ILLNESS POLICY

Under no circumstances should you bring your child to childcare sick:

This includes:

• Fever of 100 or higher (over 100 means they are contagious and need to stay home.

• Vomiting or diarrhea they cannot come even if they do not have a fever. They need to be free from both for a period of at least 24 hours before returning to care to prevent exposure in childcare

• Severe coughing

• Sore throat, runny nose other than clear

• Draining of the eyes or ears

• Unexplained rash

• Pink eye

• Lice

• Chicken Pox

• Ringworm

• If your child is irritable, continuously crying or requires more attention than we can provide without hurting the health and safety of the other children in our care.

• If your child is sent home with an unexplained rash, pink eye or any other communicable disease they need to have a doctor’s note in order to return to care if symptoms still occur and have been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours.

If you are not sure your child is well enough to attend childcare, call and discuss it with the Director.

Please understand that:

• Masking your child’s symptoms with over-the-counter medication to reduce fever and bringing them to care are grounds for immediate termination. It is also inconsiderate to all the families involved. Please keep your child home if they are running a fever of 100 or higher.

• A sick child should be allowed to recuperate fully at home after an illness so that the other children and the provider do not risk unnecessary exposure. If you are unable to stay home with your child, it will be necessary for you to plan at your own expense.

• If your child is out ill, regular fees still apply.

• If your child becomes ill while in our care, we will call you immediately. You will be expected to pick up your child within two hours. Or we will call your emergency contacts you have listed.

• Your child may be brought to care if they have a common cold (which means a slight cough, clear runny nose, sneezing) however we may still call you if your child is just plain miserable (whining, crying, repeatedly asking for you)

• Provider reserves the right to determine when a child should be sent home

• Your child may return to childcare at least 24 hours after symptoms of illness end. This means if your child is sent home with a fever, diarrhea or vomiting then they cannot return until they have been symptom free for 24 hours without the aid of medications. We will enforce this policy. If you show up the next day after your child has been sent home, we will not take your child.

We understand and respect your need to be at work, but your cooperation is extremely important on this issue. Per State of Oregon Health Department regulations, we cannot allow children to come to our childcare center that have been sick the day before. Which includes fever or any other type of illness other than a regular cold. This insures the health and well-being of the other children and staff. Please call or email by 9:00 AM if your child will not be attending their regular scheduled day.