Policies and Procedures

The center will only administer emergency medications. This includes prescribed asthma inhalers and epi-pens. The medication administration form must be signed by the authorized prescriber and parent/guardian giving the center authorization to administer the medication. This form is available on our website www.ccsu.edu/childcare.

The parental responsibilities include providing the center the proper medication authorization form, and the medication. The medication administration form must be signed by the authorized prescriber and parent/guardian giving the center authorization to administer the medication. This form is available at the center. The medication authorization form must include information, such as:

• The child’s name, address, and birthdate
• The date the medication order was written
• Medication name, dose, and method of administration
• Time to be administered
• Relevant side effects and prescribers plan for management should they occur
• Listing of allergies, if any and reactions or negative interactions with foods or drugs
• Specific instructions from prescriber how medication is to be given
• Name, address, telephone number and signature of authorized prescriber ordering the drug
• Name, address, telephone number, signature, and relationship to the child of the parents giving permission for the administration of the drug by a staff member.

It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the medication administration form clearly states that it is for licensed child care centers. Please understand that your child may not be able to attend if he/she does not have the proper authorization. All medications must be in their original child resistant safety container and clearly labeled with child’s name, name of prescription, date of prescription, and directions for use. Epi-Pens and asthma inhalant medications will be stored in a locked container.

Days and Hours of Operation

Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
See the Drop-In Center Calendar for special schedules. Hour subject to change.

Admission

Registration includes the completion and submission of all documents including:

• Child Enrollment Forms
• Alternate and Emergency Pick-Up Authorization
• Emergency Medical Care Authorization Form
• Parent/Guardian Information Packet & Behavior Management Policy Agreement
• Early Childhood Health Assessment Record
• Permission for Special Programs (optional)
• Photo Consent Preference Form

*Each child entering the center must have a completed registration including updated physical form signed and dated by his/her pediatrician, including current immunization documentation. Physical forms must be updated yearly.
Once the registration process has been completed and all required documents are on file, the registered child may attend the Drop-In Center during hours of operation, with a confirmed reservation. New registration will be required each school year. Registration can be completed at any time during the school year.

Agreements with Parents/Guardians

Parents/Guardians Must Remain On Campus:

Parents/Guardians using the free Drop-In Center must remain on campus at all times. If a parent needs to leave the campus, the child must be picked up from the Drop-In Center prior to leaving. Violations to this rule will result in loss of Drop-In Center privileges.

Snacks

The Drop-In Center is a nut-free facility. We respectfully request that you do not bring a snack for your child to eat when using free Drop-In Child Care services. Snacks will be provided in the morning and in the afternoon by the Drop-In Center. The snack will include either a fruit or a vegetable and a carbohydrate served with water. The carbohydrate will be a type of cracker, (Ritz cracker, goldfish, saltines). The Drop-In Center does not provide meals.

Parent Access to Program and Facility

Parents who are CCSU students, faculty, or staff and have submitted all required registration documents and received the official confirmation email, will have access to the Center during hours of operation. The CCSU Key Card will allow you to enter through the playground gate entrance. The Center door will be locked but parents/guardians will be buzzed into the atrium and met at the classroom door.

CCSU Drop-In Child Care Center Closing Time Plan:

Please make sure you have read and understand the Closing Plan explained in the link below.

Behavior Management Policy:

To use the Drop-In Center services, it is mandatory to read and agree to the Behavior Management Policy which is explained in the link below. Please contact the center director if you have any questions.

As mandated reporters, all of our staff have a responsibility to prevent the child abuse and neglect of any children involved in our center.

1. Child Abuse is defined as: (CT statutes, Section 46b-120)

   A child who has had

   1. Non-accidental physical injuries inflicted upon him
   2. Injuries which are at variance with the history given of them
   3. Is in a condition, which is the result of maltreatment, such as, but not limited to, malnutrition, sexual exploitation, and deprivation of necessities, emotional maltreatment or cruel punishment.

2. Child neglect is defined as: (CT General Statutes, 46b-120)

   A child who has been

   1. Abandoned
   2. Denied proper care and attention physically, educationally, emotionally or morally
   3. Allowed to live under circumstances, conditions or associations injurious to his well-being
3. Child Abuse includes: (CT General Statutes, 46b-120)
   1. Any non-accidental physical or mental injury, (i.e. shaking, beating, burning).
   2. Any form of sexual abuse, (i.e. sexual exploitation).
   3. Neglect of a child, (i.e. failure to provide food, clothing, shelter, education, mental care, appropriate supervision).
   4. Emotional abuse, (i.e. excessive belittling, berating, or teasing which impairs the child’s psychological growth).
   5. At risk behavior, (i.e. placing a child in a situation which might endanger him by abuse or neglect).

4. Staff responsibilities: (CT General Statutes, Sections 17a-101, 17a-101a, 17a-10lb, 17a-101c, and 17a-101d.)
   As childcare providers, we are mandated by law to report any suspicion that a child is being abused, neglected or at risk.

   Procedure for Reporting a suspected case of abuse or neglect:

   1. Call the Department of Children and Families (open 24 hours a day) at 1-800- 842-2288.
   2. Call the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood at 1-800-282-6063 or 1-860-509- 8045.
   3. The reporter’s name is required, but may be kept confidential.
   4. Information required to report:
      • Name of child
      • Address of child
      • Phone number of child
      • Name of parents or guardians
      • Address of parents or guardians
      • Phone number of parents or guardians
      • Relevant information such as: physical or behavioral indicators, nature and extent of injury, maltreatment or neglect
      • Exact description of what the reporter has observed
      • Time and date of incident
      • Information about previous injuries, if any
      • Circumstances under which reporter learned of abuse
      • Name of any person suspected of causing injury
      • Any information reporter believes would be helpful
      • Any action taken to help or treat the child
      • Seek medical attention for the child – if needed
5. Mandated reporters must report orally to DCF or a law enforcement agency within 12 hours of suspecting that a child has been abused or neglected. Within 48 hours of making the report, the mandated reporter must submit a written report (DCF – 136) to DCF.
   Staff are protected by law from discrimination or retaliation for reporting suspected abuse or neglect (CT General Statutes, Section 17a-101e).
   All phone calls to DCF shall be documented and kept on file at the Center. A copy of all statements from staff and the DCF-136 shall also be kept on file.

6. The administration of the CCSU Drop-In Child Care Center supports zero tolerance for abuse and neglect and will implement immediate action should there be an allegation that a staff member abused or neglected a child.
   The administration will protect the child, including immediate notification of a parent or guardian, once there is an allegation of abuse or neglect of a child in our program.
   
   Any staff member accused of abuse or neglect may be immediately removed from his or her position until DCF’s investigation is completed. Based on whether the allegations were substantiated or not, the employee would either be dismissed from his/her position or allowed to return to work.

   Staff Training:
   Staff will be required to attend bi-annual staff meetings, held in September and February, focusing on the steps for reporting suspected abuse and neglect and the role of a mandated reporter. All new staff will be trained in these procedures prior to their start in the classroom.

7. Provisions for informing families of abuse and neglect:
   A copy of this policy will be included in our parent information packet, and each family will be given a copy upon enrollment. A copy of this policy will also be posted on the parent board. When an accusation of abuse or neglect by a staff member is made, the Drop-In Child Care Center director must immediately inform the parents or guardians that a report has been made to DCF. Health care officials may need to talk to a child’s parents to access the cause of the child’s injuries and offer support and guidance.

One of the best ways to address challenging behavior is to prevent it. With a proactive approach, our teachers utilize practices that support positive behavior. We provide flexible spacing to support different types of learning styles. We plan and organize our classroom, lessons, and activities to ensure smooth transitions. Materials are set up in safe a and accessible manner. Positive behavior expectations are clear, simple, and taught explicitly. Teachers plan, teach, and practice routines and procedures. Reinforcement and re-teaching happen throughout the year and as needed. Appropriate consequences for unacceptable behavior are managed when necessary.Our center specifically prohibits abusive, neglectful, corporal, humiliating or frightening punishment. Physical restraint is prohibited, unless such restraint is necessary to protect the health and safety of the child or other people.

Our Center uses Positive Behavior Strategies and Supports, (PBS), to develop and maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. Positive behavior strategies are evidence-based, proactive approaches to addressing challenging student behavior. Positive behavior strategies encourage the observation of behavior as a form of communication. Every behavior sends a message about what a student needs. Positive behavior strategies help to proactively reduce challenging behaviors while also building trusting relationships between teachers, students, and families. Once the behavior is understood, the appropriate response can be more effective. Especially in a preschool setting, students often lack the language or communication skills to express what they need. Understanding what the behavior is communicating is the key.

Some examples of positive behavior strategies that are used at the Center include:

Setting clear behavior expectations

Modeling positive behavior

Pre-correcting and prompting

Respectful redirection

Nonverbal signals

Brain breaks

Routines

Proximity

Quiet corrections

If a child is not picked up within fifteen minutes of our closing time, the following procedures with take place:

1. A staff member will attempt to call the child’s parent/guardian using the contact information on file.
2. If the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the staff will attempt to contact the emergency contact and alternate contact people listed on file.
3. If the parents/guardians, emergency contacts, and alternate contacts with permission to release forms on file cannot be reached, the police will be contacted after one hour past the center closing time.
4. At that time, the child may be released to the police.
5. Two staff members will remain with the child at all times.

When a child/center staff shows sign/symptoms of illness at home

To safeguard the health of all students, school staff and the entire community, we ask all parents/legal guardians to monitor their children for signs and symptoms of illness.

Students/Center Staff must stay home if they:

• Are diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not been cleared to return to school by a physician or the Public Health Authority
• Have an elevated body temperature of 99.9 degrees F or above
• Have any sign/symptom of respiratory distress or severe asthmatic episode
• Have chest pain or pressure
• Have generalized allergic reaction
• Have seizure, head injury, severe headache, blurred vision or dizziness
• Have a persistent cough
• Have a loss of taste and/or smell
• Have an undiagnosed rash or skin condition
• Have recurrent vomiting in the past 24 hours
• Have more than one episode of diarrhea
• Have large amounts of yellow/green mucus discharge from nose
• Have sore throat
• Have conjunctivitis (pink eye) with discharge
• Have active infestation of head lice or scabies
• Have a communicable disease or condition

When your child shows signs of illness at school

A center staff member will contact the parent/guardian to pick up a child who has any of the previously listed “Stay Home” symptoms. A child showing signs of illness will wear a mask and may require separation from the rest of the school population until picked up. The child will be supervised by an adult at all times until they are picked up. In an emergency, 911 will be called and parent/legal guardian will be notified immediately.

Criteria to return to CCSU child care following illness

The child must remain out of school until cleared by their physician. The physician determines the necessity of a Covid test. A doctor’s note will be required for the child to return. A child must be fever free for a minimum of 24 hours without medication. However, based on initial presenting symptoms, a pediatrician may recommend longer. We will follow the pediatrician’s advice.

COVID Information

CDC Guidance for K-12 and Early Childhood Programs

Community Level COVID Risk Maps

Additional information from the Department of Public Health