Planning To Reopen - Phase 2 Child Programs Minimum Requirements

6/11/2020 (Permalink)

In part one of second phase of Governor Charlie Baker's plan to reopen the Commonwealth the administration along with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the Department of Public Health (DPH) have been working closely with the CDC, community leaders and medical experts to develop solutions that balance the needs of children and families with public health and safety. As we have discussed in one of our previous blogs, as the residents of Massachusetts slowly go back to work it becomes increasingly important that safe childcare options exists. The following highlights the State's guidance for reopening child and youth programs during Phase 2. 

As always, work with your local health officials to determine a set of strategies appropriate for your community’s situation.

(See our "Planning to Reopen series of blogs for more information regarding CDC, EPA, FDA, and OSHA safety requirements). To review the administration's reopening guidance from the state click here. To view Governor Baker's full report click here).

Phase 2 has been divided into two parts. Beginning today, Monday, June 8, child care may begin the process of opening reopen under certain restrictions including, but not limited to COVID-19 Order No. 35, former COVID-19 Orders and sector-specific COVID-19 workplace safety rules .

Minimum Requirements - Planning

These requirements apply to all child and youth-serving programs, including recreational summer programs, recreational summer camps for children, municipal or recreational youth programs not traditionally licensed as camps, family child care, and center-based child care.

EEC licensing regulations are currently being reviewed and amended to allow programs the maximum flexibility to reopen, until such time, implementation of the Minimum Health and Safety Requirements are sufficient for reopening programs in good standing prior to the closure due to COVID-19. In addition to the following requirements, it is recommended that programs frequently check the CDC website to ensure they are implementing the most current CDC guidance.

Programs that are unable to adhere to the following requirements must remain closed and reopen at a later date.

Planning

Programs must develop plans prior to reopening (and maintain them once reopened) to address how they will meet the new health and safety requirements. Programs must identify all the ways reopening during the COVID-19 pandemic might affect the program and develop a plan of action. Elements of this planning must include the following:

1. A cleaning plan that identifies what items must be cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected and with what frequency. This must include a daily cleaning schedule for staff (before, during, and after programming) to ensure that all areas, materials, furniture, and equipment used for child care are properly cleaned, sanitized, or disinfected. Programs must also have a plan in place to obtain and maintain inventory of essential cleaning supplies.
2. A plan for identifying and handling sick, symptomatic, and exposed children and staff that includes but is not limited to daily screening checks, location of screening activities, staff responsible for screening, and barriers for screening.
3. A plan for the isolation and discharge of sick, symptomatic, and exposed children or staff, including procedures for contacting parents immediately, criteria for seeking medical assistance, transportation of children or staff who have developed symptoms related to COVID-19 mid-day and who rely on program transportation, and mitigation of transmission until a sick individual can safely leave the program.
4. A plan to work with their local and state health departments to ensure appropriate local protocols and guidelines are followed, such as updated/additional guidance for cleaning and disinfection and instructions and availability of COVID-19 testing.
5. A plan for safe vendor deliveries, if applicable. Non-contact delivery protocols must be arranged whenever possible.
6. A plan for transportation that includes how to implement infection control strategies during transportation, including during boarding and disembarking, and a plan to maintain physical distancing and hand hygiene practices.
7. A plan for handling program closings, staff absences, and gaps in child attendance. The plan must include procedures to alert local health officials about large increases in child and staff absences or substantial increases in respiratory illnesses (like the common cold or the “flu,” which have symptoms similar to symptoms of COVID-19). Programs must determine how the facility will communicate with staff and parents and identify who will be responsible to inform the funding agency, local board of health, and other appropriate audiences.
8. A plan for the administration of medication including a plan for the treatment of children with asthma and other chronic illness. Nebulizer use must be prohibited as it can increase risk of the virus being aerosolized.
9. A plan for coordinating space and facilitate support services for children, including when identified on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). A space should be made available to allow for service delivery to occur, whenever possible.
10. A plan for sharing information and guidelines with parents that includes the following:
    1. A system to check with parents daily on the status of their children when children are dropped off at the facility. 
    2. Ensuring information and communication can be provided in the primary languages spoken by the parents.
    3. Obtaining email addresses and home, work, and mobile phone numbers from parents of children at the program so that the program can reach them at any time.
    4. Creating and testing communication systems with parents, children at the program, all staff, facility and/or grounds management, and emergency medical services.
    5. Providing parents with information on COVID-19 including symptoms, transmission, prevention, and when to seek medical attention. Encouraging parents to share the information with their children as appropriate.
    6. Providing parents with guidance on how to share information with their children in developmentally appropriate ways and encouraging parents to share the information with their children, as appropriate.
    7. Providing parents with information on the program’s policies for preventing and responding to infection and illness.
    8. Identifying a person responsible for sharing information to parents if and when an exposure occurs, and how that information will be communicated.

While the administration continues to work with communities to implement best practices and protocols we will continue to share with you guidance from the CDC, FDA, OSHA and the Governor's office to follow as we prepare for reopening. Also, we at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley know that not every business has access to the resources necessary to meet these strict guidelines. For those businesses, we are here to help!

Certified SERVPRO Clean

The Disaster Remediation Teams at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley are specialists in cleaning services and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards. We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work of "normal daily cleaning". Call SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley today for a free consultation - (617) 332-9000.

All of us here at SERVPRO of Newton/Wellesley want you and your loved ones to stay safe and know that we will make it through this together! Rest assured, we will continue to do our best to keep you up-to-date and informed!