Health Policies

We know that children in child care are susceptible to the transmission of germs.
Prevention is an important key. Please encourage your child to wash his/her hands upon entering and leaving the center.

In order to stop the spread of communicable diseases and to maintain the health of all our children, the Department of Health requires that all parents inform the Little Acorn Patch if your child or any immediate household member develops any reportable communicable disease within 24 hours or the next business day. A copy of all communicable diseases is found in your child’s file. Please follow the exclusion policy in your enrollment package and arrange for the child to be picked up as soon as possible if (s)he becomes ill at the center. This will reduce the transmission of illness throughout the school.

Please keep us informed when immunizations are given so that we may keep a copy of these records on file. We are required by law to have yearly physicals and recent immunizations on file in our center for each enrolled child under the age of 5 years old and every two years for children ages 5-12.

If your child becomes ill at the center recording a fever/temperature of 101° F or higher taken under the arm, or your child has 3 or more diarrhea/vomits, you will be called to arrange for your child to be picked up as soon as possible. The child will be separated from the other children until departure from the center. Your child can return to the school when they are symptom-free for 24 hours, or the following day with a doctor’s written permission.

Please keep your child home when the child is unable to participate in group activities or if the staff cannot effectively care for the child without compromising their ability to care for the health and safety of the other children in the group.

HOW WE DISPENSE MEDICATIONS

All Administration are MAT Certified and qualified to administer medication properly.

If your child is to receive any type of medication at the center, a medical consent form must be filled out and signed by either parent or guardian. Forms are available at the Front Desk.

Medication is defined as any prescription medicine and over-the-counter medicine such as: cough medicine or cough drops, eye drops, diaper rash creams/ointments, chap stick/lip balm for dry lips, sunscreen, or anything we are asked to give or apply to your child. All medicines have to be handed to the Front Desk* in the original bottle and packaging, and be age-appropriate (unless a doctor’s note is provided). Prescription medication must have the prescription included at drop off. Be sure to put your child’s name on the bottle and package of any medication(s).

If the medication needs to be at the school for more than 10 calendar days, such as EpiPens and nebulizers, you will have to have the form filled out and signed by your child’s doctor.

Medication is administered 11:00 a.m. – noon, and 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. The Patch staff will keep a record of medication given.

Liquid medication is administered in a disposable, one-use plastic dosage cup furnished by Little Acorn Patch.

Notify the Front Desk if the medication needs to be refrigerated or if it needs to be sent home each evening. For medications that will need to be administered for a week or longer, you may ask your pharmacist to split the medicine into two portions so that one may be left at the center and the other at your home.

When antibiotic treatment of any kind is to be administered during the day, a doctor’s note must be presented when the child is first brought in stating

1. what your child is being treated for, and
2. when your child is no longer contagious and may return to the center. Forms are available at the reception desk for this use.

If it is impossible for you to secure a written note from your child’s doctor, a telephone call from your child’s doctor is needed before your child may return. The doctor’s office may speak with administrative staff on duty.

SUNSCREEN, DIAPER CREAM AND INSECT REPELLENT

SUNSCREEN AND DIAPER CREAMS: In order to permit the use and application of sunscreens or diaper cream/ointment a signed written parental permission is required. If you have special requirements regarding the application, please note it on the permission form.

INSECT REPELLENT: If you wish to have Insect Repellent applied to your child, a signed written parental permission is required.

All items listed above must be in the original container labeled with your child’s name. The Patch staff will keep a record including child’s name, date of use, frequency of application, and any adverse reactions.