. If the prescription contains a narcotic, the physician must also sign the consent form.

· All Head Start staff must wear vinyl gloves when dealing with any body fluids. This includes urine, vomit, stool, blood, etc.

NOTE: The Health Services Manager reserves the option to request that a physician see your child, and a note be obtained, prior to returning to the classroom. If you choose not to comply, or are unable to comply, your child can return to the classroom only when all signs and symptoms of disease are absent.

Mildly Ill Child Policy

A child may remain in the center when he:

a) is experiencing what appears to be a minor cold and not showing signs of discomfort.

b) has been given an immunization and may be running a temperature, but appears to have no other symptoms of discomfort.

c) may have vomited once and appears to have had an upset stomach from something he ate.

d) is able to participate.

Staff will continue to observe the child and document any changes in their behavior or to see if any new symptoms develop, and if so, the parent will be notified and the child may be sent home.