My goal is to keep your child as healthy as possible so his/her energy can be used to grow and learn instead of to fight germs. Read on to see how these child care health policies enable me to provide the healthiest possible environment. The complete Health Policies are available in our Family Handbook.

Each child's health is important to all of us as it can affect our families, our work and our home life. Due to my concern for the health and well-being of everyone at Amy & Kids Co., I follow the EPA's Healthy Child Care guidelines. To help prevent the spread of germs I encourate the children to sneeze and cough into their elbows, and to wash their hands frequently, especially before and after eating and after using the bathroom.

You can help promote a clean and healthy child care environment by teaching your child to sneeze and cough into his/her elbows and encouraging frequent hand-washing at home, especially after coughing/sneezing and using the bathroom.

Radon is an odorless, colorless, naturally occurring gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer. As of March 1, 2023, licensed family child care programs are required to test for radon every 2 years, and mitigate if radon test results are 4 pCi/L or greater. The average indoor radon level is 1.3 pCi/L; Amy & Kids Co. radon test results were 1.0 pCi/L.

As a “well-child” program, my goal is to promote optimum health among our children, our families, and in our community. Licensing rules prohibit me from caring for any child with a communicable disease.

Children who have been exposed to a serious communicable disease must stay home until the incubation period is over. This avoids exposing all of the children and inconveniencing their families.

If a communicable disease is reported in the center, parents will be notified via Daily Connect. Notification will include signs and symptoms of the illness, but not the names of children who are ill or their families.

In order to provide the most positive daily experience for each of the children, all children will be observed for signs of illness upon arrival.

Because it is often difficult to determine whether symptoms are due to illness or another reason, Amy & Kids Co. excludes for symptoms. Please do not bring your child for care if he/she has any of the following symptoms:

• Fever of 100° or more, vomiting or diarrhea in the past 24 hours
• Excessively runny nose or constant, thick, colored nasal discharge
• Breathing issues (wheezing, excessive congestion, croup)
• Contagious or unexplained rash
• Has been on a prescribed medication for less than 24 hours
• Requires excessive attention; cries, whines, and/or wants to be held constantly
• Is unable to tolerate a regular diet
• Refuses to play or seems unwell and unable to participate in a full day's activities
• Shows other signs of illness not listed above

Children must return home if they become ill with a communicable disease or symptom listed above while in my care. They will be isolated within sight and hearing and their parents notified immediately. Parents are expected to reply to the notification promptly, and pick up their child within one hour of notification. If a reply isn't received promptly, the child's emergency contact person may be contacted to pick up the child. The date children can return to care depends on the illness.

Please inform me if your child has been ill recently or if there is an illness in your family, even if the illness occurred over the weekend. Parental cooperation is essential to maintaining a healthy child care environment for everyone at Amy & Kids Co.