Planning To Reopen - Phase 2 Child Programs Minimum Requirements, Part 3

6/16/2020 (Permalink)

In anticipation of Governor Charlie Baker's expected announcement of details for Phase 3 of his plan to reopen the Commonwealth we are continuing to share the administrations  minimum guidelines for reopening child and youth programs. The following highlights the minimum requirements for operations and staffing. 

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).

Minimum Requirements - Operations and Staffing

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. As more is learned about the virus guidelines are updated accordingly. Those charged with planning to reopen child and youth programs should check the both the Massachusetts department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and the CDC website regularly to make sure that they are following the latest guidance. 

Programs that are unable to must make the following changes to their operations or remain closed and reopen at a later date.

Daily Operations

1. Cancel all field trips, inter-group events, and extracurricular activities.
2. Avoid holding activities involving multiple groups attending at the same time and strictly enforce the restrictions on non-essential visitors. This includes parent volunteers, coaches and consultants. Nonessential adults must be prevented from entering the premises.
3. For each child enrolled, programs must maintain on file a physician’s, nurse practitioner’s, or physician’s assistant’s certification that the child has been successfully immunized in accordance with the current DPH’s recommended schedules. 
4. For each child with a chronic medical condition that has been diagnosed by a licensed Health Care Practitioner, programs must maintain an individual health care plan (IHCP). The plan shall describe the chronic condition, its symptoms, any medical treatment that may be necessary while the child is in care, the potential side effects of that treatment, and the potential consequences to the child’s health if the treatment is not administered. 

Staffing

1. Programs must meet all staffing requirements per the authorizing entity for their specific program type. Staffing requirements for child and youth-serving summer programs may be relaxed for reopening under the authority of the authorizing entity.
2. Provide staff with information about COVID-19, including how the illness is spread, how to prevent its spread, symptoms, and when to seek medical assistance for sick children or employees. 
3. Have a system to monitor absenteeism to identify any trends in employee or child absences due to illness, as this might indicate spread of COVID-19 or other illness. 
4. Have a plan for securing trained back-up staff in order to maintain sufficient staffing levels.
5. Ensure that their sick leave policies are flexible and promote the importance of staff not coming to work if they have a frequent cough, sneezing, fever, difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or recent loss of taste or smell, or if they or someone they live with has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
6. Designate a staff member to be responsible for responding to COVID-19 concerns. Employees must know who this person is and how to contact them.
7. Create a communication system for staff and families for self-reporting of symptoms and notification of exposures and closures.
8. Encourage all staff age 65 or older or with serious underlying health conditions to talk to their healthcare provider to assess their risk and to determine if they must stay home or follow additional precautions. 
9. Train staff in all areas to ensure protocols are implemented safely and effectively in all programs.
10. Develop policies for worker protection and provide training to all cleaning staff on site prior to providing cleaning tasks. Training must include when to use PPE, what PPE is necessary, how to properly put on, use, and take off PPE, and how to properly dispose of PPE.
11. Ensure workers are trained on the hazards of the cleaning chemicals used in the workplace in accordance with Occupational Safety Hazard Administration (OSHA)’s Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). (12)
12. Educate staff and workers performing cleaning, laundry, and trash pick-up activities to recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 and provide instructions on what to do if they develop symptoms. At a minimum, any staff must immediately notify their supervisor and the local health department if they develop symptoms of COVID-19. The health department will provide guidance on what actions need to be taken.

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!