Minimum Standards for Tribal Child Care: A Health and Safety Guide
Table of Contents (This document is also available in PDF and Word format.)
Section I:
Policies/Practices/Caregiver Training
Program Policies
Principle
Established child care health and safety policies, including policies for emergency situations, ensure the safety and well being of all persons in the child care setting.
Why This Is Important
- Pre-established policies reduce confusion during emergencies.
- Written policies assure parents of the quality of care their child should receive and reduce misunderstandings between the child care providers and family members.
- Prevention strategies can help improve caregiver job satisfaction and morale, and reduce the number and seriousness of injuries and illnesses.
Standards
- Written policies should be established, implemented, maintained, and available, and should address, but not be limited to, the following content areas: child development, health and safety, prevention and control of infectious diseases, child abuse prevention and reporting, first aid/first response, and management of blocked airway (CPR).
- Policies related to program operation should be shared with parents of children in care.
- All caregivers, other staff, and volunteers should be trained in the importance and implementation of the policies.
- If children will be transported, drivers should be licensed and children should be fastened in the vehicle in an age-appropriate restraint that is properly positioned and installed. Appropriate child passenger restraints should be utilized when any mode of transportation is used.
- To reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), infants should be placed to sleep on their backs unless otherwise directed by the child’s physician, and all sleeping arrangements for infants under 12 months of age should use firm mattresses and avoid soft bedding materials such as comforters, pillows, fluffy blankets, or stuffed toys.
- The caregiver should ask parents for information regarding the child’s development, health, and behavioral status, especially information about the child’s health since the last attendance in the facility. The child’s cultural background should be respected in all aspects of the program.
- When bottle feeding, caregivers should hold infants. Infants who are unable to sit should always be held for bottle feeding. The caregiver should not permit bottle propping or infants carrying bottles throughout the day or night.
- Children should not be physically restrained by bonds, ties, or straps for disciplinary purposes. If a child must be restrained for medical reasons, that restraint should occur in accordance with the instruction of the child’s physician and/or practitioner and permission of the parent. The use of manufacturer installed safety straps on infant and toddler equipment is permissible.
- Each caregiver should have and implement a written discipline policy that outlines positive methods of guidance appropriate to the ages of the children.
<< Previous Page | Table of Contents | Section II: Building and Premises: Safe Environment >>