Maine DHHS Health Care Consultant Form
Sesame Workshop launched the Caring for Each Other initiative—a commitment to supporting families throughout the COVID-19 crisis. A piece of this initiative is created especially with providers and caregivers in mind (info may also be appropriate to share with families): Health Emergencies, a new topic page on Sesame Street in Communities. The page includes: New animations and printable activities that playfully teach prevention and offer opportunities for comfort and together time. / Articles for caregivers to help answer tough questions and provide self-care strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in thousands of children being separated from loved ones who require isolation and/or hospitalization due to a loved one testing positive for COVID-19 or because of potential exposure for essential workers. For some children, the separation may result in distress or in a traumatic reaction. If a loved one dies from the virus, a child may experience traumatic grief due the sudden nature of the death and being unable to say goodbye or observe cultural or religious mourning rituals. This tip sheet is for caregivers or other adults supporting children with traumatic separation or traumatic grief related to COVID-19. Especially in stressful times, in addition to the suggestions here, all children benefit from caregivers listening to and validating their different feelings.
NCTSN – Separation and Grief tip sheet
Handwashing
Check out these 3 articles from EXTENSION ALLIANCE FOR BETTER CHILD CARE on handwashing in a child care:
- Hand washing tips for providers
- Simple steps for thorough hand washing
- Using hand washing songs to help children wash hands thoroughly
There are many more posters on hand washing available from the CDC.
Daily Health Checks
A quick way to make sure a child is healthy enough to be in your program. As a small business owner, you set your policies and it is up to you (not the family) to decide whether a child is healthy enough to stay in child care. You must consider the health of the other children, staff, yourself and your family.
As family child care providers we usually have a very good understanding of what is “normal” for each child in our care. You can usually tell when a child isn’t well enough to participate in activities, and thus too sick to stay in the program. Daily health checks can help reduce the transmission of infectious diseases within your program by identifying children who should be excluded, and enabling you to plan for necessary care while the child is in care. Daily health checks can be very useful for families if a child has a long-term physical or mental health need. Documentation of any changes in the child’s appearance or behavior, can also be important if you suspect child abuse or neglect.
A daily health check should be conducted as soon as possible after a child enters the child care facility, ideally, before the guardian leaves the building. Health checks should also occur whenever a change in the child’s behavior or appearance is noted while in care. Providers gain the information necessary to complete a daily health check by direct observation of the child, by querying the parent/guardian, and, where applicable, by conversation with the child.
The daily health check should address:
- Reported or observed illness or injury affecting the child or family members since the last date of attendance;
- Reported or observed changes in behavior of the child (such as lethargy or irritability) or in the appearance (e.g., sad) of the child from the previous day at home or the previous day’s attendance at child care
- Skin rashes, impetigo, itching or scratching of the skin, itching or scratching of the scalp, or the presence of one or more live crawling lice
- A temperature check if the child appears ill (a daily screening temperature check is not recommended)
- Other signs or symptoms of illness and injury (such as drainage from eyes, vomiting, diarrhea, cuts/lacerations, pain, or feeling ill).
Use all your senses when doing a health check.
Remember the daily health check needs to respect the family’s culture as well as the child’s body and feelings. They can and should be performed in a relaxed and comfortable manner. Here are 2 samples of Daily Health Check forms ~ Sample 1 and Sample 2
Daily Attendance & Child Health Screening Form
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